Werribee Districts were a big tease on the opening weekend of the Western Region Football League division 1 finals.
The Tigers provided a sample size of their best football with a breathtaking eight-goal third quarter that was almost impossible to stop. But a last term fade-out consigned them to a 50-point loss to Spotswood in a physically demanding second semi-final at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee Districts v Spotswood
Tigers co-captain Matt Dean said his largely inexperienced side could take plenty of positives out of the game.
“There’s a few guys that wouldn’t have played a senior final at all,” he said. “For them to come into this game, where you’ve got finals pressure and the intensity raises 10 to 15 per cent from a normal game, hopefully it’s settled a few nerves and given the boys some confidence they can perform on the big stage.
“The third quarter was probably our best for the game and probably for a couple of weeks to be honest.”
You could make a case for either side when the game was up for grabs at three-quarter-time.
Werribee Districts had all the momentum stemming from their third-quarter blitz, while Spotswood was kicking with the breeze.
The Tigers would be left to rue a number of undisciplined acts that led to the Woodsmen getting a roll on.
“We gave away, from memory, four easy goals from either 50s, silly free kicks and things like that,” Dean lamented.
“From there they obviously had their tails up and finished really strong.
‘‘It’s not an ideal way to finish the game and it doesn’t look good on the scoreboard, but unfortunately that’s what it is.”
Ryan Harrington was deadly in the third term and finished with six goals for the game.
Chris Molivas provided the highlight with a dead-eye 55-metre goal to the swimming pool end in that barnstorming third quarter.
You still left Watton Street thinking the two dangerous forwards had a little more to give after showing flashes of brilliance.
One man who could not give any more was Connor Purton, who restricted Jason Cloke’s effectiveness. Lachlan Patterson and co-captain Brent Morrow were also tight-checking in the Tigers’ defence.
“I have to give a lot of credit to the backline,” Dean said.
The Tigers got a taste of the physicality of finals in the WRFL for the first time since crossing from the amateurs. “It was pretty full on,” Dean said.
In division 2, Parkside became the first side through to the grand final after an 86-point drubbing of Wyndhamvale. Glenorden exited with a two-goal loss to West Footscray.
In division 3, Sanctuary Lakes stayed alive with a six-point win over a gallant Laverton Magpies. Albanvale won through to the grand final with a 15-point win over Braybrook.
WRFL FINALS WEEK 2
Division 1
Second semi-final: Deer Park v Spotswood (Chirnside Park, 2.15pm, Saturday)
First semi-final: Werribee Districts v Hoppers Crossing (Chirnside Park, 2.15pm, Sunday)
Division 2
Preliminary final: Wyndhamvale v West Footscray (Wootten Road Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm)
Division 3
Preliminary final: Braybrook v Sanctuary Lakes (Hogans Road Reserve, Sunday, 2.15pm)
