Tara Murray
Werribee may not have got the ultimate prize on Sunday afternoon in the Victorian Football League grand final, but the club walks away proud of the season that was.
Playing in its first grand final since 2005 and aiming for only its second premiership and first since 1993, Werribee was the underdog entering the grand final against the Gold Coast Suns.
The Suns had 19 AFL listed players take to the field, Werribee had just three players who have been on AFL lists ever.
Both sides had lost just two games for the year. The Suns last lost to Werribee back in round nine, with Werribee’s last loss to Geelong in round four.
The first quarter nothing separated the two sides. Werribee took control for a period in the second quarter but couldn’t put on the scoreboard pressure.
The Suns kicked a few goals late to lead by 10 points at the main break.
The third quarter is called the premiership quarter and it proved to be for the Suns, with the margin blowing out to nearly 40 points.
Werribee kicked the last two goals of the quarter to give it and its fans some hope. When Werribee kicked the first two of the last quarter, the margin was back under three goals.
The Suns steadied and had the answers every time Werribee attacked.
The Suns did enough to win, 17.10 (112)-14.9 (93).
Werribee coach Michael Barlow said there were a lot of mixed emotions straight after the game.
“In the fullness of time we will be able to absorb it and understand what the year was,” he said. “How the year came about and what we were able to achieve. In the raw moment of it, it’s gut wrenching for the players, not only the 23, but everyone that is connected to the 23.
“They tried so hard and that is what we saw today [Sunday]. There was effort and attitude and the way that the guys compete is unbelievable.
“It’s hard to fathom right now, how amazing this journey has been,,, In the fullness of time they will be able to come to the realisation about how hard this was to do and how much the achievement it was.”
Barlow said it was only patches of the game where they let the Suns get away from them.
He said it was a bit of talent stuff and a bit of a connection, between the Suns high end mids and forwards that was impossible to stop at times.
Barlow said being aligned with an AFL club has it’s advantages, but so does being a standalone club.
“We look at it as a competitive advantage as well,” he said. “The way the guys live and commit to each other,” he said.
“I think the longer that it went some of that supply inside their forward 50 was hard to stop, with Sam Day, the two guys that won the league goal kicking and Mabior Chol, the longer they went.
“I think most sides that play the Suns and think they one or two key defenders short.
The other area Barlow said that was the difference between the sides was efficiency with the ball.
The Suns were a lot cleaner, while at times his side needed to have a bit more composure and balance in the moment.
Barlow said he was proud of how the group continued to keep pressing and pressing and not let the Suns take complete control of the game.
“We kept coming,” he said. “The crowd kept getting involved and felt like we had some chances there in the last quarter to get back within two goals.
“The guys never give up and even late we kicked the last two goals of the game when it’s all said and done, they say respectability on the scoreboard, get within 20 points of a side that rarely trailed all year, is pretty cool.”
Shaun Mannagh was the standout performer for Werribee, with six goals and 27 disposals. He was awarded the Norm Goss Medal for the best player on the ground.
“He’s a great player,” Barlow said “We knew that we could use him in different ways at the start of the game an ask questions of the opposition, it worked.
“Then they put some work into him especially after half time, to Shaun’s credit he was able to fight back.”
Veterans Michael Sodomaco, Tom Gribble and Matt Hanson led the side from the field after the game.
Barlow said it was about recognising some club legends, not necessarily as they’re retiring.
“I probably should have got a couple more out there,” he said. “I hope Dom Brew was out there and Cogga [Nick Coughlan]. They’re guys that have been at the club the longest.
“I haven’t had the full conversation about what it is for next year for them. I thought it was important to just get them out the front.
“More the effort for the year that has been and what they’re effort has been for the last eight to 12 years at the club.”
