WERRIBEE Tigers survived what coach Scott West described as a “danger game” to beat a resilient Coburg by 24 points at a rain-soaked Avalon Airport Oval in the Victorian Football League on Sunday.
The Tigers have been on the up for the best part of two-and-a-half months with an impressive run to the Foxtel Cup grand final and eight wins in nine matches in the league.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the big game.
They have stamped themselves as a genuine premiership contender in that time.
Despite their scorching hot form, West was apprehensive leading into the game, worried about any negative effects stemming from their unfamiliar interstate travel.
“It was all new to us,” he told the Weekly.
“It was a danger game for us having a good run of form and coming back from Brisbane.
“We didn’t train as long this week to make sure guys were a bit fresher.”
The Tigers dominated for large parts of the game, but had nothing to show for it at three-quarter-time when they were two points in arrears. A lack of conviction in front of goal – they had eight more scoring shots – proved costly to that point and a major upset was still on the cards.
West implored his players to maintain the rage, for it was a case of the goalkicking yips that did not allow the home side to shut the game down earlier.
The Tigers finally broke the game open in the fourth, outscoring the visitors six-goals-to-two to remain in third place and snapping at the heels of top-two Casey Scorpions and Port Melbourne.
The foot speed of Malcolm Lynch was the most lethal weapon at West’s disposal. The former Western Bulldogs-listed and Port Melbourne premiership star made a quiet entrance to the Tiger cage, but his past month has been blistering.
The Tigers’ backline, led by playing assistant coach Leigh Harding, kept the Coburg chances to a minimum.
Youngster Ayden Kennedy continued his form with another solid game. A key to the victory was the Tigers high rotations through the middle, ensuring fresh legs till the end and staving off any lag from the previous week’s clash with Morningside under blazing sun.
Ruck tandem Majak Daw and Cam Pederson were crucial, offering first use to their runners, who offered a plethora of score assists for the forward.
The Tigers had a terrible conversion of 16.19, but 35 scoring shots in a game suggests the forward line is functioning well.
Ben McKinley is a major part of the structure for his ability to play tall or small, and his tireless forward defensive pressure.
He snared five goals to take his tally to 25 in the VFL and send a timely reminder to North Melbourne coach Brad Scott that he is ready, willing and able if needed in the AFL. The Tigers are preparing for a crack at arch rivals Williamstown in another important western derby on the road at Burbank Oval on Sunday.
VFL SCORES:
Seniors: Werribee 16.19 (115) d Coburg 14.7 (91). Werribee – Goals: B. McKinley 5, B. Warren 4, R. Castello 2, B. Speight, M. Lynch, J. Bolton, S. Sherlock, M. Daw. Best: M. Lynch, B. McKinley, C. Pedersen, B. Warren, B. Moloney, J. Bolton.
Development: Werribee 15.18 (108) d Coburg 6.6 (42). Werribee – Goals: A. Panayi 3, J. Risol 2, K. Barbuto 2, J. Treloar 2, J. Davis, D. Schibeci, T. Battaglia, J. Reeves, K. Paliouras, J. Purton-Smith. Best: K. Paliouras, J. Keras, K. Barbuto, A. Panayi, J. Davis, W. Sullivan.
