Match result: Werribee 25.15.165 defeated Northern Blues 15.12.102
Venue: Avalon Airport Oval
Conditions: A perfect day, bright sunshine and no wind

Story of the game

It was essentially an elimination final for Werribee when it faced the Northern Blues on Sunday. A win would keep its season alive, while a loss would make a finals berth almost impossible.

Werribee started the stronger, taking the game on. A six-goal first term led to an 11-point lead in perfect conditions.

It was more of the same in the second quarter, end-to-end ball movement meaning another nine goals between the sides.

One of the goals for Werribee went to Ben McKay, who was playing against his brother Harry for the first time. The Roo admitted it was ‘a little weird’ to match up on opposing sides.

At half-time Werribee led by nine points, but it was cut straight after the resumption when the Blues kicked the first of the third term.

Majak Daw then stood up. A commanding presence close to goals, he was marking everything and helped Werribee stretch its lead to 17 points at three quarter time.

RELATED: Majak Daw's highlights

Then, all of a sudden the margin blew out. Werribee ran rampant in the final term, kicking a staggering 11 goals to well and truly put the game beyond doubt.

The 63-point victory, Werribee’s second in a row, kept its season alive before it faces Box Hill next Sunday.

The coach said – John Lamont

Pre-game

“We want to penetrate the game and move aggressively.”

QT: Werribee 6.3.39 leads Northern Blues 4.4.28

“Really good play coming through half back, taking the game on. Keep going and don’t worry about any mistakes. We don’t relax now, we keep the energy going.”

3QT: Werribee 14.13.97 leads Northern Blues 12.8.80

“We can’t have complacency; we need to dig deep. Give something extra for your teammates. Get up on them, take the uncontested marks away. Tackle well, keep supporting each other.”

North players in action

- Majak Daw (14 disposals, 9 marks, 4 goals)
- Sam Durdin (22 disposals, 8 marks, 4 goals)
- Will Fordham (22 disposals, 2 goals)
- Lachlan Hansen (12 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles)
- Mitch Hibberd (23 disposals)
- Ben McKay (9 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals)
- Declan Mountford (11 disposals, 1 goal)
- Robbie Nahas (24 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles)
- Daniel Nielson (7 disposals)
- Braydon Preuss (37 hit-outs, 10 disposals, 5 tackles)
- Joel Tippett (9 disposals)
- Ed Vickers-Willis (16 disposals, 5 marks)
- Corey Wagner (17 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals)

Best of the AFL

Majak Daw

After being omitted from the North side, Daw put together the best possible case for an immediate recall, kicking four goals from nine marks and 14 disposals.

“For me, coming back today it was about playing my role for the team and doing the things that will get me back into the (AFL) side," he said.

Best of the VFL

Tom Gribble – The Tigers’ midfielder was seemingly attached to the Sherrin all afternoon. He finished with 44 disposals; no-one else on the field had more than 30.

Points of interest

1. In recent weeks, Werribee had been involved in a string of low-scoring matches, in part due to conditions.

With the ideal setting for Sunday’s match – perfect sunshine with no wind – the script was flipped on the way to a 25-goal afternoon.

“Well (the conditions) plays a certain part in it, doesn’t it,” development coach David Loader said post-match.

“The ground was magnificent, perfect conditions today. Certainly the focus today was getting back to what we’re good at, really taking the game on and I thought we were able to do that.

“We reaped the benefits of that, our ball movement was better, our structure in the back half was really good and that allowed us a lot of inside 50 entries.”

Sam Durdin made the most of the Tigers' work going forward, booting four goals and amassing 22 disposals, Daw kicked four majors, and Robin Nahas worked hard all day in attack for 24 disposals.

RELATED: Sam Durdin's highlights

2. As Declan Mountford continues his tagging education, it’s inevitable he’ll come in for scrutiny from opposition sides. It was the case on Sunday, but his Werribee teammates were also focusing on helping him out in his role on Jason Tutt whenever possible.

“This is the third week in a row that Dec’s played on a really good quality player and done a great job,” Loader said.

“It was a little bit of a different role not playing inside; it was more of an outside run-with role this week. He was terrific again.”

3. A number of players made their return to action, with Mitch Hibberd, Ed Vickers-Willis and Lachlan Hansen all taking the field.

Hibberd had 23 disposals playing on a wing, while Vickers-Willis was his typical solid self down back with 16 disposals.

The trio emerged unscathed, although Lachlan Hansen looked a little worse for wear. Thankfully he’ll be OK in a couple of days.

4. For Ben McKay, it was the first time he’d played against his brother Harry since they were drafted to North and Carlton respectively.

Ben finished with two goals and seven marks while Harry had six tackles.

“I was a little happy (Harry) missed that goal,” Ben said with his tongue firmly in cheek.

“We didn’t cross paths until quarter time when we walked back out of the huddle, I gave him a little bump, it’s all part of it and it was a bit weird. But footy’s footy.

“You’ve got to focus on your game I suppose but you can’t help but keep an eye out on how he’s going. It was good to play against him.”

Most likely AFL call-up: Majak Daw
Next week: v Box Hill at City Oval, Sunday August 7 at 2:00pm