Werribee Tigers produced a three-point win over Port Melbourne that was full of guts and determination in the Victorian Football League at Rams Arena on Saturday.
It was a back-to-the-wall Tigers who arrived in Craigieburn on Sunday, having gone into the contest on the back of successive heavy defeats and seen their top-eight spot momentarily taken away after the results from 24 hours earlier.
Down two rotations with injuries to Isaac Miller and Josh Corbett and trailing by 17 points at half-time, it seemed like it was just not going to be the Tigers’ day.
Even as late as time-on of the last quarter, the Tigers appeared to be headed for an honourable loss, but like so often this season, the travelling band in black and gold found a way to make it an unforgettable trip.
At the 23-minute mark, a nice team build-up play resulted in a Tom Gribble goal, reducing the margin to just two points.
Port Melbourne clicked into game-saving mode, but did not execute it the way coach Gary Ayres would have liked.
On three occasions, the Borough turned the ball over, and Werribee finally made them pay.
Dashing half-back Dane McFarlane scooped up a scrubber kick, pumped the ball long to Jed Anderson, who, in turn, found the chest of Cameron Zurhaar for a set shot 35 metres out on no angle.
Zurhaar went back and calmly slotted it home for a goal.
Port Melbourne would have one last chance to win the game with key forward Jordan Lisle pulling his set shot to the left and the ball going out of bounds in a dangerous position.
Two balls up followed a boundary throw in, but the Tigers onballers, aided by some neat ruck work from the experienced Todd Goldstein, managed to kill the ball and not give the Borough a shot on goal, even with the ball nestled deep into their forward 50.
When the siren sounded, Werribee players embraced en masse to acknowledge their most spirited win of the season, while the Borough players slumped to the ground in disbelief, wondering how they blew a handy time-on lead.
The Tigers kicked an impeccable 17.3 for the game, with goal sneak Lindsay Thomas snaring four and Gribble, Zurhaar, Goldstein and Lachie Hansen, who took nine marks, adding two each.
Goldstein was named best-on-ground for his tireless work in the ruck, with 58 hit-outs to go with 16 possessions.
Captain Michael Sodomaco, half-back Ryley Barrack and onballer Matt Hanson were the pick of the VFL-listed players.
Hanson had a game-high 16 tackles to accompany 26 possessions.
Gribble was also busy with 29 disposals.
Werribee is a game clear in eighth spot ahead of a clash with Collingwood at Etihad Stadium at 3.40pm on Saturday.
In a throwback to an era past, the game will be a curtain-raiser to the AFL match between North Melbourne and Collingwood.
