WERRIBEE Tigers kept hold of their Victorian Football League double chance after walloping Collingwood by 82 points in the last round at Victoria Park on Saturday.
The Tigers had to win to secure a top-four finish or be leap-frogged by a late-season charge from western suburbs rivals Williamstown. They got the result they needed to set up a mouth-watering qualifying final dual with minor premiers Casey Scorpions on the road at Casey Fields on Sunday.
The Tigers will go in as slight underdogs, but do not write them off – the last time the two sides met in round 14, the Tigers scored a massive 78-point victory.
On the eve of the finals, the Weekly looks back on the Tigers road to the finals:
Round 1: Scott West’s coaching reign began with an incredible come-from-behind 35-point road win over North Ballarat after trailing by 38 points at quarter-time.
Round 2: Visit to Port Melbourne is greeted with optimism, but the Tigers return home with their tail firmly between their legs after a 59-point flogging.
Round 3: First night game at Avalon Airport Oval for the season was one to forget with the low-scoring Tigers soundly beaten by party poopers Box Hill Hawks.
Round 4: A bye gave the Tigers a chance to regroup in the Foxtel Cup and a 133-point battering of the Burnie Dockers at Etihad Stadium was a turning point in the winter.
Round 5: Claimed first home win for the season under the Friday night lights over Geelong by 37 points.
Round 6: Inconsistency within matches plagues the Tigers as they surrendered a 39-point quarter-time lead to lose to arch rivals Williamstown by seven at home.
Round 7: Dominant from start to finish in a 51-point mauling of Coburg.
Round 8: Back to back wins for the first time in the league when they grind down Frankston by 33 points after a slow start.
Round 9: Staved off a gallant fightback from the Northern Blues to make it three wins on the trot.
Round 10: Arrive in the top-four for the first time since the opening round with a percentage-boosting 109-point annihilation of Collingwood.
Round 11: Second of four byes, but still no rest for the Tigers, who advance past West Perth in a dour struggle at the MCG in the Foxtel Cup.
Round 12: The Tigers are one of the hottest teams in the VFL as evidenced by their 79-point belting of Sandringham at home.
Round 13: First stumble for some time to Bendigo Bombers at Windy Hill by 45 points, brought upon by inaccuracy in front of goal.
Round 14: The Tigers announced their premiership ambitions by giving Casey Scorpions the run around in a 78-point triumph.
Round 15: Third of four byes, but the Tigers were involved in the pointy end of the Foxtel Cup, running away from Morningside by 71 points in the semi-final at the Gabba.
Round 16: With the sunny Queensland weather a mere memory, it was back to freezing Melbourne winter for the Tigers, who found reacclimatising tough in a four-goal win over Coburg.
Round 17: Heavy schedule seems to be taking its toll on the Tigers, who run out of puff in a shattering two-point loss to Williamstown.
Round 18: Nothing pretty here as the Tigers escape with an 18-point win over Box Hill Hawks in a wet one on the road.
Round 19: Supposed to be fourth and last bye for the Tigers, but the AFL give them a short five-day turnaround for a Thursday night Foxtel Cup grand final in Perth, which they lose to Claremont by 44 points.
Round 20: A long break following the Foxtel Cup grand final does the trick for a freshened Tigers, who keep North Ballarat to two goals in an 82-point flogging.
Round 21: In the most disappointing performance of the season, the Tigers give up a 20-point three-quarter-time lead in a 24-point loss to the Northern Blues.
Round 22: Locked in a double chance with a comprehensive 82-point win over Collingwood in the final round.
