A first home win of the season continues to allude Werribee with the Big W suffering a disappointing 70-point loss to Sydney at Avalon Airport Oval in Round 7.

Down by 62 points at halftime after kicking just two goals in the opening two terms of play, the home team matched it with the Swans thereafter.  In the second half Werribee held the visitors to just four goals while finishing the match with their best quarter of football.

The loss sees Werribee fall to 2-4 on the season while remaining winless at Avalon Airport Oval from three outings this season.

FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 1.1 2.1 2.2 4.8 (32)
Sydney: 6.2 12.3 14.5 16.6 (102)

GOALS
Werribee: O. Hanrahan, M. Keast, S. Mannagh, S. Paea.
Sydney: J. Amartey 4, C. Sinclair 3, H. Morrison, J. Bell, T. Hickey, L. McAndrew, M Roberts, F. Rogers, L. Taylor, C. Warner, S. Wicks.

BEST
Werribee: S. Mannagh, T. Gribble, B. Malual, N. Cooper, O. Hanrahan, M. Sodomaco.
Sydney:

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the third week in a row Werribee was the first team to score but a single behind was all the Big W would register for the first 25 minutes of the match as Sydney took control of the game from the eight-minute mark, kicking six goals from eight scoring shots to open up a 31-point advantage. Young tall Sam Paea finally got Werribee on the board converting his first opportunity from a set shot but the quarter ended with Sydney’s sixth major of the game.

Werribee fell further behind early in the second as Sydney extended their lead with a pair of goals in opening seven minutes before first gamer Matt Keast provided a response for Werribee with his first goal at VFL level, with second gamer Lochie Smart also involved in the build-up. However, the Keast goal would be Werribee’s only score of the quarter with the margin 62 points at the main break after Sydney kicked four straight goals to finish the half.

Having struggled to get anything going in the first two quarters while overusing the football by hand Werribee changed its style of play in the third term and would enjoy more possession than Sydney. Kicking against a strong breeze the Big W didn't make the most of their forward 50 entries however, at the other end of the ground the defence stepped up with Nathan Cooper and Hudson Garoni - who had moved back to counter Sydney’s height – holding firm, the Swans would only add two goals.

Werribee again had an even share of possession in the last quarter and after missing a couple of early shots on goal finally got some reward on the scoreboard courtesy of an Ollie Hanrahan major before Shaun Mannagh added a second goal with five minutes to go. While the final margin was 70 points their were positives for Werribee in the second half which saw them only marginally outscored 4.3 to 2.7.

KEY PLAYERS
Tom Gribble: 30 disposals (21 contested possessions), 8 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s, 5 tackles.
Bior Malual: 23 disposals at 83% efficiency, 11 handball receives, 9 marks, 4 tackles.
Shaun Mannagh: 21 disposals, 10 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal.
Michael Sodomaco: 21 disposals (14 kicks), 14 handball receives, 3 inside 50s, 3 tackles.
Hudson Garoni: 17 disposals, 4 marks (2 contested), 8 intercept possessions, 3 rebound 50s, 3 clearances.
Ollie Hanrahan: 16 disposals, 10 handball receives, 3 clearances, 4 score involvements, 1 goal.
Nathan Cooper: 12 disposals, 10 intercept possessions, 4 tackles, 3 rebound 50s.

VIEW MATCH GALLERY


NEXT MATCH
Round 9
Werribee vs GWS
Sunday May 22, 10.05am
Giants Stadium, Sydney

Top Victorian mid-season draft prospects and many future stars of the men’s game will line up in the Colgate Young Guns v Victoria Metro U18 match at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday following the Smithy’s VFL game between Werribee and Sydney.

The Colgate Young Guns team has been selected by AFL recruiters as they look to bolster their lists in the 2022 AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft, which will be held on Wednesday 1 June.

The Colgate Young Guns features the state’s brightest 19-year-old prospects, most of whom are competing as top-age players in the 2022 NAB League Boys season. 

All players selected in the Young Guns squad are eligible for next month’s AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

The match will serve a separate purpose for the Victoria Metro U18 team, where players will be pushing their case for selection in the squad that will compete in the NAB AFL U18 National Championships.

It is the first in a two-game series for the Colgate Young Guns, who will also take on Victoria Country U18 on Sunday 15 May.

Saturday’s match between the Colgate Young Guns and Victoria Metro U18 will commence at 4:30pm.

Werribee returns to Avalon Aiport Oval in Round 7 for its third home game of the season with a match-up against Sydney on Saturday.

Both teams head into the clash with 2-3 records as a result of back-to-back losses. Ironically Werribee's two-point loss to Gold Coast was the same margin that the Swans went down to the Suns in Round 2.

Werribee has made three changes for the clash with the Swans as club favourite Joe Maishman comes into the side for his first match of the season.

Joining the experienced midfielder back in the team is young forward Sam Paea fresh off a six-goal best-on-ground performance for Aberfeldie last week, while Matt Keast will make his VFL debut.

Keast, a Geelong Falcon's graduate, becomes the club's 12th first gamer so far this year having impressed in training with his cleanliness while also performing strongly with local club St Mary's to start the season.

The trio come in for Ariek Lual, Noah Gribble and Ethan Jackson. See the full Round 7 team below.

With nine home games this season a WFC memberships is still great value offering free entry to matches at Avalon Airport Oval, half-priced entry to away games, discounts on merchandise and benefits with sponsors & partners. Sign up today HERE.

Entry for non-members is $10 for adults and concession $5.

ROUND 7
Werribee vs Sydney
Saturday May 7, 1.05pm
Avalon Aiport Oval, Werribee
WATCH LIVE

Werribee has suffered its first away loss of the season being denied victory late in its Round 6 clash against Gold Coast.

The Big W took the lead twice in the final term and had the chance to win it at the end, but co-captain Dom Brew's late snap was marked on the goal-line.

Earlier, Werribee fought back from a 37-point halftime deficit, with a six-goal third quarter helping reduce the margin to just two points ahead of the last.

FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 3.5 4.6 10.13 12.17 (89)
Gold Coast 3.1 11.1 12.3 14.7 (91)

GOALS
Werribee: J. Dahlhaus 3, K. Declase 2, S. Mannagh 2, H. Garoni, O. Hanrahan, N. Hayes, E. Jackson, J. Porter.
Gold Coast: S. Day 3, J. Jeffrey 3, A. Sexton 2, R. Atkins, C. Burgess, W. Bella, J Bowes, C. Constable, S. Flanders.

BEST
Werribee: O. Hanrahan, J. Dahlhaus, K. Declase, T. Gribble, C. Ham, D.Brew.
Gold Coast:

HOW IT HAPPENED

It took just over a minute for Werribee to opening the scoring with Kye Declase slotting the first attempt on goal and just three minutes later they had a second courtesy of a Nick Hayes snap from the pocket. Despite Werribee’s hot start Gold Coast soon worked their way into the game and added three majors over the next 20 minutes before Jay Dahlhaus restored Werribee’s lead at the 29-minute mark. After three late misses the visitors went into quarter-time up by four points.

The Suns took advantage of the breeze in the second term and broke the game open in the first 18 minutes of play kicking six straight goals. Werribee eventually ended the home team’s run when debutants Ethan Jackson and Lochie Smart combined at the 23-minute mark with the former marking close to goal and then converting with a left-foot snap. It would be Werribee’s only goal for the quarter and with the Suns adding two further majors the difference at halftime was 37.   

Needing something to change to get back into the match the second half began with rain falling. After weathering several attacking furores from the Suns early in the quarter Werribee would get the much needed first goal through Ollie Hanrahan. Shaun Mannagh added a second halfway through the term, and while the Suns were quick to reply the Big W continued to dominate around the contest. With repeat and deep entries inside 50 Werribee booted four goals in just 10 minutes via Dahlhaus, Josh Porter, Hudson Garoni and Declase to reduce the deficit to two points with a quarter to play.

Having not led since the first quarter Werribee went ahead 15 minutes into the final quarter when Jay Dahlhaus kicked his third goal after a quick hack forward. However, it wouldn’t be for long as the Suns goaled six minutes later before Mannagh responded to put Werribee back in front. With two minutes to play Gold Coast transitioned from defence and regained the lead one last time before Werribee’s final efforts came up short. After winning the centre clearance Dom Brew’s last second snap was marked on the goal-line to deny the Big W a famous victory.

KEY PLAYERS

Tom Gribble: 34 disposals (20 contested possessions), 8 clearances, 9 inside 50s, 9 score involvements, 5 tackles.
Ollie Hanrahan: 28 disposals (16 kicks), 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 7 score involvements, 1 goal.
Dom Brew: 24 disposals (17 kicks), 9 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 4 score involvements.
Shaun Mannagh: 20 disposals (17 contested possessions), 9 clearances, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals.
Nick Hayes: 19 disposals at 79% efficiency, 4 marks, 7 score involvements, 1 goal
Charlie Ham: 16 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested) 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s.
Jay Dahlhaus: 13 disposals, 4 tackles, 6 score involvements, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals.

VIEW MATCH GALLERY

WATCH REPLAY

NEXT MATCH
Round 7
Werribee vs Sydney
Saturday May 7, 1.05pm
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee