Match result: Werribee 9.5.59 defeated by Collingwood 13.10.88
Venue: Avalon Airport Oval (Werribee)
Conditions: Slippery and persistent showers
Story of the game
On a wet day in Werribee, the Tigers were back in action at home after last week’s bye.
Their opponent, the Magpies, had also enjoyed the week off and jumped out of the blocks early.
They kicked five goals to two in the opening term and established a valuable 20-point lead, given the conditions.
Despite John Lamont urging his Werribee side to lift at quarter time, the margin on the scoreboard stayed virtually the same over the next two quarters.
With a 27-point deficit and one term to go, the Tigers managed to gain some momentum at the start of the last quarter.
When a left foot Aaron Black snap reduced the margin to 17 points, the comeback appeared on. But unfortunately it wasn’t to be, as Collingwood steadied and ran out 29-point victors.
What the coach said – John Lamont
QT: Werribee 2.1.13 trail Collingwood 5.3.33
“We’ve got to lift, around the ball we need more. Around boundary lines and the stoppages particularly, they got on top. Remember the root cause is around the stoppages. Let’s make sure we’re hard to play against. We dig deep, we inspire our teammates!”
3QT: Werribee 6.5.41 trail Collingwood 10.8.68
“Be daring! Fortune favours the brave, but how brave are we going to be? We can not keep playing this way with ball in hand. Let’s pull the trigger, don’t worry about the consequences. Let’s take this game on, if we’re going down we’re going down swinging.”
By the numbers
Aaron Black – 2 goals, 13 disposals
Ryan Clarke – 32 disposals
Trent Dumont – 32 disposals, 10 tackles
Sam Durdin – 5 disposals, 8 hit-outs
Will Fordham – 28 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles
Taylor Garner – 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles
Lachlan Hansen – 14 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles
Mitch Hibberd – 18 disposals, 7 marks
Declan Mountford – 20 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles
Aaron Mullett – 30 disposals, 8 marks
Daniel Nielson – 5 disposals
Braydon Preuss – 1 goal, 39 hit-outs, 5 disposals
Farren Ray – 19 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles
Joel Tippett – 16 disposals, 6 marks
Corey Wagner – 3 goals, 10 disposals, 4 tackles
Best of the AFL
Trent Dumont
“Dumont was our best midfielder. He was really clean around the footy in the conditions and he knows where to go to be aggressive and open the game up for us.
“We relied on him to do a lot because we were down a couple of midfielders and he did so. We go to him a lot because of what he can offer; when the back’s against the wall a little bit the first bloke we go to is ‘Froggy’.
“He’s going to get that a lot at AFL level when he’s there, so it’s good for him to get used to it here.” – David Loader, NMFC development coach
Joel Tippett
“He won some real crucial one-on-ones and was able to bring the ball to ground and our advantage. In these conditions it’s as good as intercept marking at times.
“He’s a few games back in now (after injury) and you can see the positive effect. He’s a bit more confident now in possession and the continuity in games is working well for him.” – Ben Dyer, NMFC development manager
Best of the VFL
Tom Gribble & Josh Porter
Gribble collected a lot of the ball through the middle, and kicked the goal of the afternoon from the boundary line in the second quarter.
Meanwhile Porter was a dangerous target up forward, consistently threatening the Collingwood defence.
Points of interest
1. Taylor Garner made his return after almost two months out of action with a hamstring injury. Wearing long sleeves in number 77, his trademark pressure was on show.
“He looked like an AFL player playing in the VFL today, which is an indication of his class,” Dyer said.
“His attack on the ball is ferocious and we saw it again today. In a contested game, a player that can crack in and spill the ball is really important.
“He played basically a full game with normal rotations and he got through it well.”
2. Garner wasn’t the only returning Roo, with Lachie Hansen back after missing three weeks with a nasty concussion.
The veteran defender was influential in the greasy conditions, taking several intercept marks and showing his importance to the Tigers’ defence.
“He was able to protect the space, which was really crucial on a day like today,” Dyer explained.
“He was also able to come as a third man up and spoil well, and he was able to get the balance spot on.
“He sees the ball, he flies, sometimes without regard for his own safety but again he was courageous all day today.”
3. Playing as a half-forward, Corey Wagner kicked three goals to lead Werribee on the scoreboard.
Demonstrating impressive game sense for a first year player, the 19-year-old continues to improve weekly.
“Your half chances on a day like today become really vital to the outcome,” Dyer said.
“He was alternating between playing as the highest forward and then being able to get forward hard himself and create opportunities.
“It’s a tough role to play because of the work rate, and his pressure was manic at times, looking lively going forward.
4. After a slow start, like much of the midfield group, Ryan Clarke was still able to have an impact after the first break.
“Clarkey really worked his way into the game well. He had a really good period just before half time,” Loader said.
“It was a good learning experience for him as part of the midfield group. Sometimes when you’re under the pump as we were at times today you can try and create things.
“In his efforts to get things going he had a couple of turnovers but the effort was definitely there and he ran strongly.”
5. Declan Mountford is still finding the right balance in all areas of his game.
“We’d like to see him using his motor and his extreme leg speed,” Loader said.
“Because he’s learning to play defence and not just offence all the time, he’s trying to get the balance right.
“He’s a guy that wants to be a genuine team player, so when you challenge him on the defensive stuff he tends to over compensate a bit, maybe lose a touch of his offence to focus on that side of his game.
“It’s good, because if and when he plays AFL football, you want a bloke that doesn’t let you down."
Most likely AFL call-up: Lachie Hansen, Trent Dumont
Next week: Sunday June 12 at Punt Road v Richmond, 12:30pm
