VFL: Werribee Tigers recapture magic against Geelong Cats

Werribee recovered from back-to-back VFL losses in the best possible style with a gutsy nine-point win against Geelong on Saturday.

The Tigers came from behind in the final term to record a 13.9 (87) to 11.12 (78) win and stay in touch with the top four.

In what is traditionally one of the VFL’s toughest road trips, the Tigers ventured to Simonds Stadium under pressure but produced some of their best football of the season to start the match.

Werribee kicked the first goal from a Ben Warren set shot 45 metres out and added another two soon after through Josh Porter.

Despite the hot start, there was no letting up from the Tigers and when Tim McGenniss kicked his first goal of the match, the scoreboard showed 38-3.

But playing in front of their home fans, the Cats were never going to throw in the towel, and they hit back in the next two quarters.

Geelong shut Werribee down at the attacking end and conceded just two goals in quarters two and three.

The Cats’ forwards combined for nine goals to take a 17-point lead into the last quarter.

There was one last twist, though, with Werribee rediscovering its first-term form.

Majak Daw kicked two goals to cut the margin to four points before a snap from Jye Bolton from the boundary line gave the Tigers the lead.

Michael Sodomaco then put the icing on the cake, kicking his second goal of the day to seal the win.

Werribee coach John Lamont was rapt with his side’s attitude.

“We were 23 points down in the last quarter and then were able to kick the next five,” he said.

“It’s got to be one of our better wins for the season.

‘‘To turn around from losing two games narrowly, to have that lapse in the second and third quarters but still get it right in the last quarter, keeps us in touch with the top four.”

Werribee (6-4) moved to fifth on the ladder. The Tigers will look to make it two wins in two weeks when they take on 14th-placed Coburg this Sunday.

“Coburg has given a very spirited account of themselves against Essendon, so we will need to be switched on,” Lamont said.