Werribee has moved to the top of the VFL ladder thanks to a club record 14th straight win achieved with a 35-point victory over Collingwood in Round 20.

With a 14.9 (93) to 8.10 (58) result over the Magpies the Big W surpassed their previous longest win streak of 13 set in 1998, doing so in the team’s final game at Avalon Airport Oval for the home and away season.

The victory was also Werribee’s ninth consecutive home win in 2023 having made the ground a fortress since an early season loss to Geelong in Round 4.

Against a Collingwood team with 16 AFL-listed players, Tom Gribble and Jack Henderson were outstanding combining for 59 disposals and 15 clearances while Hudson Garoni and Sam Paea each kicked three goals to continue career-best seasons up forward.

It was the seventh time this season Werribee has held an opponent to under 60 points with captain Nick Coughlan and follow backmen Nathan Cooper, Louis Pinnuck and Sam Clohesy orchestrating a brilliant defensive display which included 28 intercepts between them.

In front of a huge crowd the Big W produced one of their best opening quarters of football for the year.

Matt Keast opened the scoring less than four minutes into the contest with his seventh goal of the campaign before Garoni gave Werribee a second as he converted his third opportunity at the 10-minute mark of the term.

With the home team's progress slowed through the middle part of the quarter a Michael Selsby snap eventually gave Werribee a third major with further goals to Porter and Garoni stretching the margin to 33 points at the first change.

Werribee set several game highs in the opening stanza with 17 inside 50s, 15 clearances and 45 uncontested marks, while nine intercept marks helped keep the Magpies scoreless.

Garoni’s strong start continued early in the second as he kicked his third goal just a minute and half into the quarter and when Sam Paea nailed his first at the 23-minute mark the Big W had a 43-point buffer.

However, the Magpies hit back with the next five scoring shots to reduce the margin to 28 points at the main break.

Paea provided the first major of the second half and three of the next four goals courtesy of Nick Hayes, Michael Selsby and Bior Malual would again see the margin out to 43-points before the Pies got one back late in the third.

The visitors continued with the momentum in the final term with a couple of goals reducing the Big W’s lead to 28 points with just over 10 minutes to play, but back-to-back majors to Paea and Keast snuffed out any hopes of a Collingwood comeback.

Werribee: 5.3 8.4 12.6 14.9 (93)
Collingwood: 0.0 3.6 5.9 8.10 (58)

GOALS
Werribee: H. Garoni 3, S. Paea 3, M. Keast 2, M. Selsby 2, J. Porter, T. Gribble, N. Hayes, B. Malual.
Collingwood: J. Ginnivan 2, N. Kreuger, R. McInnes, M. Cox, H. Harrison, C. Murley, J. Tomasiello. 

BEST
Werribee: M. Sodomaco, N. Cooper, B. Malual, S. Paea, J. Henderson, T. Gribble

ROUND 20 IMAGE GALLERY - VIEW HERE