We're just beyond the halfway point of the 2023 VFL season, and the Tigers have done well so far, sitting third on the ladder as we march towards the business end of the season.

In this edition of The Big W Podcast, coach Michael Barlow and football manager Mark Micallef review every game of the season and talk about what lies ahead.

Produced by Howdy Partners Media (howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts) on behalf of the Werribee Football Club.

Post Production by Steve Visscher | Southern Skies Media

A total of 13 Werribee players were in action at local level last weekend with a number of good performances coming in surprise results across the different leagues.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Emmanuel Ajang – Geelong West
Was at his best for much of the day in a 44-point win over Lara. Was clean with the ball and had a great impact playing a defensive role in midfield at times. Tallied 27 disposals at 89% efficiency along with four tackles.

Harry Grintell – Grovedale
Made his return from injury in less than ideal and windy conditions and ended up playing just over half a game in a narrow three-point loss to St Joseph’s. Got more involved as the game went on and laid some nice tackles.

Sam Witherden – North Shore
Yet again one of the top performers for the Seagulls in a heavy defeat to St Mary’s. Lined up on the opposition’s best forward and was strong defensively while also looking to attack. Accumulated 26 disposals and an impressive 14 spoils.  

Cam Anderson – North Shore
Had a good game playing mostly down back with a little bit of time spent in the middle. Provided some good run and carry and backed himself when he had the ball in his hand.

Charlie Byrne – Newtown & Chilwell
Enjoyed one of his best games this season with a strong showing off halfback against Colac. Competed hard on the ground and in the air, and provided good drive. Finished the day with 21 disposals.

Flynn Young – Newtown & Chilwell
Had a quiet day as the Eagles went down for the second straight week suffering a nine-point loss to the Tigers.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Akol Deng - Yarraville Seddon
Competed well in challenging conditions with some good ruck work contributing to an upset of reigning premier Altona. Had 10 disposals and four tackles in the three-point victory.  

Michael Selsby – Yarraville Seddon
Was one of the Eagles’ best players against the Vikings. Started deep forward where he was lively before spending the rest of the day in the middle. Was again busy gathering 31 disposals including 17 contested, while adding four tackles and two goals.   

Aidan Johnson – Yarraville Seddon
Worked really hard to again feature in the best players. Provided a good contest when in attack and was terrific playing as a spare against the wind. Finished with 15 disposals and two goals as well as laying five tackles.

Sam Clifford – Hoppers Crossing
Only played half a game against Caroline Springs after suffering a hip flexor issue.  Had a limited impact in the first two quarters.

 
VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Zayne Galea – Williamstown CYMS

Had another solid outing to help the CYs to their third win of the season after a 14-point triumph over AJAX. Defensively made good decisions while also contributing some good rebound. Had 16 disposals, four intercept marks and three tackles.

OVENS & MURRAY FOOTBAL LEAGUE

Sam Azzi – North Shore
Found a bit more of the football this week and was solid defensively as the Hoppers claimed their second straight win with victory over Wodonga Bulldogs. Collected 23 disposals while some of his aerial play in the second half was a highlight.

BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Jack Riding – North Ballarat
Worked hard and did the little things well in shocking conditions. Tweaked an ankle slightly but was still able to contribute with 12 disposals, nine tackles and a goal as the Roosters inflicted Darley’s first loss of the season.

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

With more leagues taking a week off (byes for the EDFL and Ballarat FNL), nine Werribee players appeared locally on the weekend including two who returned from injury.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Noah Gribble – Geelong West
Played his first game in more than month lining up against Bell Park. Copped a knock in the mouth early in the day but played on and finished with 20 disposal, five marks and five tackles in his return.

Sam Witherden – North Shore
Found plenty of the ball and competed hard on a frustrating day against Leopold. Accumulated 36 disposals with 24 kicks, five marks and two tackles in a heavy loss. 

Cam Anderson - North Shore
After impressing up forward the previous week had a limited influence in attack against the Lions. Shifted to defence and ended the match with 19 disposals at 79% efficiency and two tackles. 

Flynn Young – Newtown & Chilwell
Improved on recent weeks to be a one of the best for the Eagles in their first loss of the season. Work rate was good pushing further up the ground tallying 15 disposals, seven marks and goal.

Charlie Byrne – Newtown & Chilwell
Bounced back well after a slow start against St Joseph’s. Only had 14 disposals, seven marks and three tackles, but impacted in the air, took the game on and used the ball nicely in the second half.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Aidan Johnson – Yarraville Seddon
Back after overcoming his latest injury setback and despite looking a little rusty was still one of the best for the Eagles in their loss to Point Cook. Competed hard all day for 19 disposals, seven marks and two goals.

Michael Selsby – Yarraville Seddon (Local Player of the Week)
Played mostly through the midfield totalling 32 disposals at 78 per cent efficiency. Work rate was terrific winning ball all over the ground with six clearances, seven rebound 50s and three inside 50s.

Akol Deng - Yarraville Seddon
Also one of the Eagles’ top performers to complete the Werribee trifecta. Worked hard all day but didn’t have as big an impact after halftime. Tallied 38 hit-outs (15 to advantage) and had some good follow up with 12 disposals.

OVENS & MURRAY FOOTBAL LEAGUE

Sam Azzi – North Shore
Returned to home club North Albury this week where he helped the Hoppers upset Wang Rovers. Kept one of the league’s leading forwards, former Werribee player Alex Marklew to just nine disposals and a goal while having 15 disposals and six marks of his own.