IT was easy to get blindsided by Hoppers Crossing’s recent run of form in the Western Region Football League division 1.
The gap was supposed to be closing and the supremacy of top two Spotswood and Altona Vikings was being challenged for the first time.
Then we all got a healthy dose of reality.
Altona Vikings smashed Hoppers Crossing by 94 points at JK Grant Reserve on Saturday to ensure a cementing of the status quo.
If this were the Tour de France, the Vikings would be riding on the wheel of Spotswood down the mountain in an uncatchable breakaway, while the Warriors would be back with the peloton striving to reach the mountain peak.
The psychological implications for the Warriors could be massive. For the Vikings, though, it was business as usual.
“For us, it was just another game,” Vikings captain Josh Russo told the Weekly.
“It wasn’t necessarily more important than any other game we’ll play. They’ve been in good form, but we were up for a big challenge and we took that challenge on.”
The first word that springs to mind about the Vikings is their professionalism.
This side is not one to get ahead of themselves.
“At the end of the day, we’ve won a few games,” Russo said. “We haven’t won four flags in five years. We’re still chasing Spotswood.
“We’ve just got to keep working hard, week in, week out.”
The Vikings survived a physical opening to lead by 12 points at quarter-time.
They really put the foot down with a six-goals-to-one second quarter and were out of sight.
Young ruckman Riak Riak showed why he’s so highly rated at Sugar Gum Drive with a stellar performance in the middle.
Riak offered first use of the ball to the midfield brigade of Russo, Reece Miles, Travis Lunardi, Anthony Chiu and Brett Shiels, who ran rampant.
“He was dominant in the ruck and around the ground,” Russo said. “Every week he gets better and better. He’s just a natural footballer.”
Keeping the usually free-scoring Warriors to six goals was perhaps the Vikings’ greatest feat.
Joey Halloran and Joel Magnabosco were entrusted with spiking the guns of Kade Carey and Terry Knight, respectively, and didn’t let coach Anthony Eames down. Carey and Knight finished goalless.
Running half back Ben Stornebrink produced his best game for the year. Last season, Stornebrink broke his leg at the knee and understandably has taken time to settle back into a rhythm.
“He seems to have come back fighting fit,” Russo said. “He used the ball well off half back and did a job on his opponent.”
Jordan Robbins put the finishing touches on a big win with four goals.
