Match result: Werribee 14.10.94 defeated Sandringham 10.14.74
Venue: Avalon Airport Oval
Conditions: Perfect conditions for football

Story of the game

It was the last game of Werribee’s season, and the last game at Avalon Airport Oval before its redevelopment during 2017.

In an even beginning to the game, both sides kicked two goals in the first quarter; Werribee’s coming through Robbie Nahas and Ryan Clarke.

Clarke continued to find a heap of the ball in the second quarter, winning it both on the inside and outside.

At half-time the margin was eight points Werribee’s way, with Nahas proving dangerous in patches up forward.

On resumption after the long break, it was all the home side. The Tigers kicked five goals to two in the third quarter, stretching the lead as high as 30 points, before eventually leading by 20 at three quarter time.

Although Sandringham kicked the first goal of the final term, Werribee had the quick response and was never seriously challenged after that, winning by 20 points to cap off its 2016 campaign.

Nahas finished with three majors as the Tigers’ leading goal-kicker.

The coach said

“Importantly we were in the game early, which was always going to be the key today to have a fast start.

“We were able to get to quarter time having the game on our terms, which was important. Then once you’re in the contest you can start to control the way the game is played.

“I thought for the majority of the game we did that, occasionally we gave them a bit of a look when we needed to kick another goal to maybe put the game beyond doubt, they were able to hang in.

“Those sorts of games are good to grind out and keep your distance from the opposition.” – Development Manager Ben Dyer

North players in action

- Aaron Black (10 disposals, 5 marks)
- Ryan Clarke (32 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal)
- Sam Durdin (12 disposals)
- Will Fordham (24 disposals, 10 marks, 1 goal)
- Ben McKay (9 disposals, 2 goals)
- Brad McKenzie (26 disposals, 7 marks)
- Robin Nahas (16 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals)
- Declan Mountford (17 disposals, 7 marks)
- Braydon Preuss (33 hit-outs, 12 disposals)
- Farren Ray (25 disposals, 8 marks)
- Joel Tippett (21 disposals, 5 marks)
- Ed Vickers-Willis (16 disposals, 6 marks)
- Corey Wagner (14 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal)

Best of the AFL

Ryan Clarke

Continuing on from his 25-disposals, 10-tackle effort in the VFL last week, the first-year Roo was again one of Werribee’s best.

“When you look at his year, it’s been pretty solid. He started (at Werribee), had a good batch of form before he was called up, and then that experience at AFL level will be invaluable for him,” Dyer said.

Best of the VFL

Josh Porter

Playing up forward, Porter was an imposing presence. His contested marking was particularly effective in the last quarter as helped Werribee maintain its lead.

Points of interest

1. After his promising early-season form was hampered by injury, Aaron Black took the field on Sunday as one of Werribee’s key forward targets.

“Blacky, particularly early on, looked pretty sharp and lively,” Dyer said.

“Every time we went forward it looked like he’d be able to get on the end of it, which was really good for him.”

Black had a familiar opponent for company in former Roo Luke Delaney, a matchup which helped him settle into the flow of the contest.

“Early I felt when I was fresh, I had him a little bit for pace and then towards the end I started to slow up,” Black said.

“I’m just happy I got through and if there were more games I would be able to build on it.”

2. Farren Ray made his return to action after nine weeks out. Playing in the midfield and on a wing at times, he was able to offer Werribee another outlet from the back half which had been missing in recent weeks.

“Faz added a bit of experience and a cool head at times, organised really well and set up some of the other guys as well,” Dyer said.

“The way the game was played, that was pretty important.”

3. It was a different role to normal for Sam Durdin on Sunday. After spending so much of his year as a forward, he spent the entire afternoon playing in defence.

“We’ve been keen to do it during the second half of the year, but with Tippo (Joel Tippett), Hanners (Lachlan Hansen) and (Daniel) Nielson back, it hasn’t worked out that way,” Dyer said.

“It was good to give him a look-in there, and maybe next year we’ll look to do that a little bit more. He did look comfortable coming up at the ball, and particularly early he took some good contested marks.”

4. Brad McKenzie played his first game at VFL level after 15 games in a row for North Melbourne.

Playing off half-back, the left-footer was able to use his kicking skills to Werribee’s advantage.

“I thought he made good decisions ball in hand. He held it up when he needed to, went quick when he needed to as well,” Dyer said.

“As we know with his kicking skills, if he’s able to make the right decision he can be a real weapon for us off half-back.”

Most likely AFL call-up: Ryan Clarke