Match result: Werribee 15.12.102 defeated by Northern Blues 16.10.106
Venue: Princes Park
Conditions: Cold day but ideal for football
In action
- Majak Daw (10 disposals, 3 goals, 19 hit-outs)
- Will Fordham (17 disposals)
- Kieran Harper (11 disposals, 3 goals, 5 tackles)
- Luke McDonald (14 disposals, 5 tackles)
- Kayne Turner (18 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals)
- Eric Wallace (9 disposals, 7 tackles, 35 hit-outs)
- Mason Wood (23 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal)
NMFC.com.au's best: Kayne Turner, Luke McDonald, Majak Daw
Story of the game
Werribee is again lamenting its inability to play four full quarters of football with a poor third quarter allowing the Blues to slam through 8.4 to the Tigers’ 2.2.
The visitors made the going tough early in the contest with inaccurate kicking in front of the goals denying them a bigger half-time lead. Coughed up two late ones.
Well within reach, the home side came out firing after the long break and controlled the play during the third term with a 99-41disposal advantage and 17-7 inside 50s.
There were some positives however with Werribee able to fight its way back into the contest when it kicked four of the first five goals in the final term.
It was too little too late though with a goal from Daw after the siren a small consolation in the bitter four point loss.
Points of interest
1. Kieran Harper turned in his best effort in recent memory with three goals and five tackles to go along with 11 possessions.
“He was very lively and dangerous again without having massive numbers. He’s tracking really well only a few games back from missing a lot of football. His tackling pressure was up and he’s starting to find his groove.” - North development coach Ben Dyer.
2. Promoted from the development league in the absence of Dan Currie (foot), Eric Wallace impressed in his first senior game for the Tigers with 35 hit-outs and a team-high 7 tackles.
“Eric played against a fellow American import and more than held his own with some great follow up work. It was a nice game from him and he should take a lot of confidence out of it.” - Dyer
3. Quiet in recent weeks, Kayne Turner booted three goals and took six marks in a standout performance.
“It was a really positive game for Kayne. He read the play well and got to the fall of the ball which gave him every opportunity to get involved in the game and impact the contest.” Dyer
4. After a quiet fist term on defender Michael Jamison, a strategic move saw Majak Daw ignite the Tigers.
“He struggled to use his strength in the one on ones against Jamison but started jumping at the footy and attacking it more as the game wore on. John Lamont then moved him into the midfield and he almost single handedly got them back into the contest.” – Ben Dyer
5. Luke McDonald did his chances of an AFL recall no harm.
“We wanted Luke to go in with a ‘defend first’ attitude and he achieved that. He was told not to worry about stats and just to get all his technical work spot on. I thought it was a solid game from him today which should put him back in the frame for a senior game after the bye.”
6. Werribee’s defenders had their hands full with Carlton listed player Matthew Watson doing what he pleased. The key position Blue finished the day with six goals to his name.
Most likely call up: Kayne Turner, Luke McDonald, Majak Daw
Next week: Bye
