Match result: Werribee 12.11.83 defeated by Sandringham 17.18.120
Venue: Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Conditions: Mostly sunny with strong breeze to one end
Story of the game
After a last-gasp victory against Box Hill, Werribee went in with plenty of confidence against Sandringham on Sunday.
The Tigers made the most of the breeze in the first term booting six goals to two, with Braydon Preuss and the on-ball contingent in control.
The home team hit back in the second term though, getting on top through the middle and kicking six of their own.
There was plenty of feeling in the game, with an altercation at the half-time siren in the Tigers’ defensive 50.
Werribee didn’t make the most of the breeze in the ‘premiership quarter’ and despite holding their opponents to 1.6, the Tigers booted just three goals and took a slender three-point lead into the final term.
Sandringham didn’t make the same mistake. With four goals from Jack Lonie, the Zebras kicked eight goals to two to win by 37 points.
What the coach said - John Lamont
QT: Werribee 6.4.40 v Sandringham 2.2.14
“Very simple – you are in front because of your tackling and smothering and chasing. That’s why you are in front.
“Tackle, smother, harass, chasing pressure!”
HT: Werribee 7.8.50 v Sandringham 8.7.55
“We’ve just got to tighten our game up. We’ve just got to tighten up and take our half chances.
“We’ve got to have better composure with the ball.
“Let’s have some control, spend your energy and aggression in the right areas – at the ball and at the opposition when they’ve got it.”
3QT: Werribee 10.10.70 v Sandringham 9.13.67
“Going up into the breeze, we’ve got to tackle and pressure and harass and chase and create turnovers.
“Off the back of those turnovers, have composure with the ball when we are going forward.
“Keep backing yourself and keep supporting your teammates!”
FT: Werribee 12.11.83 v Sandringham 17.18.120
“It was probably a frustrating loss, because probably the baseline effort was pretty good, but (there were) just too many mistakes with the ball.”
By the numbers
Ryan Clarke – 30 disposals, 4 tackles, 8 clearances
Sam Durdin – 10 disposals, 3 hit-outs, 1 goal
Ben McKay – 5 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal
Daniel Nielson – 7 disposals
Braydon Preuss – 11 disposals, 32 hit-outs, 5 tackles
Ed Vickers-Willis – 15 disposals, 6 marks
Joel Tippett – 13 disposals, 3 tackles
Will Fordham – 21 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 6 clearances
Majak Daw – 7 disposals, 11 hit-outs
Corey Wagner – 12 disposals, 9 tackles, 1 goal
Declan Mountford – 20 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 goal
Aaron Black – 10 disposals, 4 tackles, 2 goals
Best of the AFL
Ryan Clarke
Proving himself as a ball magnet in his first season of senior football, Clarke racked up 30 touches and got the ball out of the centre eight times.
“He was terrific early. Just his pressure around the ball was great,” Development Coach David Loader told NMFC.com.au.
“He was really aggressive at stoppages. He was our best mid all day.
“It was a pretty rounded performance for him.”
Clarke continues to improve and put himself in the frame for senior selection, after being named as an emergency this week.
“I was pretty happy with my own game. I just stuck to my focuses, work-rate and tackling pressure, so I thought I achieved them,” Clarke said.
Best of the VFL
Ethan Petterwood
The Werribee midfielder was influential all day, laying 9 tackles go with his 28 disposals and three clearances.
Points of interest
1. Corey Wagner was a tackling machine in the first quarter, registering six.
“His first quarter was outstanding. His pressure was elite,” Senior Development Coach Gavin Brown said.
“He was right in the game because of his defensive pressure.
The first-year player finished with 12 disposals and 9 tackles, as well as as an amazing goal from the pocket in the third term.
“I thought he maintained his work-rate the whole game. He went into the middle in the last quarter and got his hands on it a bit too.”
2. The Roos’ emerging youngsters are providing plenty of reason for excitement, with Declan Mountford another to impress.
The midfielders’ outstanding pace with ball in hand was a highlight on a tough day.
“He played more as an outside-mid, rather than an inside-mid. He probably got the opportunity to use his legs a little bit more in space,” Development Coach David Loader said.
Mountford finished with 20 disposals, and kicked a terrific snap goal in the opening term.
“We tried to settle him down and play him purely as wingman today. I think he enjoyed that little bit of continuity in his game, and he was pretty solid again.”
3. Having spent a long time out of the game, Ed Vickers-Willis has made some terrific progress in recent weeks.
The defender pulled down several strong marks, particularly late in the game as Werribee was under siege from the opposition.
“I thought his one-on-one work was really solid. He had a number of spoils when he was out of position,” Development Manager Ben Dyer said.
The 20-year-old came in for praise from his defensive counterparts.
“I thought Vickers-Willis was really good. Just his third-up spoiling and competitiveness was really good,” Joel Tippett said.
But there’s still room for improvement.
“He’d probably be a little bit disappointed with his decision making and a few of his skill errors,” Dyer added.
“So it’s just an opportunity for him to tighten those up a little bit and round out his game a little bit more.”
4. Will Fordham missed last week, but was quick to make an impact upon his return.
His run and carry was a highlight, and he finished with 21 disposals and 6 clearances.
“He’s found a little bit of form over the past three or four weeks, where he’s been able to lock into his role and play that role well,” Development Coach David Loader said.
“He’s certainly getting a lot better at the contested ball and driving with his legs out of contests.
“He used the ball OK and got forward and gave himself an opportunity to have a couple of shots on goal, so it was pretty solid from him again.”
5. The unpredictable breeze made it a tough day for the forwards, but Aaron Black pulled down a spectacular mark in the final quarter.
Black held off his opponent with one arm, while somehow managing to take the ball in the other.
To top things off, he then booted a goal from long range.
6. Joel Tippett was rock-solid in defence in his second game back from injury.
The 27-year-old’s experience is vital to the Tigers’ structure.
“He gets them organised in the back half and sets up the shape and defensive positioning pretty well,” coach John Lamont said.
Most likely AFL call-up: Ryan Clarke
Next week: Bye
