IS it all starting to click into gear at the right end of the year for Hoppers Crossing to be considered a sneaky chance for the Western Region Football League division 1 flag?
The Warriors put a month of inconsistent football behind them to comfortably account for the Sunshine Kangaroos in a 44-point elimination final victory at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday.
Warriors captain Brad Murphy told the Weekly it was the first time all season that his club had a full list to choose from and it translated into their most complete showing of the year to date.
“It was our best team performance of the year,” he said. “Our best four quarters of the season.”
What became apparent was how important key forward Kade Carey (four goals) is to the Warriors forward structure.
You can measure his output in goals and contested marks, but his impact on the team is worth much more.
Whether he is at 100 per cent fitness or not, Carey still commands the best defender.
The boom recruit releases the pressure valve on his teammates Terry Knight (five) and Thomas Jehle.
Throw Mitch Merrifield (two) into the mix and the Warriors finish with a whopping 39 scoring shots. One shot every three minutes.
“Kade straightens us up,” Murphy said. “He’s one of the best power forwards going around.
“It’s how he brings other players into the game that’s important.
“No other side in the competition can match our forward line when it’s up and about and that gives us confidence to kick the ball in long.”
The Warriors had another key inclusion that impacted around the stoppages.
They nifty work of young ruckman Scott Greenhough was crucial to them winning the clearances.
“Some of his tap work was terrific,” Murphy said. The leadership of Jake Mutton and Matthew Ryan was also important, as was the defensive work of Daniel Riosa, who had the painstaking task of going one-on-one with Kangaroos power forward Patrick Wiggins, who finished with four majors.
The sides was neck-and-neck with less than a kick in it at half-time and calling for a game breaker.
The Warriors found one in youngster Aaron Williams, who ran from the point of the square, collected a contested possession and unleashed a team-lifting goal from 60-metres out on the run early in the third quarter. “It really got the boys up and about,” Murphy said. “It lifted us and I knew we weren’t going to lose it from there.”
The Warriors will meet Port Melbourne Colts in a cracking first semi-final at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday.
