By Tyler Lewis
“If it bleeds we can kill it… and we reckon Essendon can bleed.”
Those 13 famous words from Leigh Matthews turned the AFL world over in 2000.
And almost to the day, 22 years on, it’s applicable to the Outer East Premier Division.
Narre Warren – for the first time in what feels like an eternity – bled on Saturday.
It was a mere mosquito bite in terms of claret… but it was a moment that gives the side that defeated the Pies – Woori Yallock – hope on the cusp of September.
It was a day of firsts on Saturday at Woori Yallock Recreation Reserve.
Of course, it was Narre Warren’s first loss in 12 appearances this season.
Additionally, it was the first time in 24 matches the Pies have conceded over 100 points, spanning all the way back to round 18 in 2019 when Berwick put just 107 points on Narre.
And finally, confirming how un-Narre Warren the performance was, it was the first time in 19 outings in which the Pies didn’t have at least two multiple goal-kickers.
Leading by a solitary behind at the quarter-time break, the Tigers launched out to a 67-44 lead at the main interval, after booting six goals to three in the second term.
The Pies answered back in the premiership quarter, sending four goals to two through the big sticks.
With just eight points standing in the way of the Pies and their 13th win at three-quarter-time, it appeared it was going to be the same old story.
But the Tigers toughed it out in a grind of a final quarter, keeping the Pies at bay to record the 15.19 (109) to 15.10 (100) win.
Narre Warren coach Shane Dwyer was complimentary of Woori Yallock, while also scathing of his group, who believes failed to turn up.
“The opposition were very good,” he said.
“We have to give them credit, they were very good, they obviously had a long time between the last game to sort out a method of how to play against us.
“They did it very well… and our guys, well they just didn’t get going.
“We were very poor, whether that was a mental thing, or the opposition, probably a bit of both.
“They were very good, Woori Yallock, credit to them… our guys need to be better than that.”
The term ‘good loss’ to surface is a safe bet when it comes to an unblemished side tasting defeat for the first time.
But Dwyer was most disappointed that his side fell despite being made fully aware of the challenge at hand.
And as a result, the Pies coach has fired off a warning: That sort of performance will NOT happen again.
“You never want to lose,” he explained.
“But we spoke about it all week and even the week prior… this is going to be our biggest challenge, them up there, they’re second on the ladder, going really well.
“It wasn’t as if we weren’t expecting it, but maybe the players in their head space were going through the motions.
“They certainly won’t be now… I like to think after we train on Tuesday night and review the game… that they’ll be resetting their focus.”
While a performance he frequently described as ‘poor’, as well as the absence of Trent Cody, only culminated in a nine point defeat, Dwyer was ruthless in how he saw the game.
“It’s more the things we did poorly,” he said.
“We looked at the tape yesterday and discussed it with a few of the guys, what we did and what we didn’t do.
“It’s hard, the week prior you win by 20 goals and don’t have much to review, so it might’ve been a degree of laziness creeping it, I don’t know.
“But from what I watched yesterday (Sunday) and what ill re-watch again today… there is some blatantly obvious poor things that we did.
“First and foremost we highlight and show it, then we correct it… and if it doesn’t get corrected this week then we have to look elsewhere.”
In a positive for the Pies, emerging forward Will Howe carried the load for Narre Warren, snagging eight majors.
The high-flyer has now booted 47 goals for the year and is yet to fail to kick a goal in a match since the shift to full-forward in round three.
Howe often puts a smile on Dwyer’s face and – amidst his overall disappointment – Saturday was no exception.
“Oh look he has enormous talent, hasn’t he,” he said.
“He’s an exciting one to watch, he’s been doing pretty much that all year, against different opposition obviously, but it was great to see him play well when it mattered against a good side.
“He’s got a lot of ability…. a lot of ability – I am just glad he plays for us.”
The Magpies host fourth-seed Olinda Ferny Creek this week, before finishing with Upwey Tecoma and Officer ahead of the finals.
In other results across Premier Division: Pakenham went a win clear of Monbulk inside the top five, despite not playing.
With the bye offering four points and the Hawks losing to Wandin, 16.14 (110) to 6.10 (46), Pakenham is now a win and percentage clear with a difficult three weeks ahead.
Upwey Tecoma all but saved itself from relegation with a 10.16 (76) to 3.17 (35) win over Mt Evelyn and Olinda Ferny Creek pushed closer to a finals berth by beating Officer, 17.14 (117) to 7.5 (47), despite having both Narre Warren and Wandin in two of the final three weeks of the season.
