WRFL 2021: Hoppers Crossing coach Steve Kretiuk discusses flag bid

Coach Steve Kretiuk explains why he extended his tenure at Hoppers Crossing and addresses the club’s bid for a Division 1 flag.

Daniel Strnak will be key to Hoppers Crossing’s prospects in 2021. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Steve Kretiuk has completed six seasons as coach at Hoppers Crossing.

The cancelled 2020 campaign would have been his seventh, and the former AFL defender has committed for an eighth year in charge of the Western Region Football League Division 1 club.

By local football standards, it is a lengthy stint in the top job without the ultimate success.

The Warriors have qualified for finals in each season of Kretiuk’s tenure, advancing to grand finals in 2016 and 2018.

But while Deer Park has dominated the competition in recent years, Kretiuk is emboldened by the talented group at his disposal and his players’ show of loyalty as the Warriors chase their first top-flight flag since 2004.

“Every year I go in looking to win a premiership,” Kretiuk told Leader Local footy.

“Whether it happens, there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I genuinely feel this is the best group we’ve had for a while.

“But I’m not taking the foot off the pedal or getting complacent. We need to work harder to get our guys who have been around the club for 10 years or so to get them up to a level where they can compete with the best players in the competition.

“It’s been hard obviously with Deer Park being so dominant.

“Last year was actually the first year we’ve had a recruiter to help with our deficiencies in our side. Even though we’ve made a few grand finals, a lot of prelims, it’s been hard for us to say we’re a genuine chance (to win the premiership) because of those deficiencies.

“But I think with the players we got in – it’s going to be obviously hard with those top-five sides again – we can take the next step.”

Hoppers Crossing coach Steve Kretiuk. Picture: Local Legends Photography

The midfield received an injection of class after 2019 with Patrick Veszpremi and Jack Dorgan putting pen to paper, while Williamstown VFL-listed Hayden Walters is set to be an aligned player.

Veszpremi spent six years in the AFL system, playing 23 games for Sydney and the Western Bulldogs and was at Port Melbourne in 2019.

He has since attempted to cross to Caroline Springs, but two clearance requests have been denied and Kretiuk said Veszpremi signed on for two seasons.

Dorgan, who was rated among the best kicks in the VFL, is another significant addition after 54 senior games in eight seasons with Williamstown.

“In terms of all-round depth, adding those players in last year rounded our team off quite nicely and gave us a few more options, especially through the midfield,” Kretiuk said.

Hoppers Crossing had four players named in the Team of the Year in 2019 – half-back Ashlin Brown, wingman Mitch Palma and forwards Brenton Payne and Daniel Strnak, who booted 105 goals between them.

Kretiuk is also hoping the likes of Jackson Viola and Ryan Kitchen will be able to regain full fitness.

“If we can get their bodies right and they can play some good senior footy, that will be like having some new recruits as well,” he said.

“Jacko has been a bit sore the last couple of years with his back. I rate him really highly … he’s a gun.

“You need your full list to be able to compete with the best sides in the competition.

“Although we got a few players, we haven’t gone out and reinvented the wheel. We trust the group we’ve got. If they do the right things between now and Round 1, it will give us a good chance of progressing up the ladder.

“If we can get the Violas and Kitchens and those sort of guys up playing good footy as well, we’re going to be a totally different side.”

Kretiuk said he was expecting fierce competition for spots in the senior line-up next season and credited his players for sticking by the club following cuts to the salary cap.