Thrilling final quarter lifts Werribee over Blues
Werribee overturned a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Carlton by a goal in Round 13, and extend is win streak to eight games.
Trailing by the game’s biggest margin with a term to play, a four-goal final quarter and some brilliant and desperate defending lifted the Big W to a ninth win of the season.
Several key players stood up when needed in the last with Shaun Mannagh having the biggest say. Wearing number 56, not his customary number six, and with tape wrapped around his head following an earlier blow to the nose, Mannagh was simply outstanding in the final stanza with 10 disposals and both the game tying and game winning goals.
On a blustery return to Avalon Airport Oval the first quarter was evenly matched with Carlton holding a slight one-point lead at the first break.
Werribee had initially gone ahead when Noah Lever converted the first goal of the game nine and half minutes in following a quick transition from defence by the home team. Tom Gribble restored the Big W’s six-point advantage in the middle of the term while a Josh Porter goal from another Werribee counterattack tied the game with four minutes to play.
The hosts started the second with back-to-back goals in the first seven minutes, as Mannagh was on the receiving end of a brilliant ruck tap from Jack Boyd before Boyd added a major of his own.
After Werribee held a double figure advantage for almost 20 minutes two Carlton goals in as many minutes put the visitors a point up, but Werribee captain Nick Coughlan would give his side the lead at halftime kicking the Big W‘s sixth goal courtesy of a 50m penalty at the 28-minute mark.
Despite an even share of possession in the third term it was Carlton who dominated on the scoreboard. After retaking the lead early, the Blues stretched their advantage further at the 11-minute mark before Boyd hit back for Werribee, with his second major cutting the margin to a point.
It would be only goal for the home team with Carlton then kicking three in the final 10 minutes to take the biggest lead of the game into the final quarter.
Werribee got an early goal to start the last with Matt Keast kicking truly from 40m three minutes in, after being set-up by Mannagh. A second goal came 15 minutes later when Kye Declase took advantage of a free kick at the top of the square and just two minutes later a quick left-footed snap from Mannagh tied the contest at 70-apiece.
There would be just one more score in the game with Mannagh putting the Big W ahead by a goal at the 24-minute mark, doing so with a kick off the outside of his right boot as a number of Blues bared down on him.
The fourth quarter turnaround was the result of Werribee taking control at the stoppages and putting the Blues under relentless pressure by continually sending the ball inside 50. The Big W’s defence was just as ruthless as they laid a game high 27 tackles in the term and did all they could to restrict the visitors to just two behinds.
FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 3.4 6.6 7.9 11.10 (76)
Carlton: 3.3 5.7 10.8 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Werribee: Mannagh 3, J. Boyd 2, J. Porter, N. Coughlan, K. Declase, T. Gribble, M. Keast, N. Lever.
Carlton: N. Cahill 2, L. McMahon, H. Ramshaw, B. Crocker, Z. Fisher, B. Kuipers, H. Lemmey, J. Motlop, H. O'Keefe.
BEST
Werribee: N. Coughlan, T. Gribble, M. Sodomaco, S. Mannagh, N. Cooper, N. Lever.
KEY PLAYERS
Tom Gribble: 35 disposals (12 K, 23 HB), 20 contested possessions, 5 marks (1 contested), 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 9 score involvements, 5 tackles, 1 goal.
Shaun Mannagh: 28 disposals (21 K, 7 HB), 15 handball receives, 5 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 10 score involvements, 9 tackles, 3 goals.
Kye Declase: 25 disposals (11 K, 15 HB), 6 marks (1 contested), 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 6 score involvements, 2 tackles, 1 goal.
Dom Brew: 21 disposals (13 K, 8 HB), 13 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 4 score involvements, 10 tackles.
Jack Henderson: 19 disposals (10 K, 9 HB), 7 marks 3 intercept), 3 clearances, 2 rebound 50s, 8 score involvements 4 tackles.
Nick Coughlan: 18 disposals (15 K, 3 HB) at 83% efficiency, 6 intercept possessions, 10 rebound 50s, 4 score involvements, 1 goal.
Jack Boyd: 14 disposals (9 K, 5 HB), 5 marks (4 contested), 11 hit-outs, 7 score involvements, 2 goals.
Sam Clohesy: 14 disposals (9 K, 5 HB) 5 marks (3 intercept), 3 rebound 50s, 2 inside 50s, 4 tackles.
Nick Hayes: 12 disposals (7 K, 5 HB), 7 marks, 3 inside 50s, 6 score involvements, 6 tackles.
NEXT GAME
Round 15
Werribee vs Sandringham
Saturday Ist July, 1:05pm
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee
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