After a hard fought win over Coburg last week, the Tigers were confident of pulling off an upset against a Cats side that has slowly hit its straps as season 2009 has progressed.
It was a closely contested game across the first three quarters, as neither side could get ahead even if Werribee led at every change.
A nine goals to nil final quarter sealed the win for Werribee and the Cats have a slim chance of playing finals football with Collingwood breathing down their necks in ninth.
Tigers coach Simon Atkins was pleased with his team’s dominant performance and the night football concept.
“We’ve certainly been more than competitive and (I’m) certainly really proud of the whole effort to be able to beat a team above us,” he said.
“We built it up as a pretty big occasion for the footy club and the result was part of it, we really wanted to get win. Create a niche for ourselves.”
The dominant last quarter was one particular aspect of his team’s performance that impressed Atkins.
“I think the boys really knew at three quarter time that it was going to take a big effort to get win,” he said.
“We really won the contested footy and moved it the way we wanted to.”
Will Martinello was again consistent in the midfield, backing up from his super performance against Coburg last week.
After rotating spending time in the midfield and forward line last week, Martinello played almost exclusively in the middle to rack up 26 disposals.
James Saker played a good game in defence as he helped to nullify Geelong’s forwards, with first-year Cat Tom Allwright the only player to have an impact booting three goals.
Michael Barlow (36 disposals) spent time in the midfield, as a forward and at centre half back getting a lot of ball everywhere he went. He was awarded the Damien Drum Medal for his dominant performance.
Rob Castello (23 disposals, 3 goals) and Steve Kennedy (21 disposals, 3 goals) were both impressive during stints as midfielders before moving forward to prove their versatility.
Five North-Melbourne listed players suited up in Tigers colours and midfielder Ben Speight was the best of those, picking up 21 disposals to go with his handy goal.
Nathan O’Keefe has spent much of this season developing in Werribee’s reserves, but the first-year North Melbourne forward was given an opportunity to play senior football.
Playing as a lead-up forward, O’Keefe kicked four goals including three in the last quarter and Atkins was happy with the youngster’s performance.
“He just really hit up and played his role,” he said.
“At the end of the day he got off his opponent in the last quarter (to kick goals).”
Tigers ruckmen Liam Gardiner and Andrew Banjanin both played well against Ottens, with their body on body work in particular impressing Atkins.
“I think it was a real learning curve for them to ruck against not only Ottens, but (Dawson) Simpson’s a big man and (Trent) West went though there,” he said.
“Our stats had Ottens for a lot of hit outs, but the clearances were the things we wanted to work.”
“They were really good in their body on body work I thought and their follows up (and) second efforts allowed our clearances to be really clear.”
Allwright kicked three goals to be the leading goal scorer for the Cats and Tom Lonergan chipped in with two handy goals.
Best for the Cats was Brad Ottens for his 13 disposal and 41 hit-out performance in his fourth game since returning from injury.
The Tigers round out season 2009 with a trip to Windy Hill to face Bendigo Bombers on Sunday and action gets underway at 2pm.
Werribee Tigers 3.3 8.5 12.11 21.18-144
Geelong 3.2 7.2 10.2 10.2-62
Werribee Tigers:
Goal Kickers: N. O’Keefe 4, R. Castello 3, S. Kennedy 3, B. Speight 2, M. Barlow 2, L. Gardiner, M. Riggio, T. Henderson, S. Wright, D. Gleeson, W. Martiniello, B. Sharp
Best Players: W. Martiniello, J. Saker, S. Kennedy, R. Castello, B. Speight, M. Barlow
Geelong:
Goal Kickers: T. Allwright 3, T. Lonergan 2, B. Ottens, A. Varcoe, T. West, S. Hogan, J. Simpkin
Best Players: B. Ottens, T. Allwright, S. Motlop, S. Hogan, J. Hollmer, T. Hunt
