Werribee extended their winning streak to six with a 20-point victory over rivals Williamstown at home.
On Saturday at Avalon Airport Oval Werribee overcame a 10-point deficit at three-quarter time to deliver a dominant six-goal-to-one final quarter and secure a 12.11.83 to 9.9.63 win.
It was a memorable day as the club celebrated Diversity Day and competed for the John Pyne Memorial Trophy.
John Pyne made a significant 14-year contribution to Werribee, starting as a player in 1975/76, then coaching from 1977 to 1980, and serving as Secretary (1982-1985) and Vice President (1986-1989), contributing until his passing in 1989. Members of the Pyne family presented Dom Brew with the trophy after the match.
The team donned a special diversity guernsey designed by local South Sudanese artist John Mathet. Avalon Airport Oval was decked out with flags of the world and international food trucks to mark the occasion.
Williamstown fired the first shot of the match nine minutes into the game and it was goal for goal for the quarter from there. Werribee’s two leading goal kickers Hudson Garoni and Jay Dahlhaus both hit the scoreboard in the first term but Williamstown took a five point lead into the first break.
Dom Brew was leading the way with nine disposals and four clearances.
Half-back Louis Pinnuck continued his goal kicking form of 2024 with one from beyond the 50 metre arc to kick off the second quarter. The long range goal was Pinnuck’s third of the last five weeks and fourth for the season.
Williamstown were on top for the majority of the second quarter kicking the next three goals while Werribee missed several key opportunities. Jack Riding calmly converted a set shot from 40 metres out to halt Williamstown’s momentum and reduce the half-time margin to nine points. Riding had 13 first-half disposals and four tackles to go with his goal.
Williamstown through Blake Coleman kicked the first goal of the third quarter then for 17 minutes neither side was able to find the big sticks. Flynn Young and Aidan Johnson broke the deadlock with their first goals of the day, narrowing the margin to less than a goal. Williamstown went into the last quarter holding a ten point lead.
Werribee came hard out of the blocks in the last quarter kicking three goals in the space of six minutes and ultimately going on a six goal unanswered run. Cooper Whyte started the run converting a set shot and in his best game for the club ended with 18 disposals, five marks to go with his goal. The in-form Jack Riding kicked his second set shot finishing the day with 26 disposals, seven marks, five clearances and had five shots on goal. Zac Banch kicked his first goal to extend the lead to more than one straight kick. Flynn Young booted his second courtesy of some quick hands from Jay Dahlhaus. Jack Henderson snapped a goal to make it six goals in the midfielder’s past month of football.
Daly Andrews then kicked our sixth goal of the quarter to seal the game against his former side with the final margin 20 points.
Dom Brew, once again, was the leading possession getter for Werribee, finishing with 27 disposals to go with 11 clearances.
Defenders Jesse Clark and Nathan Cooper were outstanding. After gathering a career-high 21 disposals and 14 marks last game against Frankston, Clark bettered that finishing with 26 disposals and 14 marks.
Sam Conway, in his return game, was strong in the ruck and around the ground, winning 32 hitouts to go with three intercept marks and four clearances.
GOALS
Werribee: J. Riding (2), F. Young (2), D. Andrews, Z. Banch, H. Garoni, J. Henderson, A. Johnson, L. Pinnuck, C. Whyte
Williamstown: B. Coleman (3), C. Ellison, N. Gadsby, D. Henderson, J. Petric, C. Polson, T. Triffett
BEST
Werribee: J. Clark, N. Cooper, D. Brew, J. Riding, S. Conway, C. Whyte
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