WERRIBEE Tigers made their strongest claim yet that they will feature prominently come Victorian Football League finals time with a 79-point victory over Sandringham at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday.
It was a tight contest for much of the first half, but Werribee blew the Zebras away in the second, kicking 10 goals to two after half-time.
Eight of those goals came in the last quarter.
It was an electrifying performance that will put fear in the hearts of opponents.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the big game.
This is a competition that is all of a sudden much closer with Port Melbourne’s two recent losses following a lengthy winning streak.
Werribee trailed by five points at quarter-time. Sandringham made more of its opportunities in front of goal, booting five to the Tigers’ four.
However, in sodden conditions they would kick only three for the rest of the game.
Again, the Tigers’ forward line worked well, although their 20 goals coming from 10 goalkickers.
Ben Warren presented well and led the way with four goals.
The win moved Werribee into third position, one win behind Casey and two from ladder-leaders Port Melbourne.
They are second in the competition for points scored and also have the second-best percentage, behind the Borough in both statistics.
Tigers coach Scott West said the win was “up there with the Collingwood game” in terms of consistency.
“We’ve been pretty consistent in our games so far and to get the result today was really pleasing,” he said. “I rate Sandringham very highly.
West said Sandringham was a quality opposition. “If you’d told me before the game, that was going to be the result I’d have thought you were pulling my leg.
“Our forward pressure was terrific and we were able to compete with them at the stoppages and win our fair share of the footy.”
The Tigers have now won five games in a row – and six of their last seven – and West said it was pleasing to see the group develop each week.
“The way the boys sang the song tonight had more gusto about it than I’ve heard all year,” he said.
“They’re starting to gel together as a group.
“These things don’t happen overnight, but to their credit they’re working at it and it’s starting to pay off.”
Werribee faces fifth-placed Bendigo at Windy Hill on Saturday and if the results fall the Tigers’ way, Werribee could be sitting in the top two by round’s end.
VFL SCOREBOARD
Seniors: Werribee 20.16 (136) d Sandringham 8.9 (57)
Werribee: Goals: B Warren 4, B Speight 3, L Hansen, W Sierakowski, N Ablett, R Castello, B Ross 2, M Lynch, J Keras, L Harding. Best: B Speight, M Daw, C Pedersen, L Harding, B Warren, W Sierakowski.
Development: Werribee 14.6 (90) d Sandringham 10.15 (75)
Werribee: Goals: C Tudor 4, A Panayi, L Fairley 3,
J Sheahan, T Battaglia, J Bolton, W Sullivan. Best: W Sullivan, J Graham, J Bolton, J Davis, J McCormack, L Fairley.
