WRFL scores: Hoppers Crossing boots 16 consecutive goals in mauling

It was all one-way traffic as a former AFL rookie starred for the WRFL Division 1 club, while victorious coach Steve Kretiuk offers some encouraging words to Yarraville-Seddon.

Brenton Payne booted six goals for a second consecutive week. Picture: Local Legends Photography

A relentless Hoppers Crossing scored a crushing victory over Western Region Football League Division 1 newcomer Yarraville-Seddon on Saturday.

After trailing by three points at quarter-time, the Warriors remarkably piled on 20 goals to one on their way to a percentage-boosting 118-point win, 22.18 (150) to 4.8 (32).

The Eagles, who have impressed in the top flight this season to notch two victories, were held goalless in the second and third terms as the home side piled on 16 consecutive majors.

The success left Hoppers Crossing in second spot with a 5-1 record, equal on points with ladder-leader Altona.

Werribee Districts, Deer Park and St Albans are all 4-2 and make up the top five.

“I was talking to (Yarraville-Seddon coach) Brad (Julier) after the game, and we haven’t put a side away for a long, long time. He said we could have waited another couple of weeks,” Warriors coach Steve Kretiuk said.

“It was pleasing for us because we don’t normally do that. We tend to put the cue in the rack a bit and just cruise through, so it was good to get a convincing win.

“The way Brad coaches … he’s absolutely doing a great job down there and he’s coaching those guys to learn. He could have easily rolled played behind the footy and nullified the game, slowed it down a bit, but he’s coaching them to play some good footy in the future.

“They’re going to be a good side and they’ve got some good young kids coming through.”

Hoppers Crossing coach Steve Kretiuk. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Former AFL rookie Brenton Payne again starred, bagging six goals to take his season tally to 21, leaving him five clear at the top of the goalkicking charts.

Payne has booted 12 majors in the past two weeks after finishing with 61 in 2019.

“He just knows how to find the footy and reads the flight of the ball a lot better than others,” Kretiuk said.

“There were a couple where the kicks coming in were miskicks and you could see the opposition defender tracking towards the footy, but he just read the flight of it better and pretty much held his position and the defender ran under the footy.

“He’s our forward line coach as well and he’s still trying to teach these guys their leading patterns, what they should be doing as a unit and having a bit more cohesion together. That’s a work in progress for him too.”

But Kretiuk noted his side was not reliant on its spearhead, with nine other players etching their names on the scoresheet for the winners.

Nathan Williams and Ezzat Haddara each contributed three goals, while Corey Muscat, Brandon Houlihan and Cassius White all finished with two.

Versatile defender Braden Ferrari earned best-afield honours.

“He’s the cornerstone of our side, I’ve always said that,” Kretiuk said.

“We can play him back, we’ve played him forward and we’ve even played him in the ruck a few weeks ago when we had a few injuries.

“He’s a competitive beast, smart and has the tank of a midfielder.”

Kretiuk heaped praise on Muscat, who has developed into an influential midfielder after previously filling roles as a back pocket and tagger.

Muscat is racking up possessions at will in 2021 and his composure has not gone unnoticed.

“It’s taken a while, but I’ve seen him just become a genuine midfielder,” Kretiuk said.

“He runs 13-14km and it’s well over 100 sprint efforts a game, which is unbelievable for a local footballer.”

Kretiuk also lauded the efforts of Lars Vidovic, who filled the role of No.1 ruckman in his second senior appearance.

Hoppers Crossing will next face St Albans away from home in Round 7.