Werribee have been handed their first home-and-away defeat since Round 4 last year with an eight-point loss to GWS.

In the second of back-to-back games at Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee 14.14.98 fell short to the Giants 16.10.106 in a seesawing contest.

The Giants kicked the opening goal then the in-form Nick Hayes started proceedings for Werribee followed by Harry Grintell snapping one against his former side. From here onwards it was goal for goal, with Werribee edging in front by two points at quarter time.

The second quarter followed suit in goal for goal fashion. Daly Andrews, matching up on Cooper Hamilton in their highly anticipated clash, continued his impressive start to his Werribee career with the first goal of the second quarter. Nick Hayes kicked another two goals in the quarter and was setting himself up for a big afternoon in front of the sticks until a nasty collision with GWS forward Izaac Hughes late in the second term. Play was halted for nearly 10-minutes as both players were stretchered off the field and neither returned.

When play resumed a Sam Paea goal saw Werribee take a two-point lead into the main break.

Werribee got off to a fast start in the second half with Jay Dahlhaus kicking his second goal of the day, and Hudson Garoni converting a set shot to continue his streak of multiple goal games. Aidan Johnson extended Werribee’s lead to 9 points before two late goals to the Giants gave them a four-point lead with one quarter to play.

Kye Declase got Werribee off to a perfect start kicking a goal 22 seconds into the quarter to regain the lead. Harry Grintell continued his run of good form with his second major extending Werribee’s lead. However a run of 6 consecutive behinds meant that Werribee were unable to put the game away. A Giants goal with under two minutes remaining, followed by a Conor Stone sealer for GWS, handed Werribee an eight-point loss.

Dom Brew was strong again in the midfield, with 24 disposals and five tackles. Angus Hicks played his best game for the club since arriving from Richmond with a 20-disposal effort. Harry Grintell, against his former side put together a good all-round game with 15 disposals and eight tackles to go with his multiple goals. Jaelen Pavlidis also carried on his good form with another strong defensive game against his former teammates. 

Medical Update: Nick Hayes has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home. He has a minor facial injury and will enter concussion protocols, and we look forward to welcoming him back to train with his teammates in the coming weeks.

FINAL SCORE
Werribee 5.3 9.5 12.8 14.14 (98)
GWS Giants 5.1 9.3 13.6 16.10 (106)

GOALS
Werribee: N. Hayes (3), H. Garoni (2), J. Dahlhaus (2), K. Declase (2), H. Grintell (2), A. Johnson, S. Paea, D. Andrews
GWS Giants: T. McMullin (4), C. Stone (3), R. Angwin (2), N. Madden (2), M. Harms, B. Preuss, I. Hughes, D. Jones, N. Quigg

BEST
Werribee: D. Brew, J. Dahlhaus, J. Pavlidis, K. Declase, H. Grintell, A. Hicks