Tara Murray
Werribee did enough in patches to rack up another win in the Victorian Football League on Saturday.
Coming off a bye, the Tigers headed to Victoria Park to take on Collingwood.
The Tigers were able to build a lead in the first three quarters before taking their foot off the pedal in the last.
While the game was already won, the Magpies came hard late but weren’t able to make the most of their opportunities.
Werribee did enough to come away with the win, 15.10 (100)-6.12 (48).
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan said they were happy with parts of the performance.
“We played reasonably well in some patches,” he said. “In other patches we weren’t so good.
“We were able to score enough in those periods when we played well.”
Allan said it was the second and third quarters when they were able to do all the damage. On the scoreboard, they kicked nine goals to two in that period.
“I thought we were OK in the first quarter and played really well in the second and third quarters.
“In the last quarter, Collingwood took the game on a lot more and we didn’t hold them as well as we would have liked.”
Allan said with such a big lead at three quarter time might have gone into the boys mindsets heading into the final quarter and they were quite switched on.
“It’s a challenge to do that,” he said. “You have to be ruthless the whole game and it’s something to work on.
“The boys are under no illusions that our best footy is really good, but we are still giving the opposition chances.
“We have some stuff to work on.”
Allan said most of the concerns on the weekend were the decisions they were making, like trying to force things that weren’t there, while in the first quarter they didn’t defend well enough.
He said their ball movement wasn’t where they needed it to be at times, but was on song in the middle two quarters.
Jay Dahlhaus kicked four goals, while Angus Hicks, Harry Grintell and debutant Zac Banch kicked two goals each.
Dom Brew had 28 possessions, while Kye Declase had 24 and Jack Riding had 23 disposals.
Allan said they had a number of good contributors.
“Angus Hicks continued his good form at half forward,” he said. “Dom Brew was really good and Bior Malual has had a couple of good weeks on the wing.
“Jack Henderson was good in the midfield and Jack Riding has done some good stuff.
“Jay Dahlhaus kicked another four goals from his chances as well.”
In a good sign for the Tigers, Nick Hayes returned after a serious collision earlier in the season.
It was his 50th game for Werribee.
“He is one of the best leaders that we have and it helps that he can seriously play,” Allan said.
“It’s great to have him back so soon after such a sickening clash and he’s only going to get better and better.”
Skipper Nick Coughlan is still a few weeks away from returning but Jesse Clark (concussion) and Daly Andrews (knee injury) are set for returns.
Allan said they don’t think they had any fresh injuries from the weekend which was a big plus.
“The guys that are coming in, we have full confidence in them,” he said. “It’s nice to have a clean bill of health and hopefully set ourselves for the end of the year with bagging wins at this point of the year.”
Werribee sits fifth on the ladder with five wins from its seven matches.
This week Werribee faces North Melbourne on Sunday at Avalon Airport Oval from 12pm.
It’s a big day for the club with it being past players day.
“It’s a TV game,” Allan said. “It’s past players day and a really big day for the club.
“They are coming off a loss and a team like them will look to bounce back.
“If we play like we did in the second and third quarters, we’ll be pretty competitive most weeks.”
