HOPPERS CROSSING CONTINUE INCREDIBLE RISE BY BOOKING GRAND FINAL BERTH
By Connor Pain |
Hoppers Crossing are just one win away from a third TIV Division 1 Senior Men’s premiership after advancing to this year’s Grand Final with a comprehensive fourth quarter statement win against Caroline Springs in the Preliminary Final.
The 11.9 (75) to 4.7 (31) triumph will now see the Warriors face off against fierce rivals Werribee Districts on the final day of the season with the title of 2024 premiers on the line.
Artic conditions at Skinner Reserve saw both sides get off to slow starts with neither able to get a foothold with rain, wind and hail playing a factor throughout the opening half.
The Warriors led after the first break but could only manage an extra goal in the second term to stretch their lead to 13-points at the main break.
Inaccuracy hurt the Lakers in the third, but a lack of opportunities was the real killer as Brian Lake’s side were unable to generate any pressure on the Warriors without reward on the scoreboard.
After being the last team into the finals, Hoppers Crossing would again show the form that had led them to a Preliminary Final, gaining the ascendency through the immense work of Jed Anderson and Chase Guy.
With the score 36-18 after three quarters the game appeared headed for a worthy finish, but it wasn’t to be as only one team came to the party in the last.
Hoppers Crossing romping home in the fourth quarter adding five goals to two, laying no doubts that they deserve their spot in the Division 1 decider.
Ryan Kitchen and Harry Maguire finished with three goals each, combining to outscore the Lakers, while Harley Armstrong-Weston and Sam Clifford added multiples.
As impressive as their fourth quarter offence was, the Warriors defence demands applause as they will enter the Grand Final having allowed a touch under 36 points per game in their three finals wins.
While Hoppers Crossing will likely enter as underdogs against Werribee Districts they will be full of confidence, having beaten the three teams that finished above them on the home and away ladder, a win this coming Saturday will cap a perfect finals campaign and an incredible turnaround from a year ago when they collected the wooden spoon.
After a fine home and away campaign Caroline Springs’ season comes up short again, perhaps spent after a heartbreaking extra time loss to Werribee Districts in their Semi Final a week earlier.
Meanwhile, Yarraville Seddon booked their place in the Reserves Grand Final against Werribee Districts with a stunning fourth quarter comeback against Spotswood.
The Eagles trailed but 17 points with a quarter to play but kicked four goals to one in the final term with Lewis Stanton sealing a three-point win with just four seconds left on the clock.
In the Under 18 Preliminary Final, Point Cook stormed home to deny Yarraville Seddon a chance at back-to-back premierships, the Bulldogs defeating the Eagles by 13 points.
Down by nine-points at three-quarter time Point Cook also kicked four goals in the last quarter while holding their opponents goalless to advance to the final game of the year where they’ll too meet Werribee Districts.
The Division 1 Grand Finals will be played at Avalon Airport Oval in Werribee on Saturday.