It may only be six rounds into the VFL season, but Werribee has developed the sort of reputation many clubs spend years striving for.
After an off-season of change that included welcoming new coach John Lamont, the Tigers could have been excused for taking time to adjust to their surroundings.
However, Werribee went into its first bye last week on the right side of the win-loss ledger, at 3-2 and in sixth place on the ladder.
The Tigers’ two losses came at the hands of flag contenders Box Hill and Port Melbourne, while the club’s wins against Bendigo, the Northern Blues and Casey were impressive.
“We couldn’t be happier to enter the break at 3-2,” Lamont said.
“It was just really important, having that week off, as a bit of a mental thing to be in front.
“We have had a pretty tough draw. In the two games we have lost, I feel that if our error rate hadn’t been as high, they were certainly winable.’’
Werribee said goodbye to several star players last summer.
With the likes of Robbie Castello, Ben Ross, Ben McKinley and Ben Sharp moving on, new faces like Jesse Crichton have wasted no time picking up the slack.
After joining the club from Fremantle, Crichton recovered from a slow start in round one and has been among the Tigers’ best players the past three weeks.
“We have been really pleased with how Jesse has gone these last few weeks,” Lamont said.
“He reads the game well, gets into good positions, uses the ball well, does really well in one-on-ones and he has been very good.”
Despite being in his first season as a head coach, Lamont has already put his own spin on the club’s leadership ranks.
After announcing the Tigers would not have a standalone captain in 2014 – instead being led by an 11-man group – the former Werribee premiership player has been rapt with the results.
“The buy-in from those boys, and the general acceptance from the entire playing group … has been fantastic,’’ Lamont said.
“We want everyone to display leadership traits.”
The Tigers are back in action this week with an away game against Sandringham.
