WOORINEN have returned to the winners’ list for the first time in a month with a comprehensive 29-point win over the ladder-leading NNW United, thanks to a strong defensive display.
In his first match since round 8, Tiger forward William Collicoat kicked a bag of six goals to lead Woorinen to the 13.10 (88) to 8.11 (59) win.
Woorinen’s defenders stood the tallest on the day – stifling the Demons’ numerous attacking threats and controlling the play.
Tigers defender Douglas Beames was back to his best, flying across and into packs to cut off many inside-50s, while Matthew Gardner was just as good defensively.
The pair held current league goalkicking leader Brandyn Grenfell goalless for most of the game, before a late goal in the fourth term.
Tigers coach Marcus Demaria described the performance of his back line as “simply amazing”.
“We knew had to win, and it was really just about going back to those basic fundamentals on how we defend – that was the club’s DNA for so many years,” he said.
“I thought that we hadn’t been doing that enough recently, and maybe we just didn’t have a really strong emphasis on it – we were looking more at forward craft.
“It was a shame that Grenfell got that late goal, because Matty (Gardner) did a fantastic job on him all game.
“We also needed Beames to stand up this week, his recent past few games he had been a bit quiet, but not in this game. That’s the Doug Beames that we’ve come to know.
“It just goes to show that if we execute and hold our structure, we win these games.”
One Demons forward who did get off the leash was Liam White, who kicked four goals.
Woorinen had the early momentum apart from White kicking his side’s first late in the first quarter.
The game opened up, and after NNW United missed a shot straight from the quarter’s ball-up, it was Woorinen who did the damage on the scoreboard.
After Jye Barry kicked consecutive goals, the opposition moved Grenfell into the ruck to combat Lachlan Gardner and Arnold Kirby.
It helped White kick two quick goals, before William Collicoat brought the home crowd to their feet with a cross-body snap from the pocket for goal.
The Demons worked hard to bring the margin to just two goals, but Woorinen’s controlled play kept them at bay in the third term.
Joel Campbell and Campbell Everett stood out in the Demons back line, intercepting well and marshalling their fellow defenders.
Jordan Iudica and Dominic Gallo battled hard in the contest, but the Demons were unable to get their outside run going as much as they usually like to.
The Tigers kept the stranglehold on the Demons late in the game, when two goals from Arnold Kirby sealed the Tigers’ seventh win of the year.
Demaria said the win over the ladder leaders was one step towards his side getting their hunt for finals football back on track.
“It’s a really good feeling, to see that we can get ourselves back on track,” he said.
“We had some good early form, before we derailed a little bit with two losses in a row.
“Now, fingers crossed, we can get ourselves back where we want to be.
“We know what we are capable of, and it’s just about putting it all together.”
NNW United co-coach Nick O’Neill put his side’s loss down to a lack of intensity compared to their opponents.
“We simply weren’t as hungry as Woorinen were,” he said.
“I think they brought in a bit of a grudge they had against us, and we just sat back and let them go.
“Their back line was chopping everything off, and we just looked pretty slow.
“We needed to get in first and I feel we did that in the second quarter, but we played one quarter, and they played four.”
SCORES
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final Score |
| Woorinen | 2.2 | 7.5 | 9.8 | 13.10 | 88 |
| Nyah-Nyah West United | 1.4 | 5.5 | 6.9 | 8.11 | 59 |
VOTES
3 – William Collicoat (Woorinen)
2 – Douglas Beames (Woorinen)
1 – Matthew Gardner (Woorinen)
