Richmond VFL 10.7-67 def by Werribee 10.12-72

The VFL Tigers went down in a pulsating clash on Saturday afternoon, as Werribee prevailed by five points at Holm Park Recreation Reserve.

In front of a healthy Beaconsfield crowd, the VFL Tigers pushed their western rivals until the final siren, but were unable to get a final key-score to swing the tide in their favour.

Ben Lennon was a star performer with four goals, while Anthony Miles and Corey Ellis were outstanding in the midfield engine against the likes of North Melbourne’s Andrew Swallow.

Nathan Broad had 21 disposals in his return from the long-term injury list, adding six marks and six tackles to his tally for good measure.

Richmond VFL and Development Coach Craig McRae said there were still plenty of positive signs to be taken from the narrow defeat.

“I was rapt with the fight in us, and our desire to win when the game was there in the balance,” McRae said.

“But our turnovers hurt us - we allowed nine goals from turnovers, which we haven’t done all year, and they kicked ten for the game.

“It’ll be an area of focus for us after the bye.”

The VFL Tigers started the first quarter with some stingy defensive efforts, denying Werribee a plethora of attacking opportunities before rebounding and finding Lennon for his first.

Last week’s Sir Doug Nicholls medal recipient Jake Batchelor was continuing his impressive form, finding great assistance from Ryan Garthwaite and the returning Broad.

Lennon hammered home his second for the quarter shortly after Richmond VFL captain Sam Darley nailed his first major for the year, however, a fast-finishing Werribee held the ascendancy at the first break by 10 points.

In a similar vein to the end of the first term, the second started off in scrappy circumstances, with both sides finding it hard to nail clean disposals on a cold afternoon in Melbourne’s east.

Jacob Ballard broke the deadlock with a clever snap from close range, before Jacob Townsend showed class and poise with a calm finish on the run from 40 metres out.

Townsend continued to rally his teammates with immense grit and determination, providing trademark pressure all over the ground and raking in impressive numbers in tackles and clearances.

Werribee managed to bite back courtesy of a goal to swingman Majak Daw, however, Lennon marked spectacularly and booted his third goal on the siren of half-time, much to the delight of both teammates and the Beaconsfield contingent of Tiger supporters.

It was the Tigers of the Werribee variety that came out firing in the third quarter, nailing three consecutive goals before their momentum was halted by Lennon’s fourth, which was elegantly set-up by an ice-cool Tyson Stengle.

Oleg Markov was providing plenty of pace and excitement off half-back, with his run-and-carry vital in rebounding against Werribee’s immense pressure.

Daniel Coffield again showed his supreme intercepting skills as the travellers looked to put the VFL Tigers in their wake, while Hugh Beasley was proving to be a difficult one-on-one match-up for Werribee’s forwards.

With a 14-point deficit to make up at the final break, the VFL Tigers rallied to bring the lead back to within one kick.

However, it would prove to be Werribee’s day, as the visitors hung on by the slimmest of margins.

Mabior Chol produced a brilliant left-footed snap to bring Werribee’s lead to single digits, before Jayden Cass nailed his first goal for the VFL Tigers with a precise effort from a tight angle.

A Werribee goal shortly after stretched the lead back out, however, Ellis was found by Markov in acres of space and buried his close-range effort to again bring the VFL Tigers within a kick of Werribee.

Just as Darley looked to launch a final attack from the back half the siren sounded, with a handful of points the only difference in a thralling battle between two sides.

The VFL Tigers will now have a rest over the next weekend, but return for Round 8 action against Geelong at Punt Road on Saturday, July 17.