Hoppers Crossing’s season flashed before its eyes at the 16-minute mark of the last quarter of Sunday’s Western Region Football League division 1 elimination final at Burbank Oval.
The Warriors found themselves trailing in a low-scoring game after Mark Pozzuto goaled to put Werribee Districts a point in front and needing to find an immediate response.
After an energy-sapping and physical encounter, how much petrol did the Warriors have left in the tank?
Just enough.
The Warriors found a way to keep their season alive with a seven-point win, but it took some inspirational individual acts in the dying minutes for coach Steven Kretiuk’s men to get across the line.
“The last 90 seconds, where David Barbieri was one-out in the goal square, they got the quick kick going forward and he ended up spoiling the footy – it was a game-saving effort,” Kretiuk said.
“Then Jordy Mead ran 80 metres, ran past a couple of their players and dived on the footy. Efforts like that showed we wanted to win.”
It was more than the season on the line for Hoppers Crossing – the Warriors were desperate to give club stalwart Matthew Ryan a 400th game to remember.
“When you think you’re doing it hard, just think of Matty Ryan and what he’s done for the club,” Kretiuk said.
Ryan’s day was one to cherish.
Not only did he get to sing the club song after his milestone game, he also had a significant impact on the match when moved into the midfield role late on.
“We put Matty Ryan in the midfield in the last quarter and he, along with Matty Smith, who was outstanding all day, really got a bit more footy going forward,” Kretiuk said.
Hoppers Crossing’s match-winner, though, was Ashlin Brown.
Brown’s snap goal in time-on of the last quarter was the game sealer.
Brown was another Warrior who moved into the midfield late in the game, having a positive impact after playing mostly across half-back.
“That’s the beauty of Ash – we can pretty much play him anywhere,” Kretiuk said. “Ash ended up kicking the winning goal – a fantastic snap from the boundary line.”
It was the end of a topsy turvy season for Werribee Districts.
The Tigers only just scraped into the finals in the last regular round, but went into the elimination final with confidence, having beaten Hoppers Crossing in their previous two meetings.
Despite two goals to Chris Molivas and big games from Jarryn McCormack, Matt Dean and Nathan Black, the Tigers bowed out in heartbreaking fashion to their local rivals.
Hoppers Crossing will meet Spotswood in a mouth-watering cut-throat first semi-final at Burbank Oval on Sunday.
The second semi-final will be between Deer Park and Sunshine Kangaroos at Hogans Road Reserve on Saturday, with the winner to advance straight to the grand final.
In division 2, Manor Lakes is through to the preliminary final after a convincing 48-point win over Albanvale at Hogans Road Reserve.
The Storm will meet North Footscray at Wyndham Vale South Oval on Saturday for the right to face Yarraville-Seddon in the grand final.
In division 3, Wyndham Suns and Tarneit will lock horns in the preliminary final, with Parkside awaiting the winner.
The Suns suffered a 54-point loss to Parkside in the second semi-final, while Tarneit survived a scare to beat Sunshine Heights by three points in a cut-throat first semi-final.
