Match result: Werribee 6.14.50 defeated by Richmond 11.15.81
Venue: Punt Rd, Richmond
Conditions: Chilly, but dry. Perfect football conditions
Story of the game
Richmond jumped out to an early lead in the first term, a margin Werribee was ultimately unable to claw back.
Despite only scoring one goal in the opening half, John Lamont’s side remained within touching distance at the main break. Werribee should have been closer, had it been able to convert in front of goal.
It was a day of missed opportunities, and Werribee had its chances to take the game on throughout the afternoon.
The game was perhaps summed up in one passage of play in the third quarter, when Aaron Black kicked the ball into the forward 50, before Werribee teammate James Hussey tried to dribble a goal. The shot was on target, but the ball simply bounced along the goal line before taking an unexpected turn in the opposite direction for a Richmond player to collect and rebound.
A three-goal final quarter from Lachlan Hansen gave Werribee hope, but Richmond fought back, securing all four points in a tough day at the office.
What the coach said – John Lamont
QT: Werribee 0.3.3 trails Richmond 4.2.26
“Composure with the ball ... we’ve generated enough opportunities but just didn’t get our pay day. So don’t have any anxiety about it, just hold our nerve on what we are trying to achieve. Make sure we’ve got composure, that hard edge in our competing, and that we are hard to play against in all facets of the game.”
HT: Werribee 1.6.12 trails Richmond 6.8.44
“We’ve generated enough opportunities, we just haven’t nailed them. Now we’re just changing the tactics, to just drive some positive outcomes. We need attitude, effort and appetite for the contest and hold your nerve with ball in hand. Work for the kicker, get some penetration in our game.”
3QT: Werribee 2.9.21 trails Richmond 6.15.51
“Don’t die wondering. Communicate with blokes, make sure you’re not jumping for the same ball. We need a big quarter from every player don’t we? Hard work produces that luck that we need. Every one of you has got to weigh in at every opportunity you get. Keep your feet in the contest, be strong, absorb the tackle. Use your mates. Let’s run, make sure you don’t leave anything out there. We need maximum effort for the full 30-odd minutes.”
By the numbers
Aaron Black – 16 disposals, 1 goal
Ryan Clarke – 29 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles
Majak Daw – 7 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal (limited game time)
Will Fordham – 17 disposals, 11 tackles
Taylor Garner – 11 disposals, 5 tackles
Lachlan Hansen – 26 disposals, 12 marks, 3 goals
Mitchell Hibberd – 24 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles
Declan Mountford – 23 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles
Braydon Preuss – 12 disposals, 8 tackles, 27 hit-outs
Joel Tippett – 10 disposals
Ed Vickers-Willis – 25 disposals, 8 marks
Best of the AFL
Lachlan Hansen
Hansen turned back the clock in the final quarter, showing he hadn’t forgotten how to be a key-forward. Lamont rolled the dice and moved the 27-year-old forward and he was everywhere.
Three goals in the final term almost gave Werribee a sniff at victory, but ultimately Hansen’s heroics were not enough.
Before he made the move forward, Hansen stood tall in defence. He took plenty of intercept marks and is no doubt putting his hand up for a recall to the senior side.
“Something had to happen up front (at three-quarter-time),” North Development Manager Ben Dyer said.
“’Maj’ (Majak Daw) was only playing a half, so him (Hansen) being able to go forward just made (Richmond’s Troy) Chaplin a little bit more accountable.
“That was a bit of a swing for us and that’s when we did look like getting back into it.”
Ryan Clarke
Clarke continues to impress at VFL level. He had the ball on a string at Punt Rd and went in hard at the contest.
“He just kept running all day,” Dyer said.
“His ability to double-up possessions and even on a third time he can still find space.
“He still needs to do a bit of work on his finishing and his polish, but you can’t question his effort across four quarters, I thought it was fantastic.”
Best of the VFL
Tom Gribble
The number 4 was everywhere for Werribee. Not only did he get a lot of the ball himself, collecting more than 30 touches throughout the afternoon, Gribble’s defensive efforts were impressive, laying plenty of strong tackles over the course of the day.
Josh Porter
Porter played big all day and took a huge mark in the second term. Made his presence felt around the ground.
Points of interest
1. The swingman
Hansen showed he still knows where the goals are in an impressive fourth quarter up forward. Hansen, who started his career as a forward, looked right at home when he was given the nod to move forward. After concussion kept him on the sidelines in recent weeks, Hansen has now put in two solid back-to-back games.
2. VW tuned up
Ed Vickers-Willis saw plenty of the pill in another successful outing for the up-and-coming defender.
The 20-year-old has been unlucky with injuries during his early days at Arden St, but is finally starting to get some game time under his belt.
He reads the game well and is no doubt getting more confident the more he takes to the field. One to watch.
3. Withdrawals
Brad Scott predicted Werribee would suffer after injuries hit in North’s loss to Geelong, with the Roos' clash against reigning premier Hawthorn drawing closer.
So not surprisingly, Trent Dumont, Farren Ray and Corey Wagner were all rested from the Werribee side and could be in the mix for Friday night’s blockbuster. Daw was rested in the second half of the match, suggesting he too is in the mix for the Round 13 clash.
“The three we pulled out today, it was reward for how they’ve been going about in the VFL so that’s a positive for them. They might get their chance later in the week,” Dyer explained.
4. Tippett on song
Joel Tippett was again solid in defence, keeping Richmond’s forwards accountable.
“I really loved Joel Tippett’s game on Liam McBean, he had one early, but ‘Tippo’ was just right up him all day and didn’t give him anything,” teammate Vickers-Willis said.
Most likely AFL call-up: Lachlan Hansen, Majak Daw
Next week: Saturday, June 18 at 2.10pm vs Essendon at Avalon Airport Oval
