HOPPERS Crossing has pulled off a Houdini act to come from behind and upset Port Melbourne Colts by five points in a cutthroat Western Region Football League division 1 first semi-final at Avalon on Sunday.
The Warriors extricated themselves from a perilous position with a mind-blowing late recovery to book their ticket to Saturday’s blockbuster preliminary final against Spotswood at Avalon Airport Oval.
The outlook was grim for the Warriors as late as the last quarter, after they had trailed by 35 points at quarter time, 28 at the half and 20 entering the last.
The Colts extended their lead further with the first goal of the last quarter and the Warriors were at a roll-the-dice stage when coach David Mitchell took control of the situation.
Bravely he took Daniel Riosa from full-back — where he was at least on par with Colts star forward Jase Perkins — and threw him into the ruck to give youngster Scott Greenhough a well-earned breather. The move worked a treat because Riosa leaped over a tiring Julier, putting the ball down the throats of his onballers. ‘‘It was a master stroke move,’’ Warriors captain Brad Murphy said.
‘‘He tapped it down my throat three times and we got three centre clearances. He said, ‘I’m going to tap it here, here and here’ and I just got there and it landed on my chest.
‘‘We got three quick goals from it.’’
The goals to Brydon Coles, his second of the game, former captain Jake Mutton and Kieran Butty got the Warriors to within a kick.
With scores level, the Colts had a prime chance to move ahead by six points, but a Steven McAnulty banana kick went astray and it gave the Warriors a chance to relaunch for one last push for a match-winner.
Forward Kade Carey, who arrived at Hogans Road with a big-game reputation, had his chance to deliver.
It was a tough kick, five metres in from the boundary and he had to punt it his full range.
Carey delivered with a sweetly struck goal to put the Warriors ahead by five points with a minute to go, a lead which stood until the final siren.
‘‘The confidence of the bloke to go back and kick goals from the 50-metre line when the game was there to be won is unbelievable,’’ Murphy said.
Division 1 – First semi final
Port Melbourne Colts 12.17 (89) lt Hoppers Crossing 14.10 (94).
Colts — goals: J Perkins 4,
S McAnulty, D McGregor, L Mildenhall, B Evans, C Brannan, J Lindsay. Best: B Julier, J Perkins,
J Lindsay, B Twomey, R Wilsmore, S McAnulty.
Hoppers Crossing — goals:
K Carey 5, M Ryan 2, B Coles 2,
S Greenhough, J Mutton, M Young, M Merrifield, K Butty. Best:
B Murphy, A Ramsay, C Latella,
K Carey, M Watt, S Greenhough.
