WRFL scores: Injury-hit Altona defeats Hoppers Crossing

The ladder-leader prevailed over Hoppers Crossing in a nail-biting encounter victorious coach Corey McCall described as “finals-like”.

Mitch Van Den Berg played a key role in Altona’s win. Picture: Local Legends Photography

It was tight, tense, physical and Altona coach Corey McCall described it as a “finals-like” contest.

Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash between the Vikings and Hoppers Crossing may have been low-scoring, but it provided plenty for the purists and underlined the fact the Western Region Football League Division 1 premiership race is wide open.

Altona moved a game clear in top spot after a five-point victory, while the Warriors slipped to third.

In an engrossing battle, Hoppers Crossing came with a rush in the last term before the ladder-leader prevailed 8.9 (57) to 7.10 (52).

“I’m absolutely rapt with our performance in the end,” McCall said.

“Hoppers kicked the last three goals of the game and got within five points, but we were definitely fatigued.

“We were bound to tire at some stage, and credit to Hoppers. They kept coming and never gave up and got a real sniff of victory.

“Luckily for us, we just held on and got the points.”

The Vikings lost Ethan Taylor (shoulder) and Josh Hindle (knee) in the first quarter, leaving them two men down for the remainder of the afternoon.

Against a never-say-die opposition, the home team could easily have rolled over.

Instead, Altona held firm despite having others who were not completed the match in discomfort.

“We had a few guys come to the bench with some other niggling issues,” McCall said.

“One player played with an injury for the whole game after getting injured in the first quarter, so it was a really good performance to be honest.”

Jayden Post in action for Altona. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Jayden Post, who is among the leading players in the WRFL’s top flight, played his second consecutive game of an interrupted campaign and was named in the best in defence.

Post has been limited to four appearances this season, but his presence will be a major boost in coming months.

McCall said he preferred to have the versatile ex-AFL player in the defensive 50.

“The great thing we want to be able to do at Altona is be unpredictable with what we’ve got,” he said.

“We’ve got multiple goalkickers and we don’t want to be relying on one, two or three goalkickers every week.

“We want to be able to change it up if required, if things aren’t working.”

McCall heaped praise on youngster Luke Whatman, who shone on a wing in a best-afield display.

“He’s a 20-year-old kid, but he’s come into the side and played some really consistent footy,” he said.

“I thought his game was outstanding.

“He didn’t play against them (Hoppers Crossing) the first time, so to play in a big game like that and be able to produce what he did, absolutely rapt to see the youth coming through playing really good Division 1 football.”

Mitch Van Den Berg (two goals), Matthew Trzeciak, David Barnaby and skipper Steve Kennedy were also influential.

Altona is sitting pretty at 8-1, but McCall said his side was not a dominant force yet.

“There’s a couple of games there that weren’t decided by much,” he said.

“The gap’s probably not as big as what people think it might be.”