By Michael Esposito
WERRIBEE’S elimination final win against a depleted but brave Box Hill side felt more like a relief than a triumph.
After Box Hill’s AFL affiliate Hawthorn announced it would rest eight players for the weekend’s match against Gold Coast, Werrribee became unbackable favourites at $1.01 while Box Hill drifted to $15.
They were extraordinary odds for a finals game between two sides which have not exactly been models of consistency this season.
This was a game that defied convention. It was not the blow-out the odds suggested. Werribee had to grind out a win and was in serious danger of being overrun halfway through the last term.
The wind was strong but not advantageous. Werribee coach Paul Satterley thought it was a five-goal breeze, but just 10 of the 20 goals kicked were downwind. Ben McKinley and Robbie Castello kicked three goals each for Werribee, in a game that saw captain Dom Gleeson equal Werribee’s games record (135).
When McKinley put the Tigers five goals ahead early in the fourth quarter, the Hawks could have thrown it in, but instead took command of the game and kicked the next three goals.
But a stirring two goal cameo from Ben Ross, who had sat out two quarters with concussion, sealed victory, Werribee running out winners 26-point winners and booking a semi-final clash against Casey at TEAC Oval on Saturday.
MEANWHILE, Williamstown broke its five-game hoodoo against North Ballarat to record a 20.14 (134) to 10.7 (67) victory and book a place in the preliminary final in two weeks.
After a tense first quarter which seemed to be played more on North Ballarat’s terms, Williamstown settled and began to play its free-flowing style of game, exposing the Roosters on the big ground with its run and spread, and kicking six goals to two to set up a 29-point half-time lead.
The Seagulls continued its dominance in the second half, while Bulldogs rookie Matthew Panos kicked five goals in a sensational performance.
Midfielder Ben Jolley was Williamstown’s best player, while Lindsay Gilbee set up several goal-scoring opportunities with his sublime foot skills.
Williamstown will play the winner of the Werribee versus Casey semi-final.
