WERRIBEE snatched its fifth win of the year yesterday with a 27-point win over second-placed North Ballarat, who slumped to their fourth loss and third straight.
After the shock defeat to Frankston the week before, the Tigers started with a four-goal to one first term at Eureka Stadium
And it could have been worse for the Roosters, as wind and trying conditions saw plenty of behinds kicked.
The result was even more remarkable considering the Tigers were missing Kangaroo Ben Ross and Marty Pask, who played in the reserves win in the morning.
Coach Simon Atkins said he was happy with the effort.
"The rebound part of it is the real pleasing part.To be beaten by Frankston like we were, I think they really rebounded well and played some consistently good and hard football."
In a scenario eerily similar to the week before, North Ballarat fought back in the second quarter, but a solid fourth-quarter performance from the Tigers ended any doubts.
"[Against] Port Melbourne we played one bad quarter, Frankston we played one bad quarter and today I thought we were really just consistent"
"And that’s where our group’s at, we just need everyone pulling in the right direction and today I was really proud of how they went about it."
The ability to create space was crucial to the win, which was set up with the 22-point lead at quarter time.
"It’s a big ground and we’ve got some blokes in there that if they identify that there’s space and we can use it, we can move the footy pretty well,"
He said the players made a "slight mental change" after the loss to the Dolphins last week, which spurred them on to a remarkable win.
"I’ve never doubted the work rate of the group, but today we got more players working hard, working to the team structures, and that really shows," he said.
Defender Scott Howard, who rarely plays a bad game, was named best on ground, and was praised by Atkins, along with the back six, who kept the Roosters to just seven goals.
"Today I thought his consistency was an example to everyone, whenever we can get him to be attacking it really works in our favour and today we were able to do that," he said.
In a tense final quarter Werribee booted four goals to two, with Kangaroo Daniel Harris and Nathan Thompson proving the difference with three goals each.
With finals still a possibility, Atkins said the team would continue to try young players in the final four games.
"I think that’s 15 first game players, we’re not giving games away, they earn them," he said.
"I think that probably does show where our club’s at, if we’ve got first and second year players winning senior selection it’s pretty exciting going forward."
Werribee Tigers 4.5 5.7 8.13 11.15-81
North Ballarat 1.1 3.3 5.8 7.12-54
Werribee Tigers
Goal Kickers: N. Thompson 3, D. Harris 3, A. Obst, R. Prismall, J. Risol, S. Wright, B. Fletcher
Best Players: S. Howard, F. Chisholm, D. Gleeson, B. Fletcher, L. Adams, N. Grima
North Ballarat
Goal Kickers: B. Driscoll 3, J. Smith, D. Parish, A. Edwards, M. Searl
Best Players: C. Garlett, E. Lower, M. Sharkey, P. McMahon, S. Clifton, B. Driscoll
Last Modified on 28/07/2009 22:51