Tara Murray
Werribee produced one of its biggest ever wins in easily accounting for the North Bullants on Sunday in the Victorian Football League.
A goal within the first 90 seconds of the game and 10 goals in the first quarter set the tone for Werribee.
Werribee won every quarter on the way to the club’s second biggest win in its VFA/VFL history – 27.21 (183)-3.5 (23).
Coach Michael Barlow was thrilled with the win.
“It was a very good result in terms of coming off a bye and getting the result and the way we did,” he said.
“The most pleasing, and the satisfying, thing from a coaching group point of view, from players point of view, they were really thirsty to put in a four quarter performance … which across the first four weeks we’d had a lapse in each of those games.
“Yesterday was an opportunity to actually go out and execute a four quarter result, which we did.”
Barlow said it was nice to see the team make the most of its dominance in the first quarter, to basically have the game sewn up by quarter-time.
Twelve players kicked goals for Werribee, with Shaun Mannagh kicking five, second half goals. Wylie Buzza and Ryan Kemp kicked four goals apiece.
“Wylie Buzza continued his form and a few of the smaller guys got involved,” Barlow said.
“Kempy returned from a broken hand after a training mishap earlier in the year and it was a good return for him.
“Shaun gives us some versatility up the ground and in the forward half.
“We were pleased with the multiple levels of contributors.”
Werribee’s defensive prowess was also on show. Barlow said the pressure around the ground was the key to their game.
“Our defence has been one of our mainstays and most consistent aspects of our game in the early parts of the season, so to continue that is important.
“It’s something to continue to build on and a real staple of the way we play.
“Not only our back six, they probably do take the lead in terms of competitive one-on-one efforts winning and halving them, led by Nick Coughlan and Max Spencer.
“Louis Pinnuck had a really good game. We sent him to a more half-back role and took the pressure off him, so that was a really good return for him.”
Tom Gribble and Matt Hanson were among the other standouts in the win.
Barlow was also impressed with debutant Ariek Lual
“Ariek has been playing really well at a local level and the feedback from his local coach was, he is at VFL level.
“With Michael Sodomaco missing through the birth of his first child, it was a no brainer for us.
“He bounced onto the scene and in the first quarter was as good as anybody on the field.”
Werribee now sits 3-2 having won three games on the trot. Barlow said the side was slowly getting things together after most of the side not having played any football in 2020.
“It’s one of those things,” he said.
“Essentially the first part of the season everyone was still conditioning themselves and getting their touch back and getting used to VFL football.”
Werribee this week faces Sandringham.
