Werribee will meet Casey in a semi-final at North Port Oval this
Sunday after dumping Essendon from the finals in an impressive victory
at the weekend.
The Tigers last week were forced to wait for confirmation of their
opponent as the Essendon supplements scandal played out in the AFL
Commission.
But after sanctions were handed out, Essendon chairman Paul
Little and AFL Victoria confirmed that the club’s VFL team was free to
play.
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee v Essendon
SCOTT WEST: Werribee determined to not just make up the numbers
The Bombers, missing Joe Daniher and Jason Winderlich, started
full of fire, jumping to a 28-point lead by quarter-time. But Werribee
reeled them in to claim a 17.14 (116) to 15.7 (97) win.
Essendon’s Patrick Ambrose got the first goal of the game, kicking
truly from 55 metres out. Ben Speight answered shortly after for the
Tigers, but it was their only goal for the term.
Their cause wasn’t helped by Bomber backman Josh Freezer, who wore Ben Warren like a glove for much of the afternoon.
The Bombers booted another five for the term, and their pressure without the ball choked the Tigers.
Cory Dell’Olio was dangerous up forward. He had three goals for the quarter and five for the game.
So strong was the wind at North Port Oval that the second quarter
was a complete reflection of the first. Essendon, so damaging in the
opening stanza, struggled to move the ball past halfway and the Tigers
kicked 8.4 to lead by 24 points at half-time.
Aside from some free kicks paid to the Bombers, Werribee
controlled the quarter. Addam Maric kicked two goals, Kieran Harper and
Speight both slotted goals from the boundary. Will Martiniello and Ben Ross
kicked terrific majors from centre clearances, and McKinley cleverly
let the ball sail over his head before running onto it and kicking
another.
But it was Michael Sodomaco’s goal that best illustrated Werribee’s dominance – he had an ugly, wayward snap at goal late in the term, but the wind miraculously carried it through.
If the second quarter got the Tigers back in front, it was the third that won them the game.
Essendon got the first three goals of the quarter to cut the margin to just four points, but Werribee was able to arrest the momentum and capitalised, keeping the Bombers 16 points in arrears at three-quarter time.
A goal-for-goal final term ensured the Tigers would live to fight another day.
Daniel Currie was best on ground with an outstanding performance
in the ruck and around the ground, particularly given Ben Brown was
missing with a virus. North Melbourne draft pick Luke McDonald showed
again why he’ll be a valuable asset in the AFL.
