Defender Scott McMahon and forward Kieran Harper were two shining lights to come out of Werribee’s VFL practice match against Footscray on Saturday.

McMahon finished with 23 disposals and nine marks and looked composed in the Tigers’ inexperienced defence.

Development manager Ben Dyer said the 28-year-old was a solid performer and will assume a leadership role in Werribee’s injury-depleted back six.

“He’s going to be fairly important early in the year ... he’s got a really important role in marshalling (the younger players) and getting it organised,” Dyer told NMFC.com.au.

“He was able to intercept mark really well and make some really good decisions coming out of the back half.”

Harper, who featured on the wing in the first half before drifting through the middle after the main break, continued his encouraging form with 18 disposals, 11 tackles, eight clearances and a goal.

“(Harper) is looking a lot sharper than he did last year, he’s moving to be involved a lot more and he’s got a bit of a spark about him,” Dyer said.

In the big man stocks, Daniel Currie collected 39 hit-outs and 11 touches predominantly in the ruck and “broke even at centre bounces and stoppages” against his opponent Tom Campbell.

“(Campbell’s) quite a strong opponent so he had to try and nullify that, which he did at times, and he was able to go and take some good contested marks as well,” Dyer said.

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Fellow tall Majak Daw, who played more as a forward option with stints in the ruck, found it tough to adjust to the blustery conditions at Whitten Oval early in the match, accumulating 15 touches and 15 hit-outs.

“There was a pretty solid breeze to one end, so just picking up the flight of the ball and judging it was difficult for him,” Dyer said.

“He got better at that as the game went on, and if he didn’t mark it, he was able to bring it forward for a couple of the smaller players as well.”

Draftee Ed Vickers-Willis also had a tough introduction to his first competitive match – and his first appearance in the midfield after spending much of his junior football in defence – gathering 11 touches.

“By his own admission, he’d probably say that he struggled with the pace of the game initially,” Dyer said.

“But he’ll adapt to that and he got better as the game went on ... and also not really knowing too many of his Werribee teammates early on, particularly with those on-ballers, there’s a bit of synergy that’s pretty important.”

Werribee: 10.7 (67)
Footscray: 14.7 (91)