Match result: Werribee 12.6.78 defeated by Collingwood 18.13.121
Venue: Victoria Park
Conditions:Perfect afternoon for football

In action

- Leigh Adams (11 disposals, 5 clearances, left field in third term)
- Daniel Currie (7 disposals, 24 hit-outs, left field in third term)
- Majak Daw (8 disposals, 38 hit-outs, 1 goal)
- Will Fordham (26 disposals, 11 marks, 7 inside 50’s)
- Kieran Harper (14 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal)
- Luke McDonald (21 disposals, 4 marks)
- Kayne Turner (11 disposals)
- Mason Wood (17 disposals, 4 tackles)

NMFC.com.au's best:Will Fordham

What the coach said – John Lamont

Quarter Time
Werribee 2.2.14 trail Collingwood 3.4.22

“Start again, let’s get this going. Make them defend you. We kick short to blokes who can play on, long to contests. This means we know where it’s going and we can get to the fall of the ball.”

Three Quarter Time
Werribee 9.5.59 trail Collingwood 15.10.100

“When the challenge comes and the team throws it at you there was no change. We weren’t hard to play against. We’re going to learn a lot from this last quarter. For Christ sake when they’ve got the ball tackle them!”

Story of the game

A fortnight after North Melbourne played Collingwood in the AFL, it was almost as if the same game had been transported down the road to Victoria Park.

Werribee was much the better side in the first half, skipping away to a comfortable 21-point lead at the long break. However once the third quarter started the game became eerily reminiscent of how Collingwood ran over the top of North.

The VFL Magpies kicked a staggering 10 unanswered goals for the quarter, turning the half-time deficit into a match-winning 41-point lead. From there the result was academic, and Werribee eventually succumbed by 43 points.

Points of interest

1. Will Fordham had another quality outing, notching 26 disposals in his role as an outside midfielder. He was particularly influential in the first half when Werribee had control, showcasing his pace and hard running.

“He was able to be the outlet and they just couldn’t go with him and his speed, which was really impressive,” Development Manager Ben Dyer told NMFC.com.au.

“Defensively as well, he was able to get over and cut a few off. He also kicked it really well, which was pleasing because it’s something he’s been working on a lot.”

2. Kieran Harper showed glimpses of the form he can be capable of. In his second game back after a layoff, the 22-year-old was dangerous at ground level.

“The pleasing thing today was that he got to a lot of dangerous spots,” Dyer explained.

“His fall of the ball positioning was really good. If you keep getting yourself there, sooner or later it’ll translate to results.

“He was able to run through the lines a few times and create.”

3. Luke McDonald often found himself stuck in desperate defensive situations during the third quarter. He would have been excused for feelings of déjà vu after also playing for the Kangaroos against Collingwood a fortnight ago.

“When he took possession and had space in front of him, he drove and used it, and that enabled him to be more aggressive off half back," Dyer said.

“Even though there was a lot of footy coming in, he held up well.”

4. Leigh Adams and Daniel Currie were unable to finish the game due to a head knock and foot soreness respectively.

Read an update on their condition

5. As a result of Currie being unable to finish the game, Majak Daw’s role changed.

After playing mainly forward in the first half, Daw was the first choice ruckman for the rest of the afternoon.

“He was on (Ben) Reid when he was forward, and he looked to be really proactive on Maj early," Dyer said.

“Maj got caught a little away from it early on, but he fixed that up. He had a few opportunities to hit the scoreboard; it was a good test for him against a quality defender.

“It would have been nice to play him forward all day but then the circumstances changed.”

Most likely call up: Luke McDonald
Next week: Saturday June 20 v Northern Blues, Ikon Oval at 2:15pm