Tara Murray
Werribee will take the four points from its win against the Sydney Swans and quickly move on in the Victorian Football League on Sunday.
The Tigers made the trip up to Sydney for the match and were met by the same winter conditions that hit Melbourne matches on Saturday.
Scoring was made hard with the conditions, but Werribee did enough to get the win, 9.5 (59)-5.15 (45) win.
Tigers coach Jimmy Allan said it was a match that wouldn’t look back at it.
“I’m doing the review now and I don’t ever want to watch it again,” Allan said on Monday.
“The conditions were not overly pleasant. It didn’t rain overly heavily, but it was really windy and really slippery. It was an ordinary day.
“We did enough to get the win, it wasn’t pretty but we would have taken it at the start of the day.”
Just four goals were kicked in the first half, with Tigers straight goal kicking having them eight points in front at the break.
Allan said they had a pretty good second quarter against the wind and were able to restrict their scoring.
He said the third quarter when they had the breeze and kicked five goals.
Allan said they didn’t handle the conditions and the best and dried to play dry weather football and tried to do too many handballs.
“It was a pretty ordinary game and we gave the opposition an opportunity to score, especially late in the game.”
Zac Banch kicked three goals for Werribee, while Hudson Garoni got two.
Louis Pinnuck and Dom Brew had plenty of the ball with 27 disposals each.
Allan said it was a couple of their defenders and forwards that stood out.
“Nathan Cooper was sensational down back and held up really well all day,” he said.
“It’s the first time in a while we’ve the opposition has had more inside 50s. Jalen Pavalidis and Nick Coughlan, in his first game back, were good.
“Zac Banch take the most of his opportunities and there aren’t many to have, Sam Conway in the rick and Hudson Garoni was a good target up forward.”
Allan said the return of Coughlan was a big one for the side.
The skipper hasn’t played since round four.
“Not just in a playing sense but also the leadership, it’s good to have him back,” Allan said.
“It’s good for the continuity in the back group. We’ve had a bit of chopping and chains.
“Stefan Radovanic should be back soon and look to have our best seven defenders out there.”
Werribee remains on top of the ladder, percentage ahead of the Footscray Bulldogs.
The two teams face each other on Saturday at Avalon Airport Oval at 2.05pm.
Allan said they were looking forward to the challenge.
“We set ourselves to play the best teams in the competition,” he said. “They had a strong win on the weekend and looks like they’ve got some players back.
“We’re looking forward to having a good crack at it. Hopefully we have a big crowd down there.”
