WALLA has emerged from the darkest period in the club’s proud history with victory for the first time since late in the 2013 season.
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The Hoppers snapped a club record 24-match losing streak by beating Billabong Crows by 20 points at Walla yesterday.
The win sparked scenes of jubilation from long-suffering players, supporters and officials, who crammed into the home sheds to belt out the club song with gusto.
The Hoppers went agonisingly close to their first win last week when going down to Holbrook by a solitary point.
Rookie coach Matt Jaensch said it was a huge relief to secure a victory in only his third match at the helm.
“It’s just satisfying to finally get the monkey off the back,” Jaensch said.
“We had a fairly decent crowd for our first home game and it was just good to show them how much we have improved over the summer.
“It was just a huge relief to hear that final siren.
“I was just happy for the supporters and the boys that have put in the hard yards and stuck by the club through the dark times.
“We didn’t get too carried away and sing the song out on the ground or anything like that.
“It was a win, we tick it off, have the bye this week and then prepare to take on Culcairn the following week.”
The Crows dominated the opening stanza mainly through the efforts of Nathan Kerr, Dalton Guthrie and Julian Bourchier.
But some wayward goalkicking kept the Hoppers in the match after the visitors booted 1.7 for the term.
The Hoppers capitalised in the second quarter as they slowly gained the ascendancy through Harry Trezise, Craig Lieschke and Sam Crawshaw to open up a 12-point buffer at the main break.
The home side were able to then keep the Crows at arms-length for the second half to finally win 11.11 (77) to 8.9 (57).
“While today is a step in the right direction, there is no quick-fix and after losing 24 games and we realise it’s going to take a lot more hard work and dedication to turn things around,” Jaensch said.
“We just want to keep improving each week and aren’t going to be satisfied with just the one win.
“We want to build on that and get three, four or five wins and keep building.”
In other matches yesterday, Jindera forward Angus McDiarmid booted five goals to lead the Bulldogs to a 19-point win over CDHBU.
Holbrook enjoyed a 59-point victory over fierce rival Culcairn with John Spencer the biggest difference with seven goals.
Howlong extended its unbeaten start with a hard-fought six-point win over Osborne.