Consistency across four quarters more often than not can help a team to win a game of football.
For the Werribee Tigers, the consistency was there after half-time as they demolished North Ballarat by 82 points at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday as Ben Carbonaro reports.
While the Tigers led on the scoreboard for the entire first half, they didn’t stamp their dominance until after half-time.
This was particularly evident with Werribee’s inability to convert numerous first-half turnovers from North Ballarat, who sprayed several shots on goal.
After half-time, the Tigers ended any chance of North Ballarat remaining in the game as they controlled the football everywhere it went. When the Roosters tried to move the ball forward quickly, the home team’s defenders simply repelled it and got it moving forward.
The dominance of Werribee’s defenders was evident as they restricted North Ballarat to three behinds after half time but countless missed shots on goal cost the Tigers opportunities to edge out further. Werribee finished with only 13 goals from their 37 scoring shots, but restricted North Ballarat to just 10 scoring shots.
Tigers coach Scott West was happy with the win and was particularly impressed with his defensive end’s ability to mop up the ball inside North Ballarat’s forward line.
“We knew their forward six were really dangerous, so obviously at stoppages it was really important to getting it going our way,“ he said.
“I thought our defenders defended really well, and sacrificed their game to come off their own man to help out in the air. I was really pleased.”
The performance of Ben Warren and Ben McKinley (2.7) working together as Werribee’s two main forward targets has impressed West as the season has progressed.
“I think our forwards are really working for each, and as the season as has gone on, they’ve started to work together really well.”
Warren booted three goals playing as a hit up forward where he created good leads and took some strong marks. Ben Ross with his midfield run and carry across the game was best on ground for Werribee.
In the midfield, Werribee’s Levi Greenwood made the most of the slippery conditions as he picked up 26 disposals and did a mountain of grunt work.
Down back, Brad Mangan was again solid as he worked with his fellow Tigers defenders to cut off North Ballarat’s attempts to feed the ball to their forwards.
Paul McMahon and Aaron Edwards kicked a goal each for the Roosters, while young defender Cameron Delaney was best.
The Tigers travel to Visy Park to take on the Northern Blues on Sunday in a live video streamed game on vfl.com.au, while the Roosters have a bye before hosting Port Melbourne in round 22.
Werribee Tigers 13.24.102 d North Ballarat 2.8.20
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 13/08/2012 16:45