It might be early March and the middle of the VFL practice match circuit, but old foes Werribee Tigers and Williamstown Seagulls refused to take a backward step on a searing Saturday at Arden Street.
Tempers flared and spot fires broke out during the third quarter of a physical western derby that had everything but premiership points attached.
When the dust settled, it was the Tigers who ran out convincing 24-point winners, their second consecutive victory to start the pre-season.
Tigers coach John Lamont lauded his side’s even spread of contributors: 19 of his 23 players hit double-figure possessions.
“We’ve been working on trying to be as team-orientated a group as we possibly can,” he said. “Blokes were disciplined and team- orientated [today] and there was plenty of rotating and helping each other out.”
Lamont was not overly happy at quarter-time.
He said he gave the team a “bit of a cook” for getting away from the team disciplines.
“People might have thought it was a bit over the top, but it’s about instilling the right behaviours,” he said.
The Tigers responded and had a match-winning lead by half-time.
Lamont took the opportunity to give the team some real-time lessons. At the main break, he took all the players to the centre of the ground to discuss a play that had gone wrong moments earlier.
“They just made a couple of mistakes with ball movement that sort of contravened what we’re about,” Lamont said.
“One of them happened late in the quarter so I thought from an education viewpoint, it’s best to strike while the iron is hot and go out to that part of the ground and try to recreate it in their minds … I think with a bit of a walk-through while it’s fresh, hopefully you get the best result.”
It was a good chance for Tigers players to press for round one selection.
Recruits Tom Gribble and Jobi Harper were outstanding through the middle with more than 20 possessions apiece.
Livewire forward Kayne Turner caught the eye with his immense forward pressure and Jye Bolton racked up 21 touches and a team-high seven clearances.
Forwards Ben Warren (four goals) and Addam Maric (three) looked dangerous.
Warren, far and away the best forward on the ground, had to respond after being in the line of fire a week earlier.
“He got some pretty in-your-face type feedback about a couple of areas of his game,” Lamont said. “It’s great to see an experienced bloke like that show the way, turn it around and become a good example.”
The Tigers’ next practice match is on March 22 against the North Ballarat Roosters.
