Werribee's first home game in 2022 ended in a disappointing defeat to visiting Southport with the Big W downed by 52 points in their Round 3 contest at Avalon Airport Oval. 

For the second consecutive year in an early season night clash Werribee were jumped in the first quarter with Southport piling on five goals late in the opening term to establish a 34-point lead. 

The clinical visitors increased their margin steadily from there as basic skill errors cost the home team dearly in co-captain Tom Gribble's 100th Werribee game. Gribble was comfortably the Big W's best player leading the team with 29 disposals and two goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Southport took just over a minute to kick the first goal of the game, but it was met with a quick response from Werribee through Logan Wagener's snapped effort. The Sharks added a second major at the six-and-a-half-minute mark but again it took only two minutes for Werribee to reply, this time via a Josh Porter mark and goal. Werribee failed to convert two set-shot opportunities soon after and then Southport tore the game open with six goals in 19 minutes before co-captain Dom Brew pegged one back at the quarter time siren.

Werribee had a couple of opportunities to cut into the deficit to start the second term but instead it was the visitors who took advantage of their first chance five minutes in. The next 15 minutes saw only a single rushed behind for Werribee as both teams battled for field position before the Sharks added a second major. Saad El-Hawli kicked his first Werribee goal after 24 minutes, but Southport’s lead grew to 48 points before Hudson Garoni added a late major.

Down 43 points at the main break things got worse for Werribee once the second half got underway with Southport goaling inside 30 seconds. Michael Sodomaco in his season debut was one who tried to spark Werribee and did so with a goal seven minutes in but the home team was unable to make any inroads through the middle of the quarter. Eventaully Werribee got some reward via Sam Paea and Gribble who had been outstanding up to that point.

In the final term Southport once gain added to its advantage early before second majors to both Paea and Wagener reduced the margin to 28 points. However, any hope of a miraculous Werribee comeback was all but ended over the next eight minutes as Southport restored their dominance on the scoreboard kicking three of the last four goals.

FINAL SCORE

Werribee: 3.2 5.6 8.8 11.12 (78)
Southport: 8.6 12.7 14.12 19.16 (130)

GOALS

Werribee: T. Gribble 2, S. Paea 2, L. Wagener 2, H. Garoni. D. Brew, S. El-Hawli, J. Porter, M. Sodomaco.
Southport: J. Townsend 4, R. King 3, T. Fields 3, B. Gowers 2, J. Williams 2, M. Pescud 2, Z. Foot, J. Joyce, D. Charlesworthy.

BEST

Werribee: T. Gribble, J. Clark, L. Wagener, M. Sodomaco, D. Brew, M. Hanson
Southport:

KEY PLAYERS

Tom Gribble : 29 disposals (15 kicks), 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 5 tackles, 8 score involvements, 2 goals.
Shaun Mannagh: 25 disposals (15 kicks), 14 handball receives, 5 inside 50s, 8 tackles.
Dom Brew: 22 disposals (16 contested), 8 clearances, 9 tackles, 1 goal.
Reuben William: 22 disposals (14 kicks), 6 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s, 3 score involvements. 
Michael Sodomaco: 19 disposals (17 kicks), 9 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s, 3 score involvements.
Logan Wagener: 13 disposals, 5 tackles, 7 score involvements, 2 goals.

WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE

NEXT MATCH

Werribee vs Williamstown
Friday, April 15, 1.05pm
Downer Oval, Williamstown.