Top placed Williamstown hosted seventh placed Frankston at Burbank Oval in Round 10 of VFL football on Sunday. Williamstown made only one change to the side which defeated the Northern Bullants the previous week – Western Bulldog Stephen Tiller replacing Kane McKenzie in the senior side.
 
First Quarter
Frankston won the toss and kicked to the scoreboard end which was favoured with a slight breeze. Bulldogs ruckman Peter Street, who has been a dominant player this year, found a young opponent in Peder Whelan (207cm) who was very competitive in the ruck.

Frankston’s midfielders were running amok through Neil Winterton, Justin Berry, Marcus Mariglani and Ricky Morris while up forward Michael Lourey, Aaron Murray and former Seagull Dean Limbach were dangerous.

Williamstown lacked their normal assuredness and without the efforts of Jason Cloke, Jarrod Harbrow and David Stretton would have trailed by more than four goals at the break.  
 
Williamstown 3.3 (21) Frankston 7.2 (44)
 
Second Quarter
Williamstown lifted in the second quarter and found a winning forward in Dean Galea who provided a great marking target. He kicked two goals and unselfishly set up Bulldog Josh Hill for his first.

Scott Meyer moved on to Limbach and Jarrod Harbrow went to the backline to provide plenty of run. Bulldogs rookies Sam Reid, Easton Wood and Guy O’Keefe lifted, with the latter dominant in the second term after a quiet first quarter.

Liam Picken was playing his normal solid game while Ben Jolley and Brett Johnson lifted their workrate which resulted in the Seagulls kicking eight straight goals to grab slender lead at half time.
 
Williamstown 11.3 (69)  Frankston 10.5 (65)
 
Third Quarter
Williamstown was unable to shake off a persistent and brave Frankston who continued to play a high quality game.

Street and fellow Bulldog Cameron Wight lifted on the ball whilst Meyer, Adam Cook along with Bulldog pair Andrew McDougall and Brennan Stack were under siege in the back half of the ground.

Matthew Little, who had a quiet day, marked strongly on two occasions to goal but Frankston were able to maintain their intensity to open up a 14 point lead at the final break. 
 
Williamstown 13.6 (84) Frankston 15.8 (98)
 
Fourth Quarter
Confronted with a deficit and mindful of maintaining its unbeaten status at home, Williamstown lifted in the final quarter. Steven Greene, David Stretton and O’Keefe were full of run while Galea and Cloke were great up forward.

Stephen Tiller played an outstanding quarter in defence as Bulldog teammates Cameron Wight and Josh Hill found space up forward to take six marks. The Seagulls missed a number of easy shots on goal after dominating the final quarter but still managed to win its ninth game of the season and open up a two game break at the top of the table. 
 
Williamstown 18.13 (121) Frankston 16.11 (107)
  
Goals: Rose 3, Galea 3, Cloke 3, Greene 2, Little 2, Hill 2, Stretton 1, Picken 1, Jolley 1.  
 
Best Players: Stretton, Harbrow, Cloke, Galea, Meyer, O’Keefe.  
 
Reserves Wrap
Williamstown maintained its unbeaten status by defeating fourth placed Frankston by 115 points. After an even first half when it was a fierce and rugged contest, the overall strength and talent of Williamstown overpowered the Dolphins.  
 
Williamstown     4.1  7.8   14.16     23.22 (160)
Frankston          1.3  4.5    6.8        6.9 (45)
 
Goals: O’Shea 5, Lyons 3, Urch 3, Boumann 2, Mulligan 2, Miller 1, Dickson 1, Lockwood 1, Cartelli 1, Boyd 1, Beaumont 1, Grossman 1.
 
Best Players: Cartelli, Barling, McKenzie, Lyons, O’Shea, Grossman
 
Our next game is this Saturday 21 June when Williamstown take on Collingwood at Optus Oval (Princess Park) commencing at 2pm. Williamstown reserves play the Northern Bullants in the curtain raiser at 11.10am.