News

FINALS stalwart Werribee has been a model of consistency since the beginning of the '90s. In the age of the football club yoyo, where teams regularly shoot up and down the ladder, the Tigers have almost been the immovable object entrenched in September action.

The boys from Chirnside Park haven't missed a finals series since 2000, and even more impressively, have missed only twice in the past 17 seasons, though they have won only one flag in that time, knocking over Port Melbourne in 1993.

Big things were tipped for the Tigers this season, but after four rounds they were still winless

Werribee coach Simon Atkins believes, however, that his team can build on its maiden victory last week — a 100-point mauling of North Ballarat on the road.

"We've been working on the smaller things that haven't been working out for the first four weeks," Atkins said.

The Tigers were trailing the Roosters by 20 points at the first break, but booted 23 goals to the Roosters' four in the following three quarters.

Hoping to post another win before a fortnight break, Atkins today faces off against fellow Tasmanian Daryn Cresswell, the ex-Sydney midfielder and new Devils coach. The two coaches had similar styles as league footballers — as tough and prolific hard-ball winners — but both have experienced poor starts to the season, their teams sitting in the bottom four with one win apiece.

Box Hill is chasing its first back-to-back wins since round eight last year when it hosts the injury-ravaged Northern Bullants today and Port Melbourne looks to continue its resurgence, playing the rattled Roosters.

Williamstown faces Frankston tomorrow, while Bendigo has the opportunity to end Geelong's run of dominance in the AFL curtain-raiser at Skilled Stadium. Coburg hosts the Casey Scorpions.