WESTERN Region Football League product Wayde Twomey summed up the mood in the Western Australian camp when he accepted the Simpson Medal as his side’s best in a 17-point win over Victoria.
The former Port Melbourne Colts player could barely contain his excitement and came excruciatingly close to dropping the f-word as he spoke of his adopted state’s achievement — WA’s first win over the Big V since a State of Origin match in 1991.
It was a lighthearted moment that relieved the tension of the two hours prior.
The Victorian Football League and the West Australian Football League fought fiercely in a superb game of state representative footy.
The game fluctuated wildly. The Black Swans had all the momentum early but missed several shots on goal. At the other end, the Vics were simply making the most of their chances. Port Melbourne’s Josh Scipione and Frankston’s Michael Lourey imposed themselves on the contest with goals.
Trailing by 22 points at quarter-time, WA roared back into the contest in the second term before before Werribee’s Ben Warren goal steadied the tide for the Vics.
Enter Twomey. The Swan Districts defender turned the game with five goals up forward, a move by coach Marc Webb that proved a masterstroke.
The Big V got out to a lead of 31 points during the third quarter when Dolphin Sam Lloyd kicked his third and fourth goals.
But from there it was all Black Swans. The Vics would kick just one goal for the remainder of the contest as WA turned on the afterburners.
In particularly dazzling piece of play, Marlon Motlop ran the ball all the way down the outer wing, kicked to Brennan Stack who marked strongly and kicked truly.
Victoria was not without its chances in the last quarter, going inside 50 on several occasions, but the West Australian defenders made a contest of everything. Forward thrusts from the likes of Tiger Ben Ross and Williamstown’s Willie Wheeler either sailed over targets’ heads or were repelled by a swarm of Black Swans.
Western Australia kicked the only five goals of the final term to run out winners, 17.16 (118) to 15.11 (101).
Four Tigers were played the match — Warren, Ross, Scott Sherlock and Jake Wilson. Ross was best 14 touches through the middle of the ground, Sherlock had 12 and crashed packs all afternoon, Wilson had 11 touches and three rebound fifties. Warren kicked two goals from nine touches and six marks.
Port Melbourne’s Chris Cain was awarded the Frank Johnson Medal as Victoria’s best.
Big V coach Gary Ayres admitted Western
Australia was better when it counted most. “They
were just a bit better than us in that last quarter,” he said.
“We were running below the
surface whereas they were running on top of it. Our boys were brave, and they
kept on persevering but we just couldn’t do enough when we were in a position
to make our advantage greater, we just couldn’t get that extra goal.”
Ayres said the Vics, whose
preparation was hindered by a flight delay out of Melbourne
and a wait at baggage collection, were shattered to lose their mantle.
“It was disappointing, we’ve
had the advantage for a long time,” he said. “But a long winning
streak has to come to an end at some time.”
State game: Western Australia 17.16.118 d Victoria 15.11.101. Victoria — goals: Lloyd 4, Scipione 3, Warren 2, Lourey 2, Michaliades 2, Panozza, Lambert. Best: Cain, Marigliani, Mirra, Sewell, Gleeson, Cockie.
