Williamstown made four changes to the side that lost to the Northern Bullants. Into the side came Tom Williams returning from injury, Brennan Stack returned after making his AFL debut whilst Xavier Gotch and Jordan Roughead were promoted to the Seniors. Roughead who was the National draft pick No. 31 was recruited to the Bulldogs from the North Ballarat Rebels. Out of the side went Scott Meyer, Malcolm Lynch and Jarrad Boumann who were dropped and Chris Egan missed with injury.
Geelong went into the game boasting their best side on paper for the year with inclusions including AFL premiership players Matthew Stokes and David Wojinski and listed players Tom Lonergan, Brodie Moles, Tom Gillies and Adam Varcoe. Captain and reigning 2008 Liston Medallist, James Podsiadly was lining up for his 175th game which qualified him for life membership.
First Quarter
Williamstown won the toss and kicked with the favoured wind. In a tight and uncompromising start of the game, Williamstown was unable to create space and at centre half back Tom Lonergan was a tower of strength. Eventually it was a defensive error by the Geelong, that resulted in the opening three goals to Mathew Little (2) and Xavier Gotch. Even though Ben Johnson kicked the Cats opening goal, Williamstown was able to kick two more goals through Patrick Rose and Mathew Little to establish a 27 point lead.
Williamstown 5. 6 Geelong 1.3
Second Quarter
Geelong now had their first use of the wind but the Williamstown defence led by Tim Callan, Dylan Addison, Tom Williams, Jason Cloke, Cam Wight and Andrejs Everitt defended superbly plus provided the Seagulls with plenty of rebound. Captain Brett Johnson kicked a tremendous right foot snap goal to break the close checking tag of Kane Tenace as Williamstown controlled the game. Mathew Stokes kicked the Cats’ second major but Ben Davies, Sam Reid, Cam Lockwood and Guy O’Keefe played well as goals to Jarrod Grant and O’Keefe extended the lead to 37 points at half time.
Williamstown 8.9 Geelong 2.8
Third Quarter:
Williamstown again had use of the breeze and they quickly kicked three goals in the opening 5 minutes to Little, Roughead and Jolley to put the lead beyond Geelong’s reach. Rose and Little were running amok and the Cats were forced to put Tom Lonergan to full back to quell Little’s dominance. Stretton, Gotch, Stack, Langlands and Johnson controlled the midfield as the Seagulls added 7.7 to the Cats 2 behinds.
Williamstown 15.16 Geelong 2.10
Fourth Quarter:
Williamstown lost Ayce Cordy and Tim Callan in the opening 5 minutes of the final quarter as the Cats rallied to put some respectability on the scoreboard. Multiple goals to captain James Podsiadly, Dan McKenna and Tom Allwright helped the Cats kick 8 goals in the final quarter although the Seagulls were still able to kick 5 goals through Little, Rose, Jolley, Langlands and Reid to run out comfortable winners by 61 points.
Williamstown 5.5 8.9 15.16 20.16 (136)
Geelong 1.3 2.8 2.10 10.15 (75)
Goalkickers: Little 6, Rose 3, Jolley 2, Grant 2, O’Keefe 2, Johnson 1, Gotch 1, Langlands 1, Roughead 1, Reid 1.
Best Players: Little, Reid, Callan, Rose, Stretton, Gotch
What's on next week...
Next Saturday 27th June, Williamstown hosts the Casey Scorpions at Burbank Oval in the ABC TV Match of the Round. The 8th placed Casey Scorpions have won their last 3 games against Geelong, Werribee and the Northern Bullants. The Casey Scorpions reserves are also on a roll having won their 4 previous games to boast a 6-3 win/loss ratio and sit in 4th position on the ladder.
Reserves Williamstown Vs Casey Scorpions 10:20am
Seniors Williamstown Vs Casey Scorpions 1:10pm
Guest speaker at our President’s luncheon is Western Bulldogs Senior Assistant Coach Leon Cameron and the Luncheon begins at 11:00am.
