By Tara Murray
Werribee needs to get back to the basics after suffering its second loss in three games in the Victorian Football League.
It was a big day for the Tigers on Saturday as they returned home for the first time this year and got to raise the premiership flag.
The flag raising would be the highlight of the day for Tigers fans, as their boys struggled to get going against Footscray.
The match went down to the wire with a goal to Cooper Hynes beyond the 31 minute mark in the final quarter giving the Bulldogs an 11.12 (78)-11.8 (74) win.
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan said it was a pretty disappointing performance.
“It was disappointing, not necessarily the result, but the way we played,” he said.
“We didn’t deserve to win and had we gotten over the line I felt like we would have stolen it.
“The better team won on the day.”
Allan said they played well in the second quarter against the Bulldogs, but that was it.
He said had the Bulldogs kicked straight in the first quarter, the game could have been over at that stage.
In the second half the Bulldogs controlled the match.
“We couldn’t get our hands on the ball,” Allan said. “They scored too easily in the third quarter.
“In the last quarter we had the opportunity to win the game and could not take the opportunities.”
Allan said they’ve seen in all three of their games that they’ve only played well in patches and not for whole games.
“I thought against Essendon we had one good quarter and one and half quarters against Southport,” he said.
“The pleasing thing is we’re still doing enough to be in games.
“The loss isn’t a bad thing. When you get away with wins and you don’t play well, it can cover it.
“One good quarter isn’t enough.”
Allan said the focus for the playing group had to be on doing the basic things correctly. He said it’s what got them to where they were last year.
“The things that made us good last year,” he said. “The not so fun and not so pretty, but they were happy to do it.
“Whether subconsciously or unconsciously they’re thinking I can do more than what I was doing last year.
“We want that team footy and doing the basics right.”
On Saturday, Dom Brew led the way in the middle of the ground with 32 possessions. Allan said he was the only midfielder to win his position.
Ryan Eyers continued his good form for the Tigers in defence, while Hudson Garoni kicked three goals with limited opportunities in what Allan said would have been a frustrating day to be a forward.
The Tigers now have this weekend off with the state of origin clash with the South Australian National Football League.
Brew, Louis Pinnuck and Jack Riding are the three Werribee players that were named in the squad.
Allan said he wasn’t sure whether having a week off after the loss is a good thing or not.
“We’ll look to address some things and let it simmer a bit,” he said. “It’s not fun sitting in a performance for two weeks.
“Only time will tell whether its a good thing.
“Tuesday we’ll train and then the boys will have a bit of time off and some will be released to local footy.”
Werribee’s round four clash is in Sydney against Sydney.
