EIGHT minutes into the Werribee-Casey clash on Sunday, the Scorpions had kicked three goals to none and had Tigers coach Scott West worried.
“Eight minutes in I was thinking, what is going on here?,” said West, who played for Victoria in the EJ Whitten Legends game on Wednesday night.
But Werribee managed to stall Casey’s momentum by snagging two goals and going in to quarter-time six points down, when 20 minutes earlier the margin threatened to be six goals.
In an astonishing second quarter, the Tigers slammed home 10 goals to one to take a 48-point lead into half-time.
Casey wasn’t without opportunities, with several inside 50s, but the Tigers inevitably swept out of defence to set up a goal.
North Melbourne’s Scott McMahon marshalled the backline, with Scott Clouston and Jake Wilson in control.
Much-hyped Jesse Hogan’s influence was restricted; he was held to three goals after best-on-ground performances in his two previous games.
Majak Daw, who underwent a concussion test before being cleared to play, dominated with 50 hitouts and was lively and precise at ground level. He kicked a goal and had a hand in several others in a standout display.
Addam Maric played one of his best games for the club with five goals, while a tally of 13 individual goalkickers was testament to the Tigers’ run, spread and ability to look for teammates up the field.
Five goals to four in the second half ensured Werribee edged further ahead and finally claimed a 56-point victory against a team that had lost just two for the year.
West applauded the second term but said arresting Casey’s momentum in the first quarter was the key.
“That was the turning point of the game,” he said. “We stopped the flow a bit and they didn’t score again after that period. The second quarter was terrific and it set the win up but we had to stop the flow first and that was really pleasing.”
Holding Casey to its lowest score of the season also pleased West.
“We had to improve our defensive efforts and we definitely did a good job of that today,” he said.
Werribee (8-5) moved to fifth with the win.
