Another week and another Tom Boyd goal in the dying seconds to get Footscray over the line, this time in a nail biter over Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval.
 
With the Dogs trailing by one-point at the 28 minute mark of the final term, 20-year-old Boyd managed to gather a hotly contested ball in the Bulldogs goal square and squeeze it through a crowd to seal the win and fourth place on the VFL ladder.
 
It was only two weeks ago against Port Melbourne that a Boyd goal with under a minute remaining was the difference at VU Whitten Oval.
 
Coach Ashley Hansen said that having gone down to the Bombers by four points last Friday night in Bendigo, the focus during the week had been around how to play out a tight game.
 
“We reviewed the Essendon game and we talked through how we want to structure up, what our mindset needs to be, how we’re attacking or defending, and what mechanisms we want to put in place,” he said.
 
“The way the guys executed this week obviously gave us an opportunity to win the game, which we took, and then defended really well from the centre bounce.
 
“I’m really proud of the way they’ve learnt, adapted and executed.“
 
The Bulldogs, kicking with a favourable breeze in the first term jumped out to a five goal lead at the first break, Merryck Buchannan kicking the second of his three goals late in the quarter.
 
It was to be the final Bulldog goal until Buchannan kicked his third 20 minutes into the third term, Footscray fortunate that Werribee could only convert three of its nine second quarter shots at goal.
 
The Tigers led by two-points at the final change and with a double chance on the line, the game promised a tense finish and delivered exactly that.
 
Scores were level for a full seven minutes midway through the last quarter before a behind; followed by a Kayne Turner goal broke the dead lock in Werribee’s favour.
 
The fists of Fletcher Roberts, and Ayce Cordy’s intercept marking across half back were important in holding a determined Werribee at bay, before a David Iaccarino goal at the 24 minute mark again cut the lead to one, setting the stage for Boyd’s last minute heroics.
 
While Jordan Kelly (25 touches, six tackles, four inside 50s) was named best on ground, Hansen said that the win was a genuine team performance.
 
“I said to the boys after the game that I thought we had 23 contributors across the field and it wasn’t necessarily reflected on the stats sheet.  Whether it was coming forward to defend aggressively, halving a contest or blocking for a mate, I thought they were all really invested in the game and it took all of them to get the job done.”
 
Footscray travel to Box Hill Oval next Saturday to take on the Hawks in the First Qualifying Final.


ABOVE: Tom Boyd celebrates his match-winning goal against Werribee. (Photo: Liz Vagg).
 
Footscray     5.3     5.4      6.8        9.11   (65)                   
Werribee      0.4     3.10    6.10     8.13   (61)
 
 
BEST:  Kelly, A. Cordy, Buchannan, Prismall, Roberts, Daniel, Goodes
 
GOALS:  Buchannan 3, Goodes, Jong, Iaccarino, W. Hayes, Boyd, Sharp
 
DISPOSALS: Kelly, Prismall 25, Daniel 21, Dale, Goodes 18, Darley, Pearce 17