Williamstown were forced to make 4 changes to its side – leading Goalkicker Matthew Little missed through injury as did Stephen Tiller, Matthew Cravino was dropped and Sean Tighe returned to the Western Jets. Four players were promoted from the Williamstown Reserves – Scott Meyer, Chris Egan, Tom Langlands and Dean Galea.
Box Hill side was strengthened with the inclusion of 3 Hawthorn players including dual AFL premiership player Stuart Dew and the promising Beau Muston and Brendan Whitecross.
First Quarter
Williamstown had first use of the breeze but it was Box Hill who had the early ascendancy by kicking the opening goal through Cameron Stokes and then missed set shots by Steve Kenna and Ben Smithwick. Max Bailey was dominating early and Adam Yze was also prominent. Williamstown eventually begun to win the ball through Guy O’Keefe, Dave Stretton and Tim Callan. Stretton and O’Keefe goaled and Jason Cloke was lively up forward.
Williamstown 3.5
Box Hill 2.4
Second Quarter
Box Hill now had use of the breeze and they quickly took advantage with a long goal to Sam Iles. Dangerous Stuart Dew kicked 2 classy goals and the Hawks led by 13 points, 10 minutes into the quarter.
From this point the Seagulls were able to shut down the Hawks for the rest of the quarter. Ruckman Wayde Skipper was outstanding and Xavier Gotch, Andrejs Everitt, Ben Davies, Chris Egan, Tim Callan and Tom Langlands were tough in the clinches. Brennan Stack was lively up forward and when Jarrad Boumann kicked a great goal into the wind the Seagulls held on and kept the deficit to 5 points at the long break.
Williamstown 4.8
Box Hill 5.7
Third Quarter
Williamstown now had use of the breeze again and it was Dylan Joyce who sparked the Seagulls comeback. After missing a shot on the run, Joyce was able to regain the lead. Another young gun Xavier Gotch slotted a long goal and then Easton Wood handballed to captain Brett Johnson who kicked a great running goal. The Box Hill Hawks responded with a goal to Cameron Pedersen to keep themselves in the game.
Williamstown lifted, Ben Jolley was inspirational and Guy O’Keefe, Ben Davies, Dylan Addison and Andrejs Everitt prominent.
Late goals to David Stretton and Cam Wight gave the Seagulls a handy 31 point lead at the last break.
Williamstown 10.14
Box Hill 6.7
Fourth Quarter
Box Hill now had another chance with the wind and Adam Yze out positioned Easton Wood twice, to mark in the goal square and kick 2 goals.
Jordan Lisle, who had been quiet all day marked strongly and kicked a goal to reduce the lead to 15 points.
Wayde Skipper was simply outstanding in the final quarter.
Finally the game was sealed as Dean Galea marked strongly and kicked a fine angle goal. The Seagulls won by 23 points in a strong, spirited team effort.
Williamstown 11.19 (85)
Box Hill 9.8 (62)
Goalkickers : Joyce 2, Galea 2, Stretton 2, Johnson 1, Gotch 1, O’Keefe 1, Boumann 1, Wight 1
Best Players : Jolley, Skipper, O’Keefe, Everitt, Davies, Stretton
Reserve’s Wrap
Williamstown’s unbeaten run at Reserves level was smashed by a determined Box Hill side by 68 points on Sunday. The second placed Box Hill dominated the game although Williamstown was severely restricted by injuries on the day. Unfortunately Dane Rampe and David Sablich were injured in the opening 5 minutes and Chris Ogle, Jacob Graham and Luke Cartelli were extremely restricted throughout the game.
Better players for the Seagulls were Mick Tanner at full back, Matthew Cravino, Matthew Grossman, Henry White, Trent Lee and Nick Georgiadis.
Williamstown 0.2 5.3 5.4 6.6 (42)
Box Hill 4.5 7.5 14.9 16.14 (110)
Goalkickers : Graham, Daniels, Georgiadis, Dimartino, Nicolopoulos, Roughead
Best Players : Tanner, Cravino, White, Lee, Grossman, Georgiadis
What’s on next week....
Next Sunday 26th July Williamstown travels to the Trevor Barker Oval to play Sandringham in Round 15 VFL action.
Reserves Sandringham Vs Williamstown 11:10am
Seniors Sandringham Vs Williamstown 2:00pm
A Supporter Bus will depart Seagulls Nest (1 Mason Street, Newport) at 12 noon to take supporters to the game.
