WERRIBEE is hanging on inside the top eight despite a 43-point loss to Victorian Football League ladder leaders Box Hill on Saturday.
The Tigers are seventh, buffered by their 72-point drubbing of Port Melbourne in March.
Heading into Saturday’s Beyond Blue Cup against the Hawks, Werribee had won four on the trot and was coming off a 92-point belting of Bendigo.
But Box Hill got the hot start and set up victory with seven goals to two in the opening term. The Hawks ran riot and led by 30 points at the first change.
The Tigers improved defensively, but Box Hill still won the second and final terms. It took a 34-point lead into half-time.
Werribee tried to work its way back into the contest but four goals to two in the last term put paid to any comeback.
It was Box Hill’s seventh consecutive win, keeping them atop the ladder, and propelling them into premiership consideration.
Robbie Tarrant kicked three goals for Werribee in his return from injury. Addam Maric was the only other multiple goalscorer with two. Liam Tobin, Mitchell Hallahan and Sam Grimley each kicked three for the Hawks.
Tigers coach Scott West said his side was poor defensively.
“To be five goals down early was pretty ugly,” he said. “We didn’t defend well and they were rebounding easily.
“We were in the game and we were able to even it up, but if you give good teams starts like that it’s very difficult to peg them back.
“Box Hill and Geelong are the form teams and if you look at the AFL they’re one-and-two as well, so their clubs are travelling well.”
West had praise for Jake Wilson, who had a terrific game in defence despite the Hawks’ onslaught.
“Jake was undersized but I thought he did a terrific job,” he said. “He’s been very good when he’s [been] ‘on’ this year. We are just trying to minimise the difference between his best and worst.”
Versatile Scott Clouston also impressed when moved into the backline.
At the other end of the ground tall forward Ben Brown, who has been one of the Tigers’ best, was given a rest with Tarrant returning.
In the development league, the Hawks triumphed by 27 points, kicking seven goals in the opening term to sink the Tigers. Box Hill is undefeated in the reserves this season; it drew with Werribee in round five.
The Tigers, trailing by 29 points at quarter-time, fought back into the contest with five goals in the second quarter and six in the third to close within 10 points by three-quarter time.
But Box Hill was too strong in the last, holding Werribee to a goal while slotting four of its own.
