Werribee moved to third spot on the VFL ladder with a 40-point win against Richmond at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
The home side didn’t have things all its own way, though, and was forced to fight during a hotly contested first quarter.
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee Tigers v Richmond
With AFL-listed players Aaron Edwards and Ricky Petterd inside Richmond’s 50-metre arc, the Werribee defenders had their work cut out.
Richmond had the better of play early and enjoyed a number of repeat forward 50 entries.
However, the Punt Road Tigers couldn’t make the most of their chances on the scoreboard.
Richmond managed just eight behinds from eight first-quarter scoring shots. At the other end, Werribee was more economical in front of goal and finished the term with a seven-point lead.
From there, some of the sting went out of Richmond’s charge while Werribee was just getting warmed up.
Werribee won each of the next three quarters to secure a 17.14 (116) to 8.17 (65) win.
Victorious coach John Lamont was impressed with how his side weathered the early storm.
“Richmond Football Club has had a pretty tough week,” Lamont said.
“In my experience, having worked at a league club [North Melbourne] for seven years, when outside things happen and the club gets criticised … it galvanises a playing group and it becomes a bit of an ‘us against them’ thing.
“They have come down here today with 16 listed AFL players and they came ready to play.
“For our boys to absorb everything that they threw at them and to end up in front at quarter-time, I was absolutely rapt.”
Around the ground, Jye Bolton, Scott Sherlock and Ben Speight were brilliant for the Tigers. Up forward, Ben Warren was the club’s leading goal scorer with three.
North Melbourne-listed player Ben Brown also kicked two majors in his second match back from injury.
With state league representative football on this weekend, Werribee will enjoy a week off.
Tigers Jesse Crichton and Jake Wilson have been selected in the Victorian squad, which will take on the South Australian National Football League at North Port Oval from 1pm this Saturday.
The VFL side will be coached by Damian Carroll.
