From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Luke D'Anello
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WERRIBEE entered Saturday's VFL clash against Northern Blues with superior form and an experience edge.
By halftime, the Tigers held a five-goal advantage and most spectators at Avalon Airport Oval would have expected Scott West's side to claim a percentage-boosting victory.
But the plucky Blues turned the contest on its head in the third term before Werribee's seasoned players came to the fore to drive their team to a 14-point triumph, 13.15 (93) to 12.7 (79).
Werribee appeared to hold the upper hand in the first half and its pressure often forced the young Blues into errors.
But the Blues emerged from the dressing sheds at the main break with a point to prove and piled on five unanswered goals in the third quarter.
Tempers also flared after Lachlan Hansen's heavy hit on Timmy Totevski, and the Blues drew level at one stage before Ben Speight broke the Tigers' drought to give them a six-point lead at the last change.
Robbie Tarrant, who kicked four majors, and Hansen (three) were vital in the final half-hour, the North Melbourne-listed duo combining for seven majors to push Werribee across the line.
Ben Ross, Ben Sharp and Sam Gibson did what they do best in the middle, accumulating possessions at will.
Sharp was handed the unenviable task of nullifying Blues' playmaker Brock McLean.
While the reigning best-and-fairest winner gained plenty of the ball himself, McLean notched 31 touches and almost inspired his side to an unlikely victory.
Ayden Kennedy was also impressive in defence for the Tigers, along with Leigh Harding.
West endured a stressful day in the coach's box but noted his side's resilience after the Tigers secured their third win in succession.
"I think since the Williamstown game (in Round 6) we've learnt that teams are going to come at you and you're going to have either change your game or change your attitude or respond in some way," West said.
"I just thought our intensity around the footy had to lift and that was the biggest message (at three-quarter-time)."
The Blues made Werribee look second-rate in the third term and were first to the ball.
"That was probably the disappointing part," West said.
"My expectation (at halftime) was that we start the game again and the intensity and all that part of the game was to increase. To their credit, they come out and showed us how to do it."
"Our main ball winners just couldn't get their hands on the footy and they got us on the back foot."
West, in his first year in the top job, said the Tigers were a "work in progress".
Werribee will next meet Collingwood on June 2, with all terms observing a general bye this weekend for the VFL's state game against Tasmania.
Kyle Hartigan, Matthew O'Dwyer, Will Sullivan and Ross have been named in the 32-man squad.
