Tara Murray
Werribee claimed the Victorian Football League minor premiership with a hard fought win against Box Hill Hawks on Sunday.
The Tigers needed to win in the final round to seal top spot, with the Footscray Bulldogs hot on their heels.
Having lost their last match before a bye, the Tigers were able to bounce back and win, 10.14 (74)-9.9 (63).
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan said it was nice to get back on the winners list.
“We played some good footy and it was more pleasing to bounce back after the week before,” he said.
“We played the footy that we wanted to for most of the game.”
Allan said the bye had come at a good time with the side ravaged by injury and it had allowed them to get a couple of players back into the team.
He said for the first half they played some really good footy and it reflected on the scoreboard as they led by 33 points.
“We focused on a couple of areas that had put pressure on us,” he said. “We had a really good first half and defended much better than we had been doing.
“Our execution was really good.”
Allan said in the third quarter they wasted some opportunities going forward and they were making poor decisions under pressure.
The last quarter was a bit more of a slog.
“It was a good contest between both sides,” Allan said. “Both sides had their chances but we had enough of a lead to hold on.”
Allan said while they hadn’t spoken about claiming the minor premiership both he and the players wanted to win it as a good reward for the season that they’d had so far.
The Tigers finished second last year, only percentage off top spot.
It’s their fifth minor premiership and first since 2005.
Allan said going forward it means little as they focus on the finals and trying to go one better than last season.
Jay Dahlhaus kicked three goals for the Tigers in the win, while Zac Banch chipped in with two goals.
Jack Henderson had 27 disposals, while Riley Bice had 26.
Allan said they had a lot of contributors in the win
“Bior Malual had his best game of the season on the wing,” he said. “Our midfielders were good after being beaten against Southport.
“Jake Smith came back into the team and Cooper Whyte had been playing in other roles and they make us better in the midfield.
“Jack Henderson, Dome Brew, Sam Conway and Kobe Annand relieving him in the ruck were all good.
“Our forwards looked dangerous and we had three guys in the backline almost for the first time this year.
“It was a makeshift backline led by Louis Pinnuck and Jesse Clark.”
Werribee now has a bye due to the wildcard round.
Allan said had they been travelling along really well they would have wanted to continue the momentum but it was good to get another now before finals kick off.
“It gives Jalen Pavlidis and Nathan Cooper another week to push their chances,” he said. “We got through with no injuries, but it was a tough slog and it was pretty physical.”
Allan said they would train like normal this week and then train on Saturday as well in preparation.
Finals then kick off the following weekend with Werribee to host Geelong in a qualifying final.
Allan said they would prepare for a full strength Geelong side.
“We played them in round one and a lot has changed since then,” he said. “We think our best footy stakes up and we will look to control what we can control.
“We’ll look to get better over the next week and then focus on Geelong the week after.”
