FOR the second week in a row, Werribee fell short of a victory in the Victorian Football League, going down 9.13 (67) to fellow finals hopeful North Ballarat 12.12 (84).
And also for the second week in a row, the Tigers could only blame themselves after three poor quarters.
Travelling to Eureka Stadium to play the Roosters, North Melbourne’s other partially aligned VFL affiliate, the Tigers struggled to convert chances in front of goal.
Both teams had four shots on goal in the opening term, but North Ballarat didn’t miss, taking a 4.0 (24) to 1.3 (9) lead into quarter time.
The Roosters kicked only three and two goals in the second and third terms – hardly enough to shut out an opponent. But the Tigers could manage only 1.3 in the second and 1.6 in the third, giving them a 29-point three-quarter time deficit.
Werribee finally found momentum and accuracy in the final quarter, and with goals to skipper Rob Castello, Ben Warren (two), 23rd man George Cameron (two) and Levi Greenwood, the Tigers gave themselves a chance.
But the Roosters had answers in Nathan Horbury, Steve Clifton and Bill Driscoll, and they eventually secured a 17-point win.
The loss puts Werribee in a precarious position. Currently sixth with an 8-7 record, the Tigers have a bye this weekend, with their 72-point March 30 win over Port Melbourne counted as part of round 16.
They then host Port before wrapping the home-and-away season with away games to Northern Blues and Collingwood, eighth and seventh respectively.
Coach Scott West said his side “had some questions to answer” after a spirited final term wasn’t enough.
“We had a poor three quarters and had some energy in the last,” West said. “We’ll have to go back and see what we do at three-quarter time and do it at the start of the game.
“It’s insulting to the players themselves and each other that they’re prepared to drag their backsides around for three quarters and then decide to play in the last quarter.
“I’m the coach and I’m part of this but at the end of the day they’re out there working for each other or not.
“We’ve got some questions to answer over the next few weeks.”
