Southport snapped Werribee's eleven game winning streak with a thrilling victory at Avalon Airport Oval in their second encounter of the season. 

In a seesawing contest, Werribee rallied from a 17 point deficit late in the third quarter but could not hold on as the Sharks ran out six point winners. 

Aidan Johnson brought Werribee within a point late in the final term with a superb crumbing goal—his third major of the day. However, former Tiger Wylie Buzza sealed the game for Southport with a long-range set shot, leading to a 8.13 (61) to 8.7 (55) win.

Despite the loss, Jimmy Allan's men remain at the top of the ladder (14-3), with just one game remaining against Box Hill.

Werribee's defensive duo of Sam Azzi (10 disposals, 16 spoils) and Stefan Radovanovic (12 disposals, six intercepts) were outstanding in the absence of Nathan Cooper and Nick Coughlan, restricting Southport’s key forwards Hugh Dixon and Wylie Buzza to just two goals between them.

Aidan Johnson carried on his hot form to make it 11 goals in five games since his return from his bicep injury, taking seven marks amongst his 13 disposals and three majors. 

Dom Brew once again led the way in the midfield, gathering a game-high 34 disposals, which included 24 contested possessions and nine clearances. Brew was not surprisingly  the game’s leading tackler adding another 10 to his season tally.

Kobe Annand opened the scoring playing the role of rover, crumbing the pack and kicking a snapping goal for his first goal in open play of his VFL career. Southport’s inaccuracy in front of goal kept Werribee within striking distance, as the Tigers trailed by just two points at quarter-time despite having only two scoring shots to nine.

Jay Lockhart finally broke through for Southport's first goal five minutes into the second quarter, followed by Wylie Buzza’s first goal of the day, which extended Southport's lead to 14 points midway through the term. Aidan Johnson stopped the bleeding with a well-taken set shot reducing the deficit to six points at halftime.

Stand-in captain Dom Brew had a massive 19 disposals, with 15 contested at the main break, while defenders Louis Pinnuck (14 disposals and four marks) and Riley Bice (12 disposals) were offering plenty of dash off half-back.

In similar fashion to the second quarter, Southport came out of the break with the first two goals of the third term before Aidan Johnson answered back with a long range set shot goal. Hudson Garoni, who leads the competition in third quarter goals, then stood up to kick two in the space of four minutes, giving Werribee their first lead since the opening term. This took Garoni to 42 goals putting him equal top of the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal with one match to play.

Werribee’s final home game of the 2024 Smithy’s VFL home and away season puts the first-placed Tigers against Southport at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.

Werribee returns home after a come-from-behind victory over the Borough in Round 18, securing the club's eleventh consecutive win.

Southport enters the clash sitting sixth on the ladder with a 10-6 record. However, after losing three of their last four games, including their most recent outing being a 25-point defeat to Sydney at home, they'll be eager to bounce back.

This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. In their Round 2 clash at Fankhauser Reserve, Angus Hicks kicked the winning goal in his club debut, securing a thrilling three-point victory for Werribee. This match marks Southport's seventh game in Victoria this season and their first return to Avalon Airport Oval since Round 3, 2022.

Hudson Garoni has produced another goal kicking masterclass as Werribee keep its undefeated streak alive with a 27-point win over Port Melbourne. 

Garoni changed the game in the second half as Werribee turned a 17-point second quarter deficit into a runaway victory, defeating Port Melbourne 7.7 (49) to 11.10 (76).

The key forward has the lead for the ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal after booting five goals in consecutive weeks. Garoni finished the day with six contested marks and an equal season high 19 disposals. 

First-year midfielder Jake Smith continued his good form with a career-high 23 disposals. The 19-year-old dominated around the contest with 15 contested possessions and eight clearances. Usual suspects Dom Brew (29 disposals) and Jack Henderson (24 disposals and a goal) were also pivotal in ensuring Werribee were on top in disposals (311-259) and clearances (69-38).

First-year defender Riley Bice continues to impress playing his best game of the season. The dashing half-back gathered 31 disposals, including 29 kicks,11 marks and laid eight tackles along with nine intercept possessions.

Half-forward Jack Riding was Werribee’s most dangerous forward when Port Melbourne was on top kicking two first-half majors before ending with three goals, sixteen disposals, and five tackles.

Playing in wet conditions at ETU Stadium neither side was  capitalising on the scoreboard with a goalless opening 21 minutes before Jack Riding was able to convert a set shot. Port Melbourne then took control kicking two goals to close out the quarter with a five-point lead. They extended their lead to 17 points midway through the second term.

Jack Henderson, in his 101st game, took full advantage of a 50-metre penalty with a much-needed goal, kickstarting Werribee to three of the last four goals of the half, to narrow the lead to just five points at the main break. 

After the halftime break Garoni turned the game in Werribee’s favour. Despite the wet conditions, Garoni held onto three contested marks for three goals in the opening five minutes, flipping Port Melbourne’s lead into a 13-point Werribee advantage.

Momentum carried on in the Tigers’ favour with Flynn Young taking a courageous mark and kicking his first goal of the game. Garoni added his fifth goal and Jack Riding his third, pushing the lead to 25 points entering the last quarter.

Werribee controlled the last quarter which only saw two goals kicked. Jay Dahlhaus added to his season tally of 25 with the first major of the quarter. Port Melbourne kicked a consolation goal through Kyle Viccars in the final five minutes but Werribee ran out 27-point victors.

Defenders Sam Azzi and Stefan Radovanovic continued to stand up in the absence Nick Coughlan and Nathan Cooper, while fellow defenders Louis Pinnuck (ten marks) and Jesse Clark (seven marks) continued to rack up the marks across the backline.