Tara Murray
Werribee had to find another way to win as it made it 11 in a row in the Victorian Football League.
The Tigers have been thrown a number of different challenges during their winning streak, including injury and weather.
On Saturday, they had to come from behind at half time against Port Melbourne to get the win.
The Tigers trailed by five points at half time before the Tigers kicked seven goals to two after half time to win, 11.10 (76)-7.7 (49).
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan said the result was anything but easy.
“We have to fight,” he said. “The conditions were trying and the opposition played really well.
“We were down at half time and I thought playing OK. We got on top in the third quarter and we had a reasonably comfortable lead after that.”
Allan said they had looked to adjust how they played in the wet after struggling at times the week before and early in the season.
He said it was wet and windy but not the worst conditions they’d played in for the season.
“We didn’t want to be too cute with the ball, but we went a bit too safe,” he said. “That was my fault.
“We needed to be braver with the ball and take on the game a bit more. We wanted to test the players and see if they would react.
“They adjusted really quickly after half time. They didn’t panic and there was no finger pointing, it’s the first time we’ve been challenged on the scoreboard for a while.”
Allan said it was pleasing to see the side react to different challenges that had been thrown at them
He said there was a real confidence in the ground to stick to the process and know that the results will come.
“They are believing that,” he said. “On the weekend it was another step forward.”
Hudson Garoni was best on ground with five goals and 19 disposals. Four of those goals came in the third quarter.
“He was outstanding,” Allan said. “He was the difference in the game and there was a period in the game when he was marking everything and marks were hard to come back.
Sam Conway was strong in the ruck and Dom Brew relished the conditions and had 29 possessions.
Jack Henderson, Jake Smith and Riley Bice all had good games as well.
After going in unchanged for the first time this season, the Tigers have a couple of injury concerns.
“Jack Riding was dangerous before getting injured,” Allan said. “His shoulder popped out, it did it in the warm up earlier in the season and he played and didn’t miss a game.
“He was a bit sore.
“Jaelen Pavlidis felt a bit of a grab in his hamstring and didn’t play the second half. He’s had a good season.
“The boys that have been coming in and doing a great job.”
Werribee now sits 10 points clear on top of the ladder with three rounds remaining.
It has played an extra match than third placed Footscray Bulldogs and fourth placed Brisbane Lions.
This week the Tigers are at home on Saturday at 12.05pm against the sixth-placed Southport.
Allan said it would be a massive challenge for them.
“We have a tough match this week and then a bye and then back against Box Hill,” he said.
“It will be a tough game . Earlier in the year we pinched it after they had been the better side all day.”
