Werribee will look to build on last week's triumph over Williamstown with a first home win of the season when the club takes on Carlton at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.

Heading into Round 5 the Big W sit just outside the top eight with two wins and a loss, while third-placed Carlton suffered their first defeat last time out, after starting the season with three straight victories.

Werribee's side is relatively unchanged for Saturday's clash wiith small defender Lucas Rocci coming in for his first game of the season at the expense of young forward Sam Paea. See the Round 5 team below.

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

ROUND 5
Werribee vs Carlton
Saturday April 23, 2.05pm
Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee

Werribee bounced back from last week's loss to Southport by recording a hard-fought seven-point victory over Williamstown in Round 4.

The Big W led by 18 points at the first two breaks but that advantage was cut to nine points after three quarters before trailing 10 minutes into the final term.

However, Werribee's scoring inaccuracy would not come back to haunt them as a couple of final quarter goals was enough to see the visitors over the line.

FINAL SCORE
Werribee: 4.2 5.8 6.12 8.17 (65)
Williamstown: 1.2 3.2 6.3 9.4 (58)

GOALS
Werribee: N. Hayes 2, H. Garoni, T. Gribble, K. Declase, N. Gribble, O. Hanrahan, M. Sodomaco.
Williamstown: N. Gown 3, J Ottavi 2, J. Gallucci 2, T. Downie, C. Rich.

BEST
Werribee: M. Hanson, K. Gray, N. Hayes, T. Gribble, B. Malual, C. Ham.
Williamstown:

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a dream start for Werribee with the first centre bounce clearance leading to an opening minute goal from Nick Hayes. The Big W’s second goal wouldn’t come for another 15 minutes when they regained the lead courtesy of a running finish from Michael Sodomaco as Williamstown showed they were up for a fight as they chased their first win of the season. Sodomaco’s goal was quicky followed up by Hayes' second major 18 minutes in and after a couple of late misses a Hudson Garoni conversion with a minute go gave Werribee an 18-point lead at the first change.

Much of the second quarter was dominated by Werribee as Tom Gribble and Matt Hanson took control in the centre of the ground. After two goals against Southport, Gribble bagged the first of the second. But the Big W failed to make the most of their chances from then on adding five straight behinds as they kicked in into a slight breeze. After Nathan Cooper and Lou Pinnuck had orchestrated a strong defensive effort, the Seagulls took some confidence into the main break with back-to-back goals in the final two-and-a-half minutes seeing the margin remain at 18 points.

The second half got underway with two quick Williamstown goals before Noah Gribble provided a much-needed steadier. Werribee again had opportunities to restore their advantage, but they again failed to convert in front of goal and when the Seagulls kicked their third of the quarter at the 22-minute mark the margin was back to 10 points. At that point the hosts had kicked five of the last six goals in the match to set for a thrilling fourth quarter.

It was Williamstown who continued to roll with their momentum and consecutive goals saw them take the lead nine minutes into the final term. Three minutes later Kye Declase was awarded a free kick at the top of the square and when he kicked truly Werribee had its first goal in more than 40 minutes. Soon after Ollie Hanrahan slotted from long range and the Big W were back in front. Noah Gown’s third goal reduced the margin to five points with five minutes to go, but some desperate defending in teh dying stages from Jesse Clark, Charlie Ham and Keegan Gray helped see Werribee home.

KEY PLAYERS

Tom Gribble : 30 disposals (18 kicks), 14 handball receives, 9 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 6 score involvements, 1 goal.
Matt Hanson: 25 disposals (17 kicks), 7 marks (2 contested), 11 clearances, 11 score involvements, 3 tackles. 
Jack Henderson: 24 disposals at 88% efficiency (12 contested possesions), six clearances, 5 inside 50s, 7 score involvements.
Bior Malual: 23 disposals (17 kicks), 15 handball receives, 7 marks, 4 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s, 7 score involvements. 
Keegan Gray: 22 disposals at 82% efficiency, 9 intercept possesions, 4 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s.
Ollie Hanrahan: 22 disposals (13 kicks), 5 clearances, 7 score involvements, 1 goal.
Kye Declase: 17 disposals at 94% efficiency, 7 marks (2 contested), 4 inside 50s, 4 score involvements.

VIEW MATCH GALLERY

WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Werribee heads to Williamstown in Round 4 for its first day match of the season to face fierce rivals the Seagulls on Good Friday.

The Big W will aim to bounce back after a disappoiniting display at home to Southport and avenge last year's loss to Williamstown who are winles in 2022.

Werribee has made three changes for the match with Nick Hayes and Bior Lual returning after missing last week's game against Southport.

Ariek Lual will also make his first appearance of the season with the incoming trio replacing Tom Boyd, Tom McCaffrey and Reuben William.

For those attending the match, WFC members and non-members can buy tickets online beforehand or once there at the gate. Ticketing details HERE.

ROUND 4
Werribee vs Williamstown
Friday April 15, 1.05pm
Downer Oval, Williamstown
WATCH LIVE

Werribee's first home game in 2022 ended in a disappointing defeat to visiting Southport with the Big W downed by 52 points in their Round 3 contest at Avalon Airport Oval. 

For the second consecutive year in an early season night clash Werribee were jumped in the first quarter with Southport piling on five goals late in the opening term to establish a 34-point lead. 

The clinical visitors increased their margin steadily from there as basic skill errors cost the home team dearly in co-captain Tom Gribble's 100th Werribee game. Gribble was comfortably the Big W's best player leading the team with 29 disposals and two goals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Southport took just over a minute to kick the first goal of the game, but it was met with a quick response from Werribee through Logan Wagener's snapped effort. The Sharks added a second major at the six-and-a-half-minute mark but again it took only two minutes for Werribee to reply, this time via a Josh Porter mark and goal. Werribee failed to convert two set-shot opportunities soon after and then Southport tore the game open with six goals in 19 minutes before co-captain Dom Brew pegged one back at the quarter time siren.

Werribee had a couple of opportunities to cut into the deficit to start the second term but instead it was the visitors who took advantage of their first chance five minutes in. The next 15 minutes saw only a single rushed behind for Werribee as both teams battled for field position before the Sharks added a second major. Saad El-Hawli kicked his first Werribee goal after 24 minutes, but Southport’s lead grew to 48 points before Hudson Garoni added a late major.

Down 43 points at the main break things got worse for Werribee once the second half got underway with Southport goaling inside 30 seconds. Michael Sodomaco in his season debut was one who tried to spark Werribee and did so with a goal seven minutes in but the home team was unable to make any inroads through the middle of the quarter. Eventaully Werribee got some reward via Sam Paea and Gribble who had been outstanding up to that point.

In the final term Southport once gain added to its advantage early before second majors to both Paea and Wagener reduced the margin to 28 points. However, any hope of a miraculous Werribee comeback was all but ended over the next eight minutes as Southport restored their dominance on the scoreboard kicking three of the last four goals.

FINAL SCORE

Werribee: 3.2 5.6 8.8 11.12 (78)
Southport: 8.6 12.7 14.12 19.16 (130)

GOALS

Werribee: T. Gribble 2, S. Paea 2, L. Wagener 2, H. Garoni. D. Brew, S. El-Hawli, J. Porter, M. Sodomaco.
Southport: J. Townsend 4, R. King 3, T. Fields 3, B. Gowers 2, J. Williams 2, M. Pescud 2, Z. Foot, J. Joyce, D. Charlesworthy.

BEST

Werribee: T. Gribble, J. Clark, L. Wagener, M. Sodomaco, D. Brew, M. Hanson
Southport:

KEY PLAYERS

Tom Gribble : 29 disposals (15 kicks), 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 5 tackles, 8 score involvements, 2 goals.
Shaun Mannagh: 25 disposals (15 kicks), 14 handball receives, 5 inside 50s, 8 tackles.
Dom Brew: 22 disposals (16 contested), 8 clearances, 9 tackles, 1 goal.
Reuben William: 22 disposals (14 kicks), 6 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s, 3 score involvements. 
Michael Sodomaco: 19 disposals (17 kicks), 9 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s, 3 score involvements.
Logan Wagener: 13 disposals, 5 tackles, 7 score involvements, 2 goals.

WATCH MATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE

NEXT MATCH

Werribee vs Williamstown
Friday, April 15, 1.05pm
Downer Oval, Williamstown.