Match result: Werribee 15.11.101 defeated Frankston 10.3.63
Venue: Frankston Oval
Conditions: Typically breezy, worth 2-3 goals at one end of the ground
Story of the game
Travelling to face a Frankston side sure to be fired up after a disappointing season opener, Werribee’s start loomed as crucial.
Slow out of the blocks last week against Essendon, the Tigers made sure a repeat wasn’t in the offing. Three goals to no score – not even any inside 50’s – in the first 10 minutes quickly had the game on the visitors’ terms.
Frankston was yet to score at quarter time, but came out a different side after the first change. With the use of the wind, it narrowly won the term, which led to a very pointed address by Werribee coach John Lamont at half-time.
The words had their desired effect. Werribee came out of the rooms and recaptured its first quarter play, stretching the lead to 43 points with a quarter to go.
Despite another late Frankston flurry – four of the last five goals – the Tigers ran out 38-point victors. They now go to an early season bye at 2-0 in 2016.
What John Lamont said
Pre-game
“We start well which is keeping them off the scoreboard. We’re going hard at the ball, we’re moving it aggressively, we’re moving it quickly.”
QT: Werribee 4.5.29 lead Frankston 0.0.0
“Very, very simple focuses. Keep your edge about you, stick to the game plan. Compete hard when the ball’s in your area, go as hard as you can.”
HT: Werribee 7.7.49 lead Frankston 4.1.25
“Let’s get back on the job. You’ve got to work hard, let’s get it in there. Get the ball to our forwards, that’s where we can really expose them.”
3QT: Werribee 11.9.75 lead Frankston 5.2.32
“Our attitude was better. When there’s nothing on now we’re going to the far side of the ground. It’s really important we finish this game off, take the game on, make sure we tackle well. 30 minutes of effort.”
FT: Werribee 15.11.101 defeated Frankston 10.3.63
“In the second half we were a bit inconsistent. But overall, we came here to get the four points, and we got it. We’re pleased with that.”
By the numbers
Riley Barrack – 13 disposals, 1 goal
Aaron Black – 23 disposals, 11 marks, 3 goals
Ryan Clarke – 25 disposals, 7 tackles
Isaac Conway – 19 disposals, 9 tackles
Majak Daw – 13 disposals, 40 hit-outs, 7 tackles, 6 marks
Trent Dumont – 21 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 1 goal
Sam Durdin – 12 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 4 goals
Will Fordham – 17 disposals, 5 marks
Lachlan Hansen – 25 disposals, 14 marks
Matt Hanson – 35 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal
Mitch Hibberd – 19 disposals, 3 marks, 1 goal
Ben McKay – 8 disposals, 4 marks
Brad McKenzie – 32 disposals, 8 marks
Dane McFarlane – 10 disposals, 3 tackles
Nick Meredith – 14 disposals, 4 marks
Declan Mountford – 21 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles
Aaron Mullett – 23 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles
Robbie Nahas – 12 disposals, 2 tackles, 1 goal
Scott Sherlock – 24 disposals, 5 marks
Ben Speight – 4 disposals (left field injured)
Kayne Turner – 18 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 goal
Corey Wagner – 9 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 goals
Jake Wilson – 13 disposals, 6 marks
Best of the AFL
Majak Daw
“Being the main ruckman and having to work with some of the first year boys, they’ve improved and we’ve still got a way to go just in terms of working with each other and knowing how each other play.”
Aaron Black
“I got my hands on it a bit today. I took a few marks but I’m more filthy on the ones I didn’t take. I’d worked my opponent under the ball but just couldn’t take a few.
“I feel like I’m getting up the ground a bit more, and the body feels really good. I’m pulling up really well from training and matches.”
Best of the VFL
Matt Hanson
“He had a really solid game on-ball, and won a lot of his own footy. He brought other blokes into the game as well.” - Lamont
Nick Meredith
“He was really solid in the backline, and took a couple of intercept marks as well to stop the Frankston attacks.” - Lamont
Points of interest
1. Sam Durdin played his best game as a forward in the VFL, kicking four goals.
“It was pleasing to really see him launch at a few balls,” North development manager Ben Dyer told NMFC.com.au.
“Instead of them getting behind him a little bit in flight, he was able to jump and come at the footy which was really important.
“A couple of times that meant crashing the pack. And if you don’t mark them, then you spill it and then there’s a ground level presence there.
“It’s something that’ll come with confidence. He did it a couple of times in the Academy game at the MCG, again today and hopefully he’ll build from that.”
2. Ben McKay was involved in a heavy clash of heads in the third quarter.
“He went back with the footy and got collected by a Frankston player coming the other way,” Dyer explained.
“The medical staff erred on the side of caution for bringing him back on and that was him done for the day.”
3. Lachlan Hansen & Trent Dumont played their first games for the year. After not playing last week as the travelling emergencies in Hobart, the duo eased into their workload.
“Lachie’s game in defence was pretty solid. He got back to reading the ball in flight, which is obviously one of his strengths,” Dyer said.
“He took a number of telling marks and he was able to organise the shape of the defence well, particularly into the wind.”
Dumont took his place in the Tigers' midfield, having a strong impact throughout.
“Froggy (Dumont) was good at the start and the end. He hasn’t played much with the Werribee boys because he was in the North side for most of the pre-season,” Dyer added.
4. At quarter time, it appeared Werribee was going to blow its opponent away. It was the popular pre-match prediction, considering the Dolphins’ season so far, and it was a talking point for Lamont and his coaching staff.
“Without a doubt, complacency was a major concern,” Lamont revealed.
“We spoke about that before the game, which is why I was so pleased with the first quarter.
“Even though we spoke about it again at quarter time – not to relax – maybe subconsciously you drop your guard.
“No-one desires to do that (but) that’s why the psychology of the sport’s so incredible. That’s where you talk about being ruthless and uncompromising, and hopefully we just get better at being that way.”
5. Braydon Preuss made his return from suspension in the development league. In a lopsided win for the Tigers, Preuss was a presence around the ground and his ruck work was a feature.
Most likely AFL call-ups: Majak Daw, Aaron Black
Next week: Bye
Match photos - courtesy of Wade Archer
