By Tara Murray
Werribee showed a glimpse of its brand of football as it produced one of its best performances of the Victorian Football League season to account for the Sandringham Zebras on Sunday.
After their most disappointing performance in the past two seasons, the Tigers bounced back against the Zebra, winning 17.10 (112)-9.7 (61).
The Tigers jumped out of the blocks early and led by 19 points at quarter time..
Seven goals to three in the second quarter allowed the Tigers to jump out to a 42 point lead at the main break.
The Zebras didn’t allow the Tigers to get away from them in the third quarter as they slightly reduced the margin.
Werribee was able to finish the game with a strong final quarter to lock in their fourth win of the season.
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan was much happier this week with not only the result, but the performance.
“It was a lot closer to our capabilities for a lot longer, pretty pleased with the bounce,” he said.
“We had a big emphasis on doing the stuff no one really wants to do well, that is what makes great teams.
“We had sort of gone away from that a little bit, yesterday [Sunday] our commitment to the cause was a lot stronger for a lot longer, it reflected in the scoreline.”
Allan said while it was the closest they’d had to a four quarter performance this year, they still went away from the game plan a bit in the third quarter.
He said that was a little bit disappointing.
“We missed tackles and fumbled a bit,” he said. “They hurt us a little bit that quarter, but the other three quarters were really, really strong.
“They had some really good players playing and their midfield was exceptionally strong for a VFL level midfield and it was a good challenge for our boys and I thought they stood up really well.”
Allan said their best two quarters were into the breeze and they moved the ball really well and defended really well on a small ground.
He said Flynn Young was exceptional as he kicked three goals, while Hudson Garoni, who kicked four goals, showed how good he could be when he just competes all day.
Louis Pinnick and Jesse Clark were strong down back all day, while Cooper Whyte was good all day in the midfield and Zac Banch showed he can really be a strong contributor at this level.
Harrison Miller, who is from Williamstown CYMS, made his debut in the win, kicking a goal.
Allan said he acquitted himself really well and said some of his hard stuff set an example from an attack point of view,
The Tigers sit in eighth spot on 16 points.
They have a bye this weekend.
Allan said it’s much better going into a bye on the back of a win like that.
“We’re happy to have a bye,” he said. “I think our guys are ready for a freshen up a bit, we’ll be able to do that this week.
“We have a pretty light week, pool on Tuesday and give a lot of them the bye off on Thursday and weekend off and then we’re back into it with an important block of games after that.”
In the VFLW women’s grand final rematch, North Melbourne Werribee beat the Western Bulldogs, 6.7 (43)-3.4 (22).
The Kangaroos trailed at half time before kicking the only four goals of the second half to get the win.
