Match result
Werribee 9.7.61 defeated by Richmond 25.13.163
In action
Jed Anderson (14 disposals, 2 goals)
Lachlan Hansen (11 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals)
Ben McKay (5 disposals, 1 goal)
Trent Dumont (35 disposals, 9 tackles)
Sam Durdin (13 disposals)
Will Fordham (16 disposals, 5 marks)
Matthew Taylor (9 disposals)
Josh Williams (17 disposals, 4 tackles)
Sam Wright (22 disposals, 7 marks)
Story of the game
It was fifth (Richmond) versus sixth (Werribee) at Frankston, in a vital game in the context of the season.
Werribee kicked the first of the day, but from there things went awry. Richmond kicked the next five goals before Matt Hanson answered, then proceeded to kick another three majors in quick succession. By quarter-time, the margin was 36 points.
Ben McKay got one back early in the second, before a further seven goals to the opposition. Richmond's half-time lead was 76.
Werribee pushed Lachlan Hansen forward with good effect, the North swingman booting two goals in six minutes to start the third. But the game was already over.
By the last change the margin was 78, and at the final siren Richmond was in front by 102.
“It was a really disappointing performance. The first part of the first quarter was solid enough and we got a couple of looks going forward, but from then on it was really one way traffic," North Development Manager Ben Dyer explained.
“It was a fast-paced up and down game, and we weren’t able to slow the pace when we needed to."
Best of the AFL
Trent Dumont
In his first VFL game of the year, Dumont was the leading possession-winner on the field with 35.
Best of the VFL
Dom Brew
The midfielder did his best to stop the Richmond onslaught with 15 tackles and 23 disposals.
Talking points
Williams provides spark
It's always hard to find positives in a 102-point loss, but the form of Josh Williams pleased the Roos' development staff.
The youngster finished the game with 17 disposals, with his improvement across the year providing plenty of reason for excitement.
"When we lacked a bit of spark with ball in hand, he was able to challenge the opposition a few times and break a line for us," Dyer explained.
"It wasn’t a dominant performance from Josh, but in terms of giving him something we didn’t have, that was really important."
Dumont's strong display
With Braydon Preuss out injured, Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric dominated the ruck battle, but that didn't stop Dumont getting his hands on the ball.
He laid nine tackles to go with his 35 touches, putting his hand up for a recall to the senior team.
"It was a really pleasing response from Trent today," Dyer said.
Hansen's forward move
North's number six showed his versatility, moving from the back half into attack early in the second half.
He booted two quick goals while Werribee's other key-forwards were struggling.
“There was a need to get a spark up forward. The pleasing thing was he went forward and provided that," Dyer said.
“He gave us an extra tall down there that we were lacking.”
The race for finals
After a 6-2 start to the season, Werribee has lost three of its last four games.
Just two wins separate the 12th-placed Geelong and the Tigers in seventh, with matches coming up against Box Hill (first) and Port Melbourne (third) in the next fortnight.
Werribee will need to turn its form around to ensure September action.
