Match result: Werribee 8.13.61 defeated by Footscray 9.11.65
Venue: Avalon Airport Oval
Conditions: Cold, with a moderate wind favouring one side of the ground

In action

- Dan Currie (8 disposals, 34 hit-outs, 4 tackles)
- Majak Daw (13 disposals, 14 hit-outs, 8 tackles, 3 goals)
- Kieran Harper (21 disposals, 10 tackles)
- Scott McMahon (23 disposals, 10 marks)
- Kayne Turner (9 disposals, 1 goal)
- Mason Wood (20 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 2 goals)

Will Fordham was a late withdrawal due to general soreness, while Daniel Currie played three quarters in his road back from injury

NMFC.com.au's best: Scott McMahon

Story of the game

In its final game of the regular season, Werribee hosted a Footscray side looking for a victory to seal a double chance.

It appeared the Bulldogs were on the verge of putting the game out of reach very early on, kicking the first five goals of the match. However, despite their run of goals, the general flow of the game was relatively even and Werribee was able to work its way back on the scoreboard after quarter time.

A string of repeat inside 50 entries eventually yielded the goals Werribee was looking for, and had it not been for some wayward attempts the home side would have held a lead at the long break. It trailed by six points despite having four more scoring shots.

Nevertheless, the Tigers’ advantage continued in the second half, with third quarter goals to Majak Daw and Mason Wood giving them the lead. From there the game became a tight, hotly contested scrap with any score hard to come by.

Werribee led by just one point approaching time on of the final term when Kayne Turner found space inside the forward 50 and snapped truly. It appeared to be the game defining play, but the Bulldogs found another gear and continued to surge forward after the restart. Two quick replies, the last at the 28 minute mark, gave Footscray the win.

Points of interest

1. Kieran Harper continued his recent good form, lively both close to goal and further up the ground. He collected 21 disposals and 10 tackles, even spending some time in at the centre bounces.

“We like to see him around the footy a fair bit,” Development Coach Jarred Moore told NMFC.com.au.

“He was more forward and then came up to the middle. The pleasing thing for Kieran was that he involved himself in the game for the whole day.

“To get his numbers he worked hard and got to the right spots which is something he’s been working on.”

2. Majak Daw was Werribee’s most dangerous forward, kicking three of its first five goals.

“He adjusted really well after quarter time to the way the Bulldogs were defending him,” Moore said.

“He was very good, to kick three in the next couple of quarters. He looked really dangerous and attacked the ball really well.

“He won a lot of one-on-one contests and was able to bring the ball to ground when he didn’t win it.”

3. Scott McMahon was arguably best on ground, solid as a rock in the defensive 50. He continually repelled Bulldogs’ forward forays, finishing with 23 disposals and 10 marks.

“He had a few different opponents and during the day he was able to cut off a lot of their outlets,” Moore said.

“A lot of his 10 marks came from the opposition which says a lot about how he was able to read the play.”

4. After playing through sickness last week and performing well, Mason Wood stepped up another gear against the Bulldogs. He kicked two important second half goals and also had 21 disposals for the day.

“He started pretty slowly but he was playing forward and the ball didn’t come down there, so he was probably entitled to,” Moore said.

“He worked his way into the game really well after that and his workrate was very good to get plenty of the footy. To get a couple of goals as reward for his effort was good.”

Most likely call-up: Majak Daw
Next week: Elimination Final v Collingwood, Saturday September 5 at North Port Oval, 12:10pm