Werribee Tigers coach John Lamont will not use his side’s 22-point VFL win over North Ballarat as a smokescreen to cover up its deficiencies.
The Tigers came roaring back from 16 points down at three-quarter time to steal victory after a stunning fourth quarter from troubled forward Majak Daw.
Daw booted two late goals to clinch four premiership points and put a personally tumultuous week behind him for at least a few hours.
While the comeback catapulted the Tigers into the top four, Lamont was not thrilled
at having to rely on the “get out of jail” card again.
The coach is tiring of the all-too-familiar mental lapses that allow opposition clubs to get a run on.
“I’m always happy to win, but I came away scratching my head and thinking there’s still a long way to go,” he said.
“We’re still not at the level of consistency across the 120 minutes that we’re looking for.
“If we don’t get that consistency right, some of the better teams we’re playing over the next few weeks – Collingwood, Port Melbourne and Footscray – will beat us. We’ve got to get our act together.”
Daw proved the X-factor for the Tigers, particularly late in the game.
Be it kicking his three goals, taking contested marks, bursting open a pack or attracting two defenders in the air to create crumbs, the target man was a nuisance for the Roosters’ defence.
“The opposition would’ve been terribly nervous,’” Lamont said.
“He forces them to spoil; you can’t try and out-mark him.
“And if it’s the second bloke coming in, instead of trying to mark it they’re trying to spoil and that brings our other blokes into the game.”
Dylan Jones and Josh Porter were commended for assuming ruck duties and freeing Daw to play forward at crunch time.
Jarred Moore also received a glowing appraisal in the form of best-on-ground honours.
In typical fashion, the veteran onballer thrived on the contested ball situation.
“When there’s a bit of chaos around, he’s able to get it and put a teammate into space and give that player a bit of time to deliver the ball properly, or he’ll kick the ball well himself,” Lamont said.
Kieran Harper, Jackson Davis and Brayden Norris were prolific across the midfield for the Tigers.
Ben Warren snared four goals to lead the competition goalkicking with 28.
Addam Maric booted three, including a contender for goal of the day that gave the Tigers a last-term lead.
The Tigers could be without Sam Wormald for the road clash with Collingwood at Victoria Park on Saturday after the defender injured his shoulder just minutes into the win over the Roosters.
