By Lance Jenkinson
Werribee Districts will have two long weeks to mull over what went wrong in their gut-wrenching four-point loss to Altona in Western Region Football League division 1 at Soldiers Reserve on Saturday.
The Tigers led by 21 points at three-quarter time but a combination of poor discipline and error-riddled play, along with some daring moves from the Vikings, ended in the home side being over-run in the final term.
Tigers co-captain Matt Dean said that round two was an unfortunate time to have their first of two byes for the season.
“There’s probably no great time to have the bye but having it in round two after a loss is not the best,” he said. “We’ve got to wait two weeks to get ourselves another chance.”
The Tigers have only themselves to blame for coughing up four points.
They were in a powerful position going into the last change but inability to convert in a third quarter in which they booted 3.5 kept the door ajar for the Vikings.
“We did a lot of things wrong when it mattered most in the last quarter – a couple of undisciplined plays to give away a couple of 50-metre penalties and a reverse free kick that they had scoring opportunities from,” Dean lamented.
“Those types of things can swing the momentum of the game.”
Despite the result, there were plenty of bright spots for the Tigers.
Inside-outside onballer Lachie McDowell, returning to the club after stints in the VFL and the nearby GFL, showed how important was his signature.
“He’s got some real speed, which is something we needed through our midfield, and he’s also a bit of a tough nut,” Dean said. “He gets in and under to win the ball and can actually break the lines when he’s up and going.”
Andrew Panayi did what he does best, snaring three goals and applying the blowtorch with his forward pressure.
Lachie Patterson was the leader of a Tigers defensive group that was praised for its hard work.
Four former juniors made their return to the Tigers and will be better for the run – Jesse Fortune, Shaun McGuinness, Troy Anderson and Scott Miller.
The Tigers are behind the eight ball but have plenty of time to rectify the situation.
“It’s certainly not the end of the world,” Dean said.
“We know it’s only round one, and like [coach] Wade [Chapman] said in his after-match speech, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. We’ve got another 17 rounds to go.”
In division 2, Wyndhamvale crushed Manor Lakes in the local derby by 61 points with Tito Nyawela booting four goals, while Glenorden poleaxed Sunshine Heights by 107 points with Dillon Hinge prominent with five goals.
In division 3, Wyndham Suns, led by Steve Krpan, Angus Holmes and Aaron Borg, beat Sanctuary Lakes by 17 points in the Suns’ first competitive senior game.
Tarneit got its second season off to a winning start with a 31-point triumph over Laverton Magpies.
