Written by Jordan Baxter

Werribee has gone down to Box Hill by 13 points in a fast-paced, high-scoring Qualifying Final at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval.

The 16.13 (109) to 15.6 (96) defeat means Werribee will now host Port Melbourne in a Semi Final at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval next Saturday at 12:05pm.

Anthony Depasquale was a constant threat both on the lead and when the ball hit the ground inside 50, booting a match-high five goals from 10 disposals and six marks.

Dom Brew was at his brutal best around the contest, recording a match-high 12 tackles to go with 25 disposals, six clearances and a goal.

Mitch Lloyd was also outstanding in the backline in one of his best performances for the club. He recorded match-highs in both disposals and marks, finishing with 26 touches and 15 grabs as a constant presence in defence.

Werribee made the perfect start to the Qualifying Final, moving the ball from end to end before Depasquale found Micah Robb inside 50, with Robb converting the set shot.

Box Hill responded by dominating territory and kicking five unanswered goals, pushing the margin out to 23 points late in the opening quarter.

Werribee needed a response, and it was Brew who stepped up. He marked on the paint of 50, wheeled onto his right foot and launched the ball over the goal umpire’s head.

The Hawks took a 16-point lead into the first break after kicking five goals to two and winning the inside 50 count 17-14.

Box Hill opened the second quarter with back-to-back goals before Brew again led Werribee’s response. He won the ball at the stoppage and sent it in Depasquale’s direction, with Depasquale earning a holding free kick and curling through the set shot from the boundary.

Ajang Kuol Mun then pounced on a Box Hill fumble at half-forward, with the passage ending in the hands of Will Elliott, who slammed home his first goal of the afternoon from 30 metres.

Depasquale made it three consecutive goals for Werribee when he ran into an open goal following an Elliott assist, reducing the margin to 10 points.

The Hawks responded with three goals of their own before a brilliant passage beginning across half-back ended with Depasquale walking into goal for his third major.

Robb then read the ball perfectly at the front of the pack, bursting through a Box Hill tackle and slotting a brilliant left-foot snap to bring Werribee to life.

Box Hill took an 18-point advantage into half-time, with both sides struggling to halt the other’s momentum throughout a fast-paced and high-scoring opening half.

Will Elliott opened the scoring in the third quarter after being awarded a free kick at the top of the goal square, reducing the deficit to 11 points.

The ever-opportunistic Depasquale then charged through the pack, gathered the ball cleanly off hands and slammed through his fourth goal.

Brady Wright took to the skies for a spectacular contested mark from a Jordan Busuttil kick before converting for his first goal of the afternoon.

Just minutes later, Busuttil found Wright inside 50 again. Wright’s second goal gave Werribee the lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the match.

Wright continued to turn the game on its head, kicking his third goal in four minutes after guiding the ball through off the ground.

After trailing by 18 points at half-time, Werribee dominated territory throughout the third quarter and kicked five goals to one. Four of those majors came in a seven-minute burst, giving Werribee a five-point lead at the final change.

Sam Butler kick-started the Hawks in the final quarter, booting back-to-back goals to regain the lead for the visitors.

Louis Pinnuck then glided through the middle and delivered perfectly to Depasquale on the lead, with Depasquale converting his fifth goal to steady Werribee.

With the margin growing to 18 points, Cooper Whyte provided a much-needed spark by snapping truly on his non-preferred foot to bring Werribee back within two goals.

However, Box Hill finished the match strongly to secure a 13-point victory.

Werribee will now turn its attention to a home Semi Final against Port Melbourne at Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval next Saturday at 12:05pm.

QUALIFYING FINAL PHOTO GALLERY >> Click here

FINAL SCORE:
Werribee: 2.4 7.4 12.6 15.6 (96)
Box Hill: 5.2 10.4 11.7 16.13 (109)

GOALS:
Werribee: A. Depasquale (5), B. Wright (3), W. Elliott (2), M. Robb (2), D. Brew, L. Pinnuck, C. Whyte
Box Hill: C. Dear (4), S. Butler (3), J. Dalton, O. Greeves, M. Hill, B. McLaughlin, C. Nairn, C. Preston, M. Ramsden, N. Reeves, A. Schubert