Young Tigers help team roar to finals
By Adrian Ceddia
Star Newspaper
30 August 2006
WERRIBEE Football Club has this season put paid to the common perception that Victorian Football League (VFL) teams enjoy the benefits of their Australian Football League (AFL) alignments.
The Tigers, firmly entrenched in the finals for 2006, have excelled this season without relying on Western Bulldogs-listed players left out of the AFL line-up.
With the Bulldogs suffering injuries and a number of last year's VFL players dropping from the list, Werribee has been forced to call on untried talent to make a finals tilt.
Injuries to senior VFL players have also had an impact on the experience of the side, but impressively the runs have still been put on the board.
In the home and away season, 13 Werribee-listed players have made their debut and many have proven themselves more than capable of mixing it at senior level.
On average, just over a third of the Tigers' teams this season have been made up of players on the Bulldogs' senior or rookie list, well below the VFL average.
In comparison, neighbouring teams Williamstown and Geelong average 13 and 15 AFL-listed players respectively per game.
Both clubs are also at the top end of the ladder and in the premiership hunt this season.
I suppose with the predicament the Bulldogs are in it gave us an opportunity to have a look at some of these blokes," Werribee coach Simon Atkins said.
The most pleasing thing that I've had is that they've all earned a game. When they've got in they've shown they can play at that level.
"Each of them has brought something different, whether it's hardness or a bit of flair.
"The future of the footy club is pretty bright with these young kids."
Many of the new faces in the senior side are youngsters trying to make the grade at VFL level, some of whom have come out of the local Western Region Football League competition.
"I think it shows out in our recruiting," Atkins said.
"We pick out blokes that we think can develop and play senior footy.
"The local blokes that come through have done it through hard work. It's not going to happen overnight.
"It's a good identification for the younger kids who want to get into the system and have a chance to play in the second-best competition."
Atkins is expecting his youngsters to play a part in the Tigers' finals campaign - yet another important stepping stone in their development.
Last Modified on 22/02/2008 11:08