– Picture gallery to come
AFTER two Victorian Football League preliminary final losses in two years, the Werribee Tigers showed at the weekend they’re not mucking around any more.
That much was evident halfway through the first quarter of their match against last year’s runners-up Port Melbourne.
Werribee, skippered by Ben Ross in the absence of Rob Castello who was out injured, had jumped out to a 28-point lead before Port was able to register its first major for the afternoon, and the rest of the match saw a hard-running, clean-skilled and committed Tigers outfit show exactly why they have featured in finals calculations.
The Tigers booted 25 goals for the day – a mammoth 11 coming from delisted North Melbourne forward Ben Warren – and won every quarter.
Warren was a revelation. Shattered about being cut by the Kangaroos, he showed all the traits that made him such a promising prospect. He led, marked and kicked superbly, playing easily the best game of his VFL career.
The Borough was not at full strength, missing dual JJ Liston medallist Shane Valenti and renowned hard nut Toby Pinwill to calf injuries, but was comprehensively beaten by the Tigers.
Last year’s Frosty Miller medallist Dean Galea booted four and Adrian Bonaddio two but most came in the second half, when the game was all but lost. Werribee booted six goals to two in the second quarter to lead by 50 points at the main break.
The Tigers’ Queensland recruit Scott Clouston excited the fans with three goals and a productive game, while Kangaroos Levi Greenwood and Taylor Hine were also good.
Werribee coach Scott West was full of praise for Warren and his charges after the match. “Ben is a great example of not throwing in the towel,” West said. “He was obviously disappointed in being delisted but he pushed that aside and got on with life and footy and today he got the rewards for his pre-season. He has shown a great attitude with the young players and he trains the house down.
“Port had a really potent forward line and the way the midfielders got back to help out was great. The general support for the players out on the ground was outstanding, considering we had players introducing themselves to each other pre-game.”
Ben Speight left the ground in pain in the second quarter and re-emerged with his ankle iced but West could not elaborate on his condition. He said he hoped Castello would be back this weekend against the Northern Blues.
“I think he had gout. There’s something wrong with his big toe that’s causing him trouble but hopefully he’s back next week.”
VFL SCOREBOARD
Seniors
Werribee Tigers 25.9.159 d Port Melbourne 12.15.87.
Werribee — goals: B. Warren 11, S. Clouston 3, M. Daw, L. Greenwood, A. Maric 2, B. Ross, W. Martiniello, S. Sherlock, J. Mather, L. McDonald. Best: B. Warren, L. Greenwood, T. Hine, S. Sherlock, J. Moore, J. Wilson.
Development
Werribee Tigers 15.14.104 lt Port Melbourne 18.18.126.
Werribee — goals: C. Tudor 4, R. Hicks 3, B. Iles, J. Purton-Smith, J. Davis, S. Zumbo, T. Ruggles, D. Fort, C. Williams, J. Keras. Best: B. Iles, N. Laracy, B. Sharp, J. Bolton, J. Keras, D. Fort.
