Werribee had 17 squad members play locally over the past weekend and there were a couple of dominant displays by some of our forwards while several players performed well in their return to the field.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Archi Manton and Dan Nielson both continue to star in the Western Region Football League with both players kicking bags to propel their respective sides to victory on the weekend.

Manton kicked a season-best five goals and had 13 marks to propel Yarraville Seddon to a come from behind victory over Caroline Springs. Down 28 points at three-quarter time the Eagles came home with wet sail booting six goals to one in final term to triumph by two points. Manton struggled in front of goal early but kicked four straight in the second half to earn best on ground honours.

James Edmonds was another key catalyst for Yarraville Seddon, and he too got better as the game went on with his run and carry and ability to break the lines crucial in his team’s fightback. Edmonds finished as one of the Eagles’ best while Liam Holtz Fitz played his part, working well with Manton in attack as well as displaying an improved work rate which allowed him to find more ball.

Manton wasn’t the only player to tally a season-high in front of goal with Dan Nielson booting six majors in a best on ground performance to lead Werribee and Districts to a comfortable victory over Point Cook for their third straight win. Nielson’s set shot goal kicking and marking again stood out.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

The Round 11 matchup between St Mary’s and Geelong West saw four Werribee-listed players in action however only one of those finished on the winning side.  Max Augerinos’s St Mary’s came out on top in a thriller as the Saints defeated the Giants by five points at Athony Costa Oval. Augerinos stepped up late kicking a crucial goal to put St Mary’s ahead and would eventually finish with 26 possessions and five tackles.

For Geelong West, Emmanuel Ajang was again among the team’s main contributors. While Ajang wasn’t as prominent as recent weeks his tackle pressure was enormous laying nine for the match. Phillip Moi Moi showed more positive signs at half forward and with the occasional burst through the midfield. He finished with a goal and also had a late opportunity to put Geelong West in front but wasn’t able to convert.

Meanwhile, Lachie Taylor was one of the best early in the match gathering 16 disposals in the first half. Taylor slowed in the second half but his overall game was solid providing strong offensive run and good defensive support.

Darcy Chirgwin made a successful return from injury for St Mary’s in the reserves in a 90-pojnt win over Geelong West. Chirgwin kicked the first three goals of the match and despite only playing the opening 10 minutes of every quarter finished with five goals and as the best player on the ground.

In his second game back Aiden Domic helped Bell Park to a 33-point win over Lara and a place back in the top six. Domic was best-on for the Dragons gathering 28 possessions. He marked one of the opposition’s best players at stoppages but was the more damaging of the two with nine clearances

BELLARINE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Logan Wagener suited up for Newcomb for the first time in more than a month. Unfortunately, it was a losing return with the Power falling to Modewarre by seven goals. Wagener had a solid outing linking up well with the midfield from defence and was clean with his disposal in tough conditions.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Darcy Bennett’s ruck dominance continued for Fitzroy, but the Roys were no match for Old Haileyburians going down by 44 points. Bennett was among best players once more after another big day in the ruck while impressing with his attack on the footy at ground level and crashing packs.

GOULBURN VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Seymour remained unbeaten in the Goulburn Valley FL with Ariek Lual performing well in their victory over Mansfield. Lual was strong defensively and opened the game up offensively a few times.

Tom Boyd helped Shepparton secure a thrilling win over Mooroopna after they trailed by eight points at the last change. Boyd tallied a number of intercept marks as well as providing good support to his fellow defenders.

OVENS & MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

New recruit Aidan Johnson was impacted by a pectoral muscle suffered in the first half of Lavington’s clash with Wangaratta Magpies. The key forward played three quarters before sitting out the last and finished with one goal while also spending some time at centre bounces in the ruck.

BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Werribee’s two players in the Ballarat Football League were both on the wrong side of hefty defeats with Ryan Pendlebury’s Melton South losing by 75 points and Matt Brett’s Darley going down by 88.

Brett was one of Darley’s best in the loss to East Point playing mainly in defence. The Devils were under pressure a lot of the day however Brett was strong in the air and with ball in hand.

Pendlebury played in all three areas on the ground against Ballarat. After starting down back before moving into the midfield and eventually forward where he looked dangerous at times.

Werribee's four-game win streak came to an end at North Melbourne on Saturday. In a match with many momentum swings the Big W was forced to mount a final quarter comeback but came up short going down by five points.

Werribee: 2.1 7.5 9.7 12.11 (83)
North Melbourne: 4.1 6.3 13.3 14.4 (88)

GOALS
Werribee: W. Buzza 2, H. Garoni 2, S. Mannagh 2, N. Hayes 1, J. Henderson 1, R. Kemp 1, K. Gray 1, M Hanson 1, H. Stubbings 1
North Melbourne: E. Ford 2, J. Watkins 2, H. Dick 2, A. Polidoros 2, B. Scott 1, T. Campbell 1, J. Clayton 1, J. Heron 1, C. Menadue 1, M. Walker 1

BEST
Werribee: M. Hanson, H. Garoni, T. Gribble, J. Clark, S. Mannagh, L. Rocci
North Melbourne: B. Scott, H. Jones, T. Campbell, J. Clayton, F. Appleby, K. Answerth

HOW IT HAPPENED
North Melbourne got the jump kicking three goals in the opening nine minutes. Werribee’s first goal would come 11 minutes in with Hudson Garoni marking strongly and converting a set shot from 45m. A quick reply by the hosts restored their 19-point advantage but Werribee then started to gain some ascendancy and after two late misses Ryan Kemp delivered a second goal for the visitors on the brink of quarter time.  After a couple of Werribee misses to start the second term North goaled six minutes in before Harry Stubbings got Werribee’s first of the quarter. Connor Menadue gave North their sixth soon after, however, with Joe Maishman continuing his strong first half and Tom Gribble working his way into the match the Big W would turn the tide, adding four majors in the final 15 minutes to lead by eight points at the main break.

North began the third with a goal inside two minutes but a response was swift and came with relative ease via Wylie Buzza and Shaun Mannagh. With a 14-point lead and North reduced to 20 men, it looked like Werribee might run away with the match, however, North had other ideas and wrested back control of the contest leaving the Big W with no answers. The home team piled on six straight goals with Werribee’s only score during the onslaught a single behind.  With Werribee trailing by 20 points going into the last former player Josh Clayton extended North’s lead early but the ebbs and flows of the match continued with goals to Garoni, Nick Hayes and Mannagh getting the Big W right back in it with 10 minutes still to play. Werribee had all the play late but was unable to make the most of their chances.

Werribee finished the match well ahead in inside 50s (52-36) but skill errors and efficiency ultimately cost the side with Werribee’s overall disposal efficiency just 64 per cent compared to North’s 74 per cent. The tackle count was also in favour of North (81-68) despite the hosts finishing +56 in disposals. A positive from the day was debutant Connor Thar who showed he is more than capable of contributing at the level finishing with 11 disposals including a couple of keys passes that resulted in goals to Buzza and Jack Henderson.

KEY PLAYERS
Matt Hanson: 21 disposals, 5 marks (2 contested), 8 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal
Bior Malual: 17 disposals, 9 handball receives, 3 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s, 2 score assists
Hudson Garoni: 16 disposals, 7 marks (3 contested), 3 tackles, 3 scores assists, 2 goals
Nick Coughlan: 15 disposals (12 kicks), 5 marks (1 contested), 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 2 tackles
Lucas Rocci: 13 disposals (10 kicks), 3 rebound 50s, 3 inside 50s, 2 tackles

NEXT MATCH
Werribee vs Casey Demons
TBC - July 10/11
TBC at Avalon Airport Oval

With all football returning across metropolitan Melbourne 15 Werribee-listed players were able to return to their local clubs last weekend. Several players continue to push for a VFL berth with consistent form at the lower level.

GEELONG FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Max Augerinos featured in the best for St Mary’s as they defeated Bell Park. Augerinos gathered plenty of the footy with 29 disposals and was brilliant at the clearances.  The 43-pont win over Bell Park means St Mary’s continue to keep the pressure on top placed Colac.

Meanwhile, Geelong West continues to keep pace with the top three sides with a large contingent of Werribee-listed players helping the Giants to their third consecutive win.  

Emmanuel Ajang continued his great form in the weekend’s 39-point win over Newtown & Chilwell with another high possession game while also laying nine tackles and kicking two goals.  Ajang has now figured in the best in five of his six matches for Geelong West this season.

Phillip Moi Moi and Lachie Taylor were just as important in the win for the Giants with Moi Moi utilising his pace up and down the ground while also displaying solid decision making.  Taylor had a strong performance on the wing collecting 19 possessions and was involved in multiple scores.

Unfortunately, Tylar Watts only managed a quarter of football after being concussed in a marking contest in the first term and as a result took no further part in the game.

WESTERN REGION FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Werribee and Districts beat St Albans for their sixth win of the season with the help of Dan Neilson and Connor Thar.

Neilson played 90 per cent game time as a key forward and competed hard all day, often up against a double team.  He kicked a goal and rotated through the ruck in a team-first display.  Thar started well before copping a knock that would limit his output, however he still finished with 20 disposals.

Archi Manton produced another good showing as Yarraville Seedon suffered a narrow four-point loss to Sunshine.  Manton booted four goals for the fourth time this season to be one of the Eagles’ best.

James Edmonds and Liam Holtz-Fitz also featured for Yarraville Seedon with the former creating several chances but struggling converting only kicking one goal, while Holtz-Fitz showed flashes in several roles.

BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Two of Werribee’s more mature players went head-to-head on the weekend with Ryan Pendlebury’s Melton South taking on Matt Brett’s Darley.  Pendlebury’s side took the four points with the 28 year-old having a major say with more than 30 touches and 10 clearances.

Brett started on the wing but was soon forced into defence with Melton South’s full forward proving hard to stop. Brett was able to help quell his impact, however the Panthers celebrated a 28-point win.

VICTORIAN AMATEUR FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Fitzroy suffered a heavy loss at the hands of University Blacks but Darcy Bennett had another big day in the ruck. Bennett dominated the hit outs and was in the best for the third match in a row.

St Bernards enjoyed their first win since late April with a 49-point triumph over Collegians with Edyn Sibbald kicking two goals to help the Bulldogs to their third victory of the campaign.

GOULBURN VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Tom Boyd was again amongst the best for Shepparton as they went down to Rochester by 64 points.  Boyd restricted former Port Adelaide and St Kilda utility Logan Austin to two goals and little influence.