Tara Murray
Two Werribee Districts comebacks fell just short in a classic Western Football League division 1 grand final on Saturday.
Facing Hoppers Crossing, which was hoping to complete the fairytale of last to first, the Tigers were seeking to go back-to-back.
The Tigers led at quarter time by five points after having the wind, before the Warriors kicked seven goals to two to open up a 27 point lead at half time.
With the game on the line, Tigers fought back to make it one point at three quarter time.
The Warriors then got the margin out to 19 points late in the final quarter.
Werribee Districts threw everything at them and got the margin back to one point.
The Tigers had their chance to snatch the win, but the Warriors held on to win, 13.12 (90)-14.5 (89).
Tigers coach Chris GIlham said falling short by a point hurts.
“They deserved to win,” he said. “One of the strengths of the competition has been that from top to bottom it has been so close.
“If you don’t play your best, you can be beaten. Hoppers played well and their finals series was incredible.
“I thought we played as well. We fought back in the second half and had a chance to win it. I’m certainly proud even though we were beaten in the end.”
Being down at half time, the Tigers looked to make some changes to get back into the game.
Gilham said they couldn’t keep doing the same thing.
“We threw a couple of things around,” he said. “We had a defender go forward and tried to change the match ups.
“We got some ascendancy in the third quarter.”
With the margin back at one at the final break, it was anyone’s game.
Gilham said knowing that the Warriors had the wind, they had to still hit the scoreboard if they were to come away with the point.
The margin got back out to 19 points in the 22nd minute when Harley Armstrong-Weston kicked truly for the Warriors.
“We never lay down,” Gilham said. “We’ve been challenged in a number of close ones this year and had a few draws and won a final in overtime.
“We kicked three goals late to give ourselves an opportunity. The boys kept fighting it out to the last minute.”
Tim Jenkins and Lachlan Rainbow kicked three goals each for the Tigers. Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, Harrison White and Lucas Rocci were named their best.
For the Tigers, it was the third year in a row that they had all three teams make the grand final.
Only the under-18s got the win on Saturday.
Gilham said he was proud of what the club had achieved the past three years.
“To make a grand final you have an outstanding season, you win a grand final you have an extraordinary season,” he said.
“I’m proud of the whole group top to bottom. Three in a row is an amazing effort. We’ve given ourselves the opportunity, hopefully we’ll be there again next year.”
