Max Hatzoglou
Werribee picked up its second win of the season in round four, defeating Williamstown by seven points on Friday playing away from home at Downer Oval.
Werribee played a strong first half, leading by 18 points at quarter time and half-time before a comeback from the Seagulls emerged.
Werribee managed to hold off a strong comeback from the Seagulls, who found themselves leading by three points midway through the last quarter.
A goal from Kye Declase put Werribee back in front however and it was able to hold on to win by seven points.
Werribee coach Michael Barlow gave credit to the opposition and said he was happy to come away with the win, which he believes could have gone either way.
“It was a lot better when you get the four points as opposed to not getting them clearly, we allowed opportunity to be exposed and Williamstown really took their chances and really matched us, in particular around the ball and capitalised off some lapses in our play,” Barlow said.
“Credit to them, they’re well coached, they’re well structured, they’re hard to play against absolutely.
“They’d be assessing that game and looking at opportunities missed because right at the end, clearly that could have gone either way.”
Barlow said the game never felt as if his team had got away from the Seagulls.
“Ideally, you got to go to three quarter time breaks and you feel comfortable with where you’re at, and the scoreboards taking care of itself, but across the game, it just never felt like we shrugged them and that was clearly the case coming into the last quarter,” he said.
After losing by 52 points to Southport last week at home, Barlow was happy his team were able to get a positive result this week.
Barlow also gave credit to 50th gamer Jack Henderson who had a positive milestone game with 24 disposals, two tackles and two marks.
“Jack won the coaches award last year, they say coaches don’t have favourites, but when they make you give a coach’s award, it kind of gives you a little bit of an indication of how that player is perceived not only by the coaches but clearly by the playing group,” he said.
“His story is a remarkable one.
“A young man, undeveloped, undersized, coming into our program in 2018.
“I think he was the last player picked in the squad in that particular year.
“He has played different roles; he’s played back, forward and mid across his 50 games.
“He is a pleasure to coach and he was really good today, he gives us a lot of bite around the contest and good leadership for a young man.”
