Elite footballers don’t need external motivation, we are told. Their intrinsically high motivation levels are part of what makes them elite and what makes great orators of old such as Ted Whitten, John Kennedy, and Ron Barrassi apparently redundant in this day and age. Yet it seemed patently clear watching the scenes that unfolded in Werribee’s rooms after Saturday’s 14-point win over the Box Hill Hawks that these highly motivated elites had been driven by much more than their desire for a mere four points.

Much like in the AFL, the toughest task in VFL football right now involves a trip to Yarra Park to take on Richmond. On Saturday, Werribee found out just how difficult an assignment that can be.

Werribee produced an incredible one-point win over Essendon at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday in one of the VFL games of the year.

Werribee fell short in its bid to exact revenge on Geelong for its round-one heartbreaker, going down to the Cats by 16 points at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.

Werribee has fallen to its heaviest defeat of season 2018, going down to Port Melbourne by 78 points at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.

Werribee’s tough start to 2018 continued with a 51-point loss to Sandringham at Trevor Barker Beach Oval on Sunday.

Werribee has endured a tough night at the office at Avalon Airport Oval, going down to Collingwood by 53 points.

Werribee has opened its 2018 account in resounding fashion with a 41-point home win over archrival Williamstown on Sunday.

With so much focus on “six-six-six” formations and extended goalsquares, it would have been easy enough for an impartial observer to Werribee’s round-18 clash with Coburg to overlook the fact there was an actual game of football going on rather than a mere experiment to workshop potential AFL rule changes.

Right from the opening – a Tom Gribble free kick to replace the customary first bounce thanks to a flattening opposition blow before play had even begun – it was clear there was going to be plenty of heat and spite in Werribee’s home clash with the Northern Blues.

Werribee was unable to produce a result to remember for milestone men Ben Moloney, Joe Maishman, and Sam Collins in its clash with Collingwood on Sunday, going down by 58 points in the wet at Victoria Park.

Werribee scored a resounding triumph with an 83-point win over Frankston at SkyBus Stadium on Sunday.

Neither Brenton Rees nor Josh Porter finished among the coaches’ votes for Werribee in its stunning seven-point upset victory over the Box Hill Hawks, but the efforts of both provided some insight into the ability of their side to finally break through after a tough month of football.

A remarkable late fightback wasn’t enough to get Werribee over the line against Footscray at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday, the Bulldogs holding on for an eight-point victory to retain their grip on the HealthWest Cup.

No team ever emerges from a 38-point loss feeling overly thrilled, but Werribee can take a lot more positives from Saturday’s defeat to Richmond at Avalon Airport Oval than the final margin might suggest.