Tara Murray
Werribee got going after a slow start against Coburg to come away with one of its biggest wins of the Victorian Football League season.
The Tigers failed to execute their game plan early on despite leading on the scoreboard at quarter time.
They finally started to get going in the second half of the second quarter before playing some of their best football for the season after half time.
The Tigers ran away for a 19.16 (130)-7.9 (51) win.
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan said after struggling early they got their game going.
“I wasn’t happy with the way we started the first quarter,” he said. “We were up five goals to three but we didn’t play the way we wanted to.
“From about the 15 minute mark of the second quarter we played pretty good after that.”
Allan said in the first half they struggled to get the balance correct between winning the ball on the inside and getting it on the outside.
He said they were giving it away too much back to Coburg, which is more competitive than what its position shows.
“The first quarter they played some really good football,” he said. “We then looked after the ball a little bit more and didn’t give them opportunities to get the ball in the open.
“The third quarter was as good as the footy we have played all year. It didn’t look like they would get it in their defensive 50 for a long time.
“We were making good decisions with the ball and better control of the footy that early on when we turned it over.
Up forward the Tigers shared the ball around with six multiple goal kickers.
Hudson Garoni and Zac Banch kicked four goals each, while four players kicked two goals each.
Allan said there was a real mix of contributors up forward.
“The forward line worked well,” he said. “On the weekend there were opportunities to score.
“We didn’t do it as much early on but there were plenty of opportunities and we took those chances later.”
Allan said Banch was really good up forward with his four goals coming on the back of pressure.
There were plenty of other standouts.
“Riley Bice on half back if not for him in the first quarter the score line could have been different,” Allan said.
“He took eight marks, intercept marks. Dom Brew and Jack Henderson were good and Aidan Johnson had a patch.
‘Harry Grintell was clean when others weren’t. He was back on the wing.”
The match was a good celebration for Louis Pinnuck who celebrated his 100th VFL game.
The win was marred by a couple of injuries.
Nick Hayes was a late withdrawal with a corkie. Allan said he could have played but they were cautious.
Skipper Nick Coughlan hurt his hamstring.
Allan said Coughlan, who has missed most of the season with injury, was frustrated by it all.
“He will come back and do what he needs to do,” he said. “Hopefully he’ll be back for finals.”
Werribee remains a game clear at the top of the table.
This week the Tigers face the Northern Bullants at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday at 2.05pm.
Allan said it was another one of those games they had to make sure they didn’t take lightly.
“I wasn’t overly happy at quarter time on Saturday and told them we had a certain way that we wanted to play regardless of the opposition.
“We need to respect who we are playing so it will hold us in good stead come finals.”
