Tara Murray
A fast start set up Werribee Districts’ big win against Spotswood in the opening round of the Western Region Football League division 1 season.
Last season’s runners-up, the Tigers flew out of the blocks and led by 55 points at quarter time on Saturday.
That quarter set the rest of the match up, with the Tigers winning 19.17 (131)-5.8 (38).
Tigers coach Chris Gilham said they were happy with that first up performance.
“We weren’t sure how it was going to go after the practice matches,” he said. “We started really well and we were able to establish a good lead and we were able to go from there.”
Gilham said the game was won at the Contest and finding position was key. He said that with the wind and rain.
“The mids were able to find the contest and we were able to get deep entries for our forwards,” he said.
“We were able to put Spotty under pressure, we knew they are a pretty good team.”
Gilham said they could have put 10 to 15 players in the best players, with many of the usual suspects standing up.
Lachlan Rainbow and Trent Lee kicked four goals apiece for the Tigers, while Daniel Schibeci and Andrew Panayi also scored multiple goals.
Panayi was a key for the Tigers in the middle and up forward, while Dillon Viojo-Rianbow started the season in strong form, while defenders Joshua Kellett and Ethan Di Battista were really strong down back.
Gilham said while they were thrilled with the performance, part of the story was the players who didn’t make the term.
“We had three or four debutantes, with the core group still there,” he said.
“We had four or five players from last year’s senior grand final team who started the year in the reserves.
“One of the strengths is the depth through the club. We only recruited three players and two of them were players back to the club.”
Coming off a grand final appearance last season and having all three teams in grand finals, Gilham said they wanted to continue to build on what they did last year.
“We were around the mark last year and this year we don’t think we have to change much,” he said.
“We’ve improved and we want to focus on sticking to the level we know that we can play.
“We need to get better though.
“Last year we were 2-4 at one stage and made the grand final. We wanted to make sure that we started the season well and we did that.”
In other matches, Point Cook made it two in a row, beating Point Cook Centrals in the local derby.
The Bulldogs were able to hold off the Sharks, winning 13.8 (86)-12.10 (82). Hoppers Crossing is without a win after two matches, losing to Caroline Springs, 11.16 (82)-10.5 (65).
