Werribee have struck form at the right time with back-to-back wins, after a 48-point victory against the Northern Blues at Visy Park sealed a finals berth.
Senior Coach Scott West described the win as a “solid effort” and “relieving”, with just eight points separating fourth and ninth on the ladder before the Tigers’ important win. “It was really pleasing. To back up from last week and obviously a finals berth was on the line for us, I think we had to win one of the last two to definitely make sure we played finals so that now is the case. ”“We can go into next week and play with real flair and confidence… and continue the good form,” West said.
The Tigers’ focus on defensive pressure was visible from the outset and a highlight of the first three quarters in particular, as Northern struggled to escape the visitors’ clutches.Kieran Harper and Ben McKinley got the ball rolling with early goals, before a spectacular Sam Rowe hanger and goal reduced the margin against the run of play.The arm-wrestle continued throughout the first term – Addam Maric just managing to squeeze through a goal before quarter time to maintain the Tigers’ lead.
But it was in the second quarter when Werribee asserted their authority, with Michael Firrito and Scott McMahon directing play from the back.Kicking with the wind, the Blues were held to just one goal as Ben Ross, Michael Sodomaco and Jordan Gysberts found plenty of the ball around the ground.Sodomaco set up a brilliant goal, linking with numerous teammates off half-back before McKinley made no mistake on the run from point blank range.With a 23-point half time lead and rain beginning to fall, Werribee piled on eight goals to none in a destructive burst. Some ferocious tackling forced numerous turnovers across the Blues’ half back line, with Ben Brown plucking a handful of strong marks among a quarter full of highlights.McKinley and Robbie Castello took both added their third goals, before Jarred Moore somehow snapped truly from within a sea of bodies to give the Tigers a 72-point lead nearing three quarter time.
With nothing to lose, the Blues came out firing on all cylinders, kicking seven goals in the first 15 minutes of the final term.A loose man behind play did little to stem the flow, but Dan Currie drifted forward and kicked a settling goal, capping off another impressive display in the ruck and around the ground. “He’s been in really good form, obviously he’s battling to get a game against Goldie (Todd Goldstein) which is a little bit difficult, but for us he’s been great. Obviously he broke a thumb earlier in the year, but he’s just been terrific for us with first use,” West said. Moore pushed Currie for best on ground honours, Ross continued his fine form in his 100th VFL game and West also praised the efforts of Ben Brown, who stepped up in the absence of Majak Daw. “I’m a huge wrap for him (Brown)… Whether he’s marking the footy or brings the ball to ground, that’s all you ask. His ability to be able to go into the ruck as well… is a huge bonus for us.”
After an inconsistent season, West said his team was starting to get some continuity ahead of next week’s game against Collingwood and the finals.“We’ve been a bit up and down, there’s no doubt, unfortunately in the VFL when there’s four, five, six changes a week you’re not getting continuity of teams so that can sometimes play its part, but we’re getting some (now).”“I’m a real (believer in) week-to-week (preparation), I know it’s a bad cliché but we really want to go into the finals in good form so we need to carry this form today into next week to play against Collingwood,” West said.
2013 Peter Jackson VFL
Northern Blues 2.1 3.5 3.7 10.10 (70)
Werribee Tigers 3.4 6.10 14.13 17.16 (118)
GOALS:
Northern Blues: Duigan 3 O'Keeffe 2 Rowe 2 Marcon Meese Wilson
Werribee Tigers: Maric 3 Brown 3 McKinley 3 Castello 3 Harper 2 Meredith Moore McDonald
BEST:
Northern Blues: Davies O'Keeffe Ellard Joseph Dale Duigan
Werribee Tigers: Currie Moore Brown Sodomaco McGenniss Castello
2013 AFL Victoria Development League
Northern Blues 2.4 5.4 10.11 15.13 (103)
Werribee Tigers 2.2 5.3 8.6 9.11 (65)
GOALS:
Northern Blues: Dorman 7 Clark 2 Dufficy 2 Bonaddio Cattapan Valladares Taglieri
Werribee Tigers: Williams 2 Davis 2 Jones Sullivan O'Shea Tudor Ruggles
BEST:
Northern Blues: Watson Dorman Lincoln Ballard Marchbank Currie
Werribee Tigers: Laracy Speight Davis Wales Sullivan Lang
Last Modified on 20/08/2013 15:21