Match result: Werribee 11.12.78 defeated North Ballarat 9.10.64

Venue: Avalon Airport Oval

Conditions: Heavy rain in the first half, which thankfully cleared in the second

In action

- Aaron Black (16 disposals, 6 one-percenters, 2 goals)

- Daniel Currie (17 disposals, 52 hit-outs)

- Majak Daw (14 disposals, 21 hit-outs, 1 goal)

- Sam Durdin (4 disposals, 9 one-percenters, 7 spoils)

- Lachlan Hansen (8 disposals, 4 marks)

- Brad McKenzie (9 disposals, 9 one-percenters)

- Scott McMahon (10 disposals, 4 marks, 7 one-percenters)

- Braydon Preuss (7 disposals, 30 hit-outs)

- Ed Vickers-Willis (5 disposals, 6 one-percenters)

- Max Warren (15 disposals, 10 one-percenters)

NMFC.com.au's best: Daniel Currie

Match-ups

- Sam Durdin v Majak Daw (forward)

- Braydon Preuss v Majak Daw (ruck) & Daniel Currie

- Aaron Black v Ed Vickers-Willis

Story of the game

Wet and soggy conditions greeted Werribee and North Ballarat for the second consecutive week to start the VFL season.

However what loomed as a dour, defensive struggle given the heavy rain was surprisingly open in the first quarter, with six goals between the sides. The Roosters kicked four of the majors to open up an early lead, and Werribee coach John Lamont blamed a failure to adjust to the conditions.

"It (the first quarter performance) was down to too many mistakes and defensive errors," Lamont said.

"We were continually calling for the ball all the time which produced extra handballs so we were winning around the clearances but that wasn't relating to more inside 50's."

North Ballarat maintained its lead in the second term and at the long break the sides had combined for a surprising 14 goals; the Roosters leading 8.6.54 to 6.8.44 at the long break.

The rain cleared at the start of the second half and the goals went with it. The third quarter produced only one goal for each team, allowing the Roosters to maintain a 13-point edge with a quarter to play. In the team huddle, North Ballarat coach Gerard FitzGerald implored his players to finish strongly.

"We've got six forwards ahead of the ball so there's no excuse for a (Werribee) player to zone off. It comes back to doing the basics well. Challenge each other for 30 more minutes and we'll get them!"

However it was Werribee who came out full of running in the fourth quarter after Lamont appealed to his men to 'play as they're instructed'.

The final term saw the home side pile on four unanswered goals and play almost exclusively in its forward half, registering a 14-point victory and evening both sides' season at one win and one loss.

"When the day dried out we played a little bit more," Lamont said after the match.

"We ended up with a little bit of extra run even though we lost Jye Bolton - our best runner - early on.

"We put a couple of blokes through the midfield and that put us in good stead in the end."

Points of interest

1. Lachlan Hansen played his first competitive match of 2015, playing three quarters for Werribee.

Patrolling his customary position across the defensive 50, he worked his way into the game.

"He was rusty obviously, early on, but by late in the third quarter he was able to get back and outnumber a couple of times and link up really well," Development Manager Ben Dyer told NMFC.com.au.

RELATED: Hansen talks about his game

2. In one of the all-North matchups on the day, Aaron Black was matched up by Ed Vickers-Willis in the North Ballarat forward line.

Black kicked two goals from limited supply, with the duo having an entertaining contest throughout the afternoon.

"It was a good battle between the two," Senior Development Coach Gavin Brown said.

"I thought Blacky was quite dangerous early in really tough conditions. Then the ball wasn't really getting down there in the second half.

"He wasn't seeing it much but his work rate and ability to compete was still very good. He didn't let himself down from that point of view."

Meanwhile the Werribee perspective on Vickers-Willis was also a positive one.

"We were pretty keen to get Ed to play on a player the calibre of Aaron, to give him the opportunity to play on a hit-up type forward that can be dangerous," Dyer said.

"After initially being caught out, Ed was able to change up and protect the space, keeping him on a tight leash. I thought it was quite a disciplined performance from Ed, because Blacky can be quite elusive and agile."

3. Sam Durdin played in defence for the first time this season, and was greeted by Majak Daw.

While Durdin spent time back in his junior career, up until Saturday he had exclusively played and trained as a forward.

"I thought Durds did a very good job on Maj, he held him for most of the day," Brown said.

"We were really pleased with him, considering it's the first time he's played back this season.

"It's a credit to him to go down there and be quite solid straight away. He'll stay back for now, we'll give him some time there and see how he goes."

The challenge for Daw was a slightly different one, with the conditions dictating a change in his game style.

"At times he was probably guilty of presenting a little wide. He got better as the game went on," Dyer said.

"It was a little difficult because it sort of goes against the forward's natural instinct. In dry weather you don't want to lead to the side with space because the defence can rebound against you, but today you probably needed to.

"But pleasingly today he crashed some contests and make the ball spill with a few good follow up efforts."

4. Daniel Currie was Werribee's lead ruckman and was able to give his side first use all throughout the day when he was around the stoppages.

Backing up off a good performance against Geelong in Round 1, Currie continued his good form.

"Stephenson got him a couple of times early and then after that Currie adjusted really well and got on top.

"Early in the last he was pivotal to get the ball in the front half from the stoppages. It was the sort of day where you just needed a long target and (when he was forward) he was able to do that. It's been a couple of good weeks in a row from 'Crush'."

5. Kieran Harper and Will Fordham both were unable to take the field. Harper has been dealing with a slight knee issue and is in the running to play next week while Fordham is being managed through his first year at the club and has no injury concern.

Most likely call up: Lachlan Hansen

Next week: Werribee v Port Melbourne, Saturday May 2, 2:00pm

North Ballarat v Williamstown, Saturday May 2, 1:00pm