Werribee will play Box Hill in its third consecutive Victorian
Football League preliminary final appearance this Sunday after knocking
Casey out in Sunday’s semi-final.
The Tigers went into the game as slight underdogs and having
missed a double chance, but prevailed 19.10 (124) to 12.12 (84) in a
scintillating display.
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee v Casey
Werribee was knocked out by Geelong in a heartbreaking five-point
loss last year, and was thumped by Williamstown by 83 points in 2011.
But the Tigers are every chance this season if they can deliver
the kind of football that has seen them beat Essendon and Casey in the
first fortnight of finals.
The opening term was hotly contested at North Port Oval on Sunday,
Casey clawing back after the Tigers got out to an 18-point lead when
Jackson Davis brought down Neville Jetta in a tackle and nailed the goal
from the resulting free kick.
The Scorpions took the lead early in the second term with its
first three goals going to Tim Smith (two and four for the game) and
Rory Taggert.
But Werribee got the next four, including one to regular backman
Scott Clouston from outside 50, to lead by 10 points at half-time.
A terrific coast-to-coast goal from the Tigers to open the third
quarter set the tone for a quality third quarter from Werribee, which
booted six goals to two for a 31-point lead at the last break.
Ben Warren kicked two goals in the final term and Addam Maric and
Will Martiniello also goaled to give the Tigers an impressive 40-point
win over the Scorpions.
Clouston played another brilliant game, continuing his rich vein
of form since being moved into defence. His versatility has proved an
important asset.
The Tigers’ pressure across the ground was impressive,
particularly up forward. Jordan Gysberts had 27 touches, while Ben Ross
had 24 and was crucial through the middle with Jarred Moore.
“It’s always nice to go into three-quarter time with the
ascendancy,” said coach Scott West after the game. “Overall, I was
really happy with the whole game.”
West said he did not know whether the Tigers were travelling
better than the same time last year, but said they were up for the
challenge.
“A lot of things come into play and we don’t know who they’ll be
putting out on the park,” he said of Box Hill. “We’re trying to create
our own history and Sunday’s another step.”
