By LIAM TWOMEY
THE 2014 season will see the dawn of a new era at the Hoppers Crossing Football Club. From the Warriors’ starting 18 last year, only four are still playing at Hogans Rd.
But with a host of impressive youngsters coming through the club’s under 18 program, new coach Steve Kretiuk isn’t panicking.
In fact, he is looking forward to seeing the next generation of Warriors strut their stuff.
“We didn’t want to recruit players to take the places of our young kids coming through,” Kretiuk said.
“That group of young kids that has come through in the last four or five years and has been successful; we need to promote them and give them game time.
“That is where our success is going to come from. It isn’t going to come from going and spending big dollars and buying players from other leagues or other clubs. We want to grow our talent from within and there is a lot of talent there.”
Hoppers Crossing will kick off its 2014 campaign under lights at Chirnside Park against Western Region Football League newcomers Werribee Districts.
The Warriors will also play practice games in the lead-up to round one against Darley and Grovedale.
While it will be a younger Hoppers Crossing side taking the field, they will have some quality experience in ruck recruit Wayde Skipper.
The former Western Bulldog signed at the Warriors last year and hasn’t put a foot wrong, according to his coach.
“He has been outstanding,” Kretiuk said.
“His knowledge and experience and obviously his ability as well — it is great to have him at the club.
“He is a really good trainer, and he sets high levels for everyone else. He doesn’t like coming second or third, he hates getting beaten and that is the type of guy and the type of attitude we want to have around the footy club.”
After finishing sixth on the division one ladder last season, Kretiuk is looking for improvements both on and off the field this year.
He said the club wanted to strengthen its culture and would have a zero tolerance policy to anyone who goes outside that.
“We have done a total cleanout and we have done it for a good reason,” Kretiuk said.
“I think even last year, I wasn’t a part of the squad, but I do go and watch local footy as much as I can. There wasn’t a lot of positive talk about the club.
“In a short amount of time, people are starting to talk really positively about the club again and the structures we have got in place. That is what we want to hear.
“We want to be a good club to be around. We have zero tolerance for anyone that is going to stuff up. They will be straight out the door.”
