Werribee is breathing a sigh of relief after breaking through for its first win of the Victorian Football League season.
The Tigers ran out 23-point victors over Essendon at Arden Street on Saturday to snap a two-game losing streak and move away from the cellar-dwelling sides.
It was a more experienced Werribee line-up to the one that took to the field in the previous two rounds, with the additions of gun midfielder Andrew Swallow and small forward Lindsay Thomas, demoted by North Melbourne.
The Tigers’ big-man stocks were lifted by Braydon Preuss, who was also dropped by North Melbourne despite impressing at that level.
All three ins had a big impact on the game.
Thomas kicked a game-high four goals, while two majors each for Corey Wagner, Matthew Munro and Matt Hanson were valuable.
Captain Michael Sodomaco continued his rich vein of form with 23 possessions in defence, while Ryley Barrack added another tick to his strong block of games.
Declan Mountford has been named in the Tigers’ best in each of his three games, suggesting a call-up to North Melbourne might not be too far away.
Jade Cleeland made his senior debut for the Tigers. The Wangaratta product did not look out of place, providing an aerial presence.
Max Augerinos played as the 23rd man for the third time and was a tackling machine.
While Werribee rode its luck a bit in the third quarter as a wayward Essendon kicked 1.8, it was always in command on the scoreboard in the second half.
A four-goal-to-three last term ensured the Tigers victory. Next up for Werribee is a clash with the Casey Demons at Hogans Road Reserve in Hoppers Crossing on Sunday.
In the AFL Victoria development league, Werribee lost to Port Melbourne by 41 points at North Port Oval.
Lance Jenkinson
