Match result: Werribee 9.10.64 defeated by Collingwood 13.15.93
Venue: North Port Oval
Conditions: Perfect conditions, bright and sunny
In action
- Dan Currie (9 disposals, 34 hit-outs)
- Will Fordham (16 disposals)
- Kieran Harper (12 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 goal)
- Scott McMahon (17 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles)
- Eric Wallace (2 disposals, 11 hit-outs)
NMFC.com.au's best: Scott McMahon
Story of the game
In a sudden death elimination final, Werribee faced Collingwood at the neutral North Port Oval.
The Magpies flew away early, kicking four of the first five goals to lead by 21 points at quarter time.
Werribee was unable to get any sort of run and carry going, and despite the best urgings of coach John Lamont at the first huddle, the trend continued after the break.
“We’ve got to hold our nerve through the middle of the ground and not overpossess. At one stage we were 20 kicks and 40 handballs, I sh*t you not,” Lamont told his team at quarter time.
However the margin hovered around the 3-5 goal mark for the next two quarters, and when Lamont re-emerged at three quarter time, Werribee 28 points behind, he delivered a stirring rev-up in an attempt to get his team going.
RELATED: John Lamont’s three quarter time speech
“We cannot continue to play the way we are playing. You can’t keep going slow all the time, it’s not working for us. So we play, we’re going to get back and go.
“We’re going to run and penetrate. For three quarters, you have not fired a shot. Get the ball and go!”
The rev-up seemed to work as Werribee then kicked the first two goals of the final term and for a moment it appeared the comeback was on as the margin shrunk to 18 points.
Unfortunately Collingwood responded, putting the game out of reach with three quick goals.
Werribee fell by 29 points, ending its 2015 season.
Points of interest
1. Kieran Harper started strongly and was one of the Tigers’ best for the afternoon. Continuing his recent good form, the forward was taking the game on whenever he could.
“He was really good in the first half,” development coach Jarred Moore told NMFC.com.au.
“He used the ball really well and kicked a nice goal.”
Unfortunately a mix up in rotations meant Harper was stuck on the bench in the last quarter when he was just starting to have an influence again.
“He only played 44 per cent game time in the last,” Gavin Brown said.
“It was a bit of a miscommunication in the end that stopped him from getting back on quicker.”
2. Scott McMahon was again one of Werribee’s best in the back half. Although he spent time off the field in the third quarter with a groin issue, he returned in the last to be influential in the early stages.
“He used it pretty well I thought, and set up a few goals,” Moore said.
“To come back on in the last quarter was impressive and he was really good all day,” added Brown.
3. Playing on the smaller ground at Port Melbourne meant a tougher afternoon for Will Fordham.
With the rookie’s ability to run and provide an outlet compromised, he adapted and worked his way to 16 disposals.
“He’s normally the one that runs into the back half, creates, links up, and there’s just no space for him to do that here,” Brown said.
“He still worked hard though and it was a real contested game.
“He got a knock late and was taken off for a concussion test.”
Most likely call-up: Kieran Harper
