THE signs were pointing to a tough day at the office for Hoppers Crossing before a ball was bounced in Saturday’s 61-point loss to Deer Park on the road at John McLeod Oval in the Western Region Football League division 1.
Warriors captain Brad Murphy could sense his side was not totally switched on when players arrived “flat” for the pre-game warm-up for one of their most important games of the season so far.
“Doing the warm up, you could sense a bit of flatness,” he said. “We just didn’t seem ourselves.
“I don’t know whether it’s a one-off or if it’s a long season catching up with a few of the younger guys or a few of the older guys getting tired.
“I’m not sure what it is to be honest, but hopefully it’s just an aberration.”
The starting point of the game was one of the Warriors’ few highlights on a dismal trip.
They got the first goal on the board from marauding defender Daniel Riosa, who boldly left his man to run forward and slot a mesmerising goal from 40 metres out on the run.
“That’s about as joyous as our day got,” Murphy said bluntly. “Apart from that we were never in the game at all.
“They just smashed us everywhere.”
Jason Giaini was one of the exceptions for the Warriors. The youngster entrusted with a shutdown role on the dangerous Kevin Klix took the honours.
“He is a real X-factor for them and kicked eight goals against Spotswood,” Murphy said of Klix.
“Jason kept him to probably six or seven touches and no goals.
“That’s a real feather in his cap.”
The Warriors remain in third spot, but are starting to make their own life complicated.
They lead the fourth-placed Port Melbourne Colts on percentage only and even that is a mere 1.02per cent.
Their run home is no walk in the park, with St Albans, Sunshine, Spotswood and the Colts all on the menu.
The Warriors are clear-cut favourites in just one of those matches.
Despite their recent stumbles, the Warriors’ destiny is still in their own hands, with the double chance position theirs to lose.
“We’ve got to find a way back now,” Murphy said. “It’s going to be a tough four weeks.
“If we win every game, we’ll still finish third and we’re pretty confident of finishing third.
“I’m looking forward to how we respond this week against St Albans.”
WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCOREBOARD
Division 1
Around the grounds: Altona 15.10 (100) d Spotswood 10.12 (72); Deer Park 17.12 (114) d Hoppers Crossing 7.11 (53); Port Melbourne Colts 21.9 (135) d North Footscray 14.13 (97); Sunshine Heights 6.2 (38) lt St Albans 43.21 (279); Sunshine 17.14 (116) d Albion 9.9 (63).
Ladder: Altona (240.53) 52, Spotswood (185.38) 48, Hoppers Crossing (138.57) 40, Port Melbourne Colts (137.55) 40, Sunshine (130.60) 32, Deer Park (111.93) 28, St Albans (94.55) 20, Albion (69.32) 16, North Footscray (56.97) 4, Sunshine Heights (22.29) 0.
Next round: Albion v Port Melbourne Colts (Parsons Reserve), Deer Park v Sunshine (John McLeod Oval), Hoppers Crossing v St Albans (Hogans Road Reserve), North Footscray v Altona (Hansen Reserve), Spotswood v Sunshine Heights (McLean Reserve).
Division 2
Around the grounds: Laverton 4.8 (32) lt Albanvale 30.21 (201); Parkside 14.10 (94) d Coburg Districts 11.8 (74); West Footscray 19.20 (134) d Braybrook 8.14 (62); Wyndhamvale 15.10 (100) d Glenorden 8.9 (57); Yarraville-Seddon 22.21 (153) d Caroline Springs 2.3 (15).
Ladder: Yarraville Seddon Eagles (478.14) 52, Parkside (182.28) 44, Wyndhamvale (183.93) 36, Coburg Districts (177.73) 36, Glenorden (170.32) 34, West Footscray (132.41) 28. Albanvale (150.51) 26, Caroline Springs (68.69) 16, Braybrook (47.61) 12, Laverton Magpies (49.94) 8, North Sunshine (5.43) 0.
Next round: Albanvale v Parkside (Robert Bruce Reserve), Braybrook v Wyndhamvale (Pennell Reserve), Caroline Springs v North Sunshine (Town Centre Oval), Glenorden v Yarraville-Seddon (Heathdale Oval), Laverton v Coburg Districts (Laverton Park).
