Aaron Black has revealed a “bit of a gamble” led to his match winning goal for Werribee on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing by three points and with time against the home side, Black somehow managed to find some space out on the wing as the Tigers surged forward.
Although the Tigers were trying to go directly up the middle of the ground, an errant kick sent the footy wide, towards the boundary.
Under immense pressure running back towards goal, Black somehow gathered an awkwardly bouncing ball, then steadied before kicking truly from about 50 metres out.
“I just took a bit of a gamble and snuck out to the side … Preussy [Braydon Preuss] got it down, we won the clearance …when it was bouncing, I was hoping it wouldn’t hit me in the face,” Black told NMFC.com.au after the two-point victory over Box Hill.
“It hit me in the chest and luckily I just kicked it up and let the wind take it.”
But Black has his doubts about whether the kick would make the journey.
“I thought I got under it a bit too much … I thought he [the defender] was going to get a hand on it or mark it.”
Luckily for the Tigers, it went through and for Black, it capped another sensational outing in the VFL.
The 25-year-old has now booted four goals in back-to-back games and credits his work with some fellow Kangaroos at Arden Street.
“At training I’ve been working pretty hard on contested marking, that’s probably the biggest thing this year,” he said.
“Me, Durds [Sam Durdin], Maj [Majak Daw], Benny McKay, we all get together and we do a lot of contested marking together and as a group I feel we’re all starting to work pretty well together. If we’re not marking it, we’re bring it down to ground.”
With Majak Daw getting an opportunity at AFL level on the weekend, it’s only a matter of time before Black gets his chance according to Werribee coach John Lamont.
“It’s the old story, and we’ve spoken about it, it’s not where you play but how you play.
“Blacky just needs to keep knocking on the door, presenting for the ball, hopefully get a bit of luck and then he’ll get his opportunity at some stage."
North development coach Ben Dyer said Black is finally getting reward for effort.
“He’s now making the most of the opportunities he’s getting. The first couple of games for the season he was getting the chances but not finishing off his work.
“Now he’s converting, and that goal to get back the lead was fantastic.
“Sometimes when the effort’s there, you’re playing structurally well and you don’t quite get the reward it’s not quite there. But now he’s rounding out his work."
