By Adem Saricaoglu
VFL premiers Port Melbourne proved why they are tipped to back-to-back with a thumping 59-point win over Werribee at North Port Oval on Saturday.
Despite kicking the game’s opening goal, the Tigers struggled to contain the Boroughs from the beginning, conceding nine goals to their two by quarter time.
Things didn’t improve after the first break, with their 48-point deficit extended to 64 by the halftime.
Werribee coach Scott West said the game was basically lost by quarter time. “It was disappointing because you never go into a game expecting to lose the way we did,” he said.
“I thought we were right in it in the first 10 minutes but the game just really slipped away from us after that.
“They had a really good 20-minute period late in the first quarter and we just couldn’t stop them.”
Twelve goals were shared between Adrian Bonaddio (five), Dean Galea (four) and Christopher Cain (three), while Michael Dillon, Sam Dwyer and Shane Valenti all scored two in a dominant display that killed the game by halftime.
West said the game was decided in the midfield. “They really hurt us with the contested footy in the middle of the ground,” he said. “We made a lot of mistakes through the middle of the ground and it was those mistakes and good pressure from Port Melbourne that really cost us.
“There were simply too many mistakes and our delivery into the forward line wasn’t very good either.”
The Tigers were able to keep up with Port Melbourne in third quarter, scoring five goals to Port’s six, but still trailed by 72 at three-quarter time.
With the result a formality Port dropped off in the final quarter, allowing Werribee to restore some respectability to the scoreboard.
The Tigers added five goals in the final term while only conceding two to Port. However the Boroughs were wayward in front of goal, as six of their eight scoring shots were behinds.
North Melbourne forward Ben Warren presented well for the Tigers, kicking five for the game, while troubled former Hawthorn midfielder Travis Tuck again featured in the best players for Werribee.
Werribee plays Box Hill Hawks at Avalon Airport Oval Easter Saturday.
