JUSTIN Hoggan made an 11th-hour switch from runner to player as Wangaratta held on for a gritty five-point win over Wodonga on Saturday.
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Judd Porter (family reasons) withdrew from Wangaratta’s line-up half an hour before the first bounce and with emergencies Declan Hoy-Maroney and Liam Byrne having played near full matches on the ball in the reserves, the Magpies called on Hoggan to play his first game in a year.
Josh Owen had already been reinstated to the senior team after Michael Newton re-injured his calf at work on Friday.
Hoggan kicked a goal as the Magpies won a scrappy affair 9.7 (61) to 8.8 (56) to move within two points of fifth-placed North Albury.
With a strong breeze favouring the clubrooms end of Norm Minns Oval, the Magpies held on for dear life in the final term after leading by 13 points at three quarter-time.
Michael Bordignon, Matt and Zac Hedin were solid in defence for the Magpies while Daine Porter and Ben Douthie led the way from the midfield.
Josh Hicks and Tom Anson played well for the Bulldogs, who missed overseas ruckman Matt Seiter.
Magpies coach Brendan Cairns said Hoggan “did quite well for someone who hasn’t played in 12 months”.
“It wasn’t an amazing game but it was good for the group to show some resilience and win ugly,” he said.
Cairns said Newton had gone to Melbourne for treatment on his calf and was likely to miss another three weeks.