Clear … Samuel Wright bangs the ball forward for Werribee. 65990 Picture: EMILY LANE
By Michael Esposito
WERRIBEE battled to a 11-point win against the lowly Geelong on Sunday in a fierce contest that was neck-and-neck all game.
After a tight first quarter, the Tigers held a 2-3 goal buffer for most of the game, but surrendered the lead in the last quarter only to hit back and win 15.13 (103) to Geelong’s 12.20 (92).
The Cats had their chances to get over the line but were let down by some poor kicking for goal. They had three more scoring shots than Werribee in the last quarter.
After the heroics of Ben Mckinley last week and Cam Pedersen the week before, it was Ben Warren’s turn to put on a show, bagging six goals for the Tigers and winning the Damien Drum medal for best on ground.
Samuel Wright, in his first game of the year, kicked three goals and added versatility to Werribee’s forward line.
Despite Werribee’s clear favouritism, Tigers coach Paul Satterley accurately predicted this as a danger game because of the momentum Geelong was carrying after its first win the week before, and the inclusions of Cameron Mooney and Tom Hawkins into the side. The two dangerous forwards only kicked three goals between them.
Gavin Urquhart, Robbie Tarrant, Will Martinello and Matt O’Dwyer were among Werribee’s best.
The Tigers are sitting seventh on the ladder and have the bye this weekend.
MEANWHILE, Williamstown produced listless first quarter and was wasteful in front of goal, suffering a 13-point loss to North Ballarat on Saturday.
The Roosters kicked the first six goals of the match at Keilor Football Ground and never surrendered the lead, despite a spirited comeback by the Seagulls who got within a goal of North Ballarat in the last term.
Williamstown dominated the third quarter but wayward kicking cost the Seagulls a chance to hit the front. Grant and Josh Hill were the two main perpetrators of poor kicking for goal but there were several offenders.
The resilient Bullants never folded when challenged. Cameron Richardson steadied for the Roosters in the last quarter before a Jordan Roughead snap in the dying minutes gave Williamstown a glimmer of hope, but it was promptly snuffed our by Bill Driscoll’s fourth and last goal of the match.
Seagulls captain Brett Johnson was the catalyst for his sides’ comeback. He was Williamstown’s most composed and prolific midfielder and continually set up his team-mates. Mitch Wallis played an outstanding defensive game and displayed a unique ability to run down opponents.
