Hoppers Crossing’s rollercoaster start to the season continued with a loss to St Albans on Good Friday in the Western Region Football League division 1.
After surprising many with their win against Sunshine the previous week, the Warriors ran out of legs against the Saints, losing 20.11 (131) to 7.6 (48) at Hogans Road Oval.
Warriors coach Steve Kretiuk said that although the Saints went into the match without a win, he knew it would be a tough one for his team. “I think they’re a top-three side and I’m under no illusions on where we’re at,” he said. “I was disappointed with most of the day. Against Sunshine we had 22 contributors; against St Albans we had only four or five.
“We didn’t have many winners and when we had our chances in the third we didn’t take them. We missed three easy shots at goal and dropped a mark 25 metres out. If we’d capitalised on them it would have left the door ajar.
“A few guys dropped their heads in the last quarter. We couldn’t have played any worse.”
Kretiuk said his side was second to the ball all day but conceded its inconsistency was a by-product of youth and inexperience.
“There will be good and bad, but that’s no excuse,” he said.
He highlighted the job Jackson Viola did on former AFL player Aaron Henneman as the standout for his side.
“Jackson is only 18 and did a great job against one of the best forwards in the competition,” he said.
