VFL wrap: Werribee looks to ‘manage’ players
Posted by Brent DiamondJul 19. 2012 11:52 am
WERRIBEE will look at ways to manage its list in the lead up to finals ahead of the Foxtel Cup grand final clash against Claremont on August 2 at Patersons Stadium.
The Tigers consolidated their spot in the top four with a hard-fought 24-point win over Coburg on Sunday but reflected upon how testing the next few weeks will be for their list.
Claremont defeated a half-strength Port Melbourne by 50-points at Patersons Stadium on Saturday but the result clearly has some critics believing it ‘tanked’ to instead focus on claiming back-to-back VFL flags.
Werribee coach Scott West was disheartened by Port’s take on the Foxtel Cup.
“This is no disrespect to the players that they (Port) took but I enjoy watching (John) Baird and (Shane) Valenti and these blokes,” West said yesterday.
“I understand why they might’ve done it but I think it’s a competition and it’s a semi-final to get into a grand final, they made that decision, that’s their decision.”
The Foxtel Cup has become almost a hurdle than a prize for participants to overcome, but Werribee is also expected to “rotate” players through the grand final which is likely to be hosted at Patersons Stadium.
Werribee and Port Melbourne have been backed heavily by punters to play off in this year’s VFL grand final.
“It is a management issue because it becomes a long year but we’ve been able to rotate the first three or four (Foxtel Cup) games for our Werribee listed players…the Kangaroo players are used to it for 22 weeks of the year,” West said.
The game was in the balance at Avalon Airport Oval with Coburg taking a two-point lead into the final change. But Werribee skipper Robbie Castello stepped up when it counted with two last quarter goals and Ben McKinley kicked his fifth to put the result beyond doubt mid-way through the term.
It is expecting Travis Tuck, Ben Ross and Will Martiniello to return from injuries over the next month.
NORTH Ballarat upset Sandringham by 30-points with goalsneak Derick Micallef snaring five goals and Ben Cunnington kicked three for the Roosters.
BOX HILL held off a fast-finishing Frankston by 14-points at Frankston Oval. Certainly its fade-out in the final term provided a heart scare for its faithful as it aims to fight for a spot in finals.
In other results, Geelong won comprehensively over Collingwood by 36-points at Victoria Park and Casey won a heart-stopper by three-points over Bendigo.
Hero of the week: Robbie Castello (Werribee Tigers) – Certainly when it was there to be won on Sunday, the Tiger skipper stood out in the final term with two classy goals.
Villain of the week: Tayte Pears (Bendigo) – Went missing in the final term along with many Bendigo players. And that is when they needed its Essendon stars to stand up the most.
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