By LIAM TWOMEY
HOPPERS Crossing has pulled off an excellent coaching coup after the club signed Steve Kretiuk into the top job last week. Kretiuk brings a wealth of experience to the role after an AFL career which boasted 170 games for the Western Bulldogs.
Post playing, he was also head coach of TAC Cup side the Western Jets and helped AFL players such as Adam Kennedy, Will Hoskin-Elliott and Elliott Kavanagh get drafted.
Kretiuk finished at the Jets in 2012 and undertook a role performing opposition analysis with the Brisbane Lions last season.
He said he is looking forward to coaching again.
“What really appealed to me was what they (Hoppers Crossing) want from their coach,” Kretiuk said.
“What they want is a development program to help out that success they have had in the under-18s to try and bring those players through to play senior footy.
“That is similar to a program that we ran at the Jets. It is about getting these guys to play the best footy that they can.
“I am really excited to be a part of that.”
The arrival of Kretiuk is a big boost for the Warriors after losing a number of experienced players since the season finished.
As well as former coach David Mitchell departing, club captain Brad Murphy has also moved on.
Kade Carey, James Mulligan and Brodie Moles will also not return in 2014.
Despite only being in the role for a short time, Kretiuk is already looking for some quality replacements.
“We are talking to a few players now but nothing is set in stone,” he said.
“We just have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. Local footy has changed a lot since I played and the amount of money and resources needed to try and get these guys across makes it more difficult.
“One thing that Hoppers has that no other club has, in definitely the WRFL but also the EDFL, is their change rooms and facilities. It is an amazing set-up.
“That should be one of the appealing factors as well as the program we are running.”
In other WRFL coaching news, Jesse Smith will take over at Yarraville-Seddon, replacing David Connell. Altona and Spotswood are both yet to name replacements for Anthony Eames and Chris O’Keefe respectively.
