WERRIBEE Tigers reverted to the old-fashioned open-up-the-forward-line and let the key forwards do what they’re paid to do in the last quarter to stave off a serious late charge from the Northern Blues in the VFL on Saturday.
The Tigers had controlled proceedings for the most part at Avalon only to waste countless opportunities to bury the Blues.
The Blues were too good not to take advantage, fighting their way back from a 30-point half-time deficit to hit the front in the last term.
The call came from coach Scott West at three-quarter time to release leading forward Ben McKinley into the midfield and leave target men Lachie Hansen and Robbie Tarrant to roam the forward line with more freedom.
And it worked.
Hansen finished with three goals in a best-afield display and Tarrant booted four.
“We were still in front, we were still playing all right footy,” West said.
“We just needed to re-focus on winning the contested footy and obviously not overuse the footy in the middle of the ground.
“Ben McKinley going up the ground provided a bit more space for those guys to move into. We were able to move the ball a bit quicker and give those two guys opportunities down forward.”
Hansen produced a bottler for the Tigers.
The 23-year-old was in the thick of the action almost every time the Tigers ventured into attack, kicking goals, taking marks and hitting the packs with the ferocity of a player desperate for a call-up to North Melbourne’s AFL side.
His over-enthusiasm might cost him dearly with a tribunal decision pending for a reckless hip’n’shoulder which collected tiny Blues midfielder Tim Totevski in the head when the Weekly went to print.
Hansen’s form over the past month has been as good as any at the Tigers and he will surely be considered for a return to North Melbourne’s senior team if cleared by the VFL tribunal.
“I think he’s been terrific over three weeks,” West said. “We played a wet game at Coburg where he was outstanding with his hands. On the weekend, he marked everything, the weekend before he marked everything, and his ability to be able to make the right decision whether to go for goal or dish off has been terrific.”
West was also thrilled with the performance of his defence as a collective. Led by youngsters Kyle Hartigan and Ayden Kennedy, they conceded just 19scoring shots.
Hartigan is one of four Tigers selected in the extended VFL squad to play Tasmania at Blundstone Arena in Hobart on Saturday, along with Ben Ross, Will Sullivan and Matt O’Dwyer.
“It’s always nice to get recognition for your players,” West said. “They’ve all earned that position in the state squad. We’ll just have to wait and see if they play.”
The Tigers’ good form is a byproduct of improved consistency within matches. They’ve won their past three to be knocking on the door of the four.
“We’re starting to put together more minutes of better footy in games. It’s better to play that way instead of the inconsistent way we were playing earlier in the year,” West said.
