Williamstown has suffered a narrow loss in their VFL season opener, going down to Casey Scorpions by two-points at Casey Fields on Saturday night.
It was a more desperate home side that won the ball when it mattered, holding off a late charge from the Seagulls.
A changed outfit from 2011, only seven players from last year’s VFL Grand Final side took the field, highlighting the changing of the guard over the pre-season.
Both sides honoured the late Jim Stynes with one-minute silence pre-match, before the first bounce signalled an intense opening stanza.
Casey came out the stronger of the two sides dominating the opening stages to take an early lead.
A couple of late Seagulls goals closed the margin to three points at the first change.
Strong work through the middle early in the second term through Ben Jolley, Jamie McNamara and Brett Goodes led to Matt Panos kicking two goals in as many minutes, getting the visitors off to a flyer in the second quarter.
Zephaniah Skinner excited the crowd with his aerial prowess, with a handful of high-flying marks before the Scorpions hit back later in the quarter with three unanswered goals to move to a 13-point advantage at the main break.
A revitalised Seagulls emerged from the break, swinging momentum back in their favour.
Young Bulldogs recruit Fletcher Roberts was holding strong down back while Tom Campbell was winning the aerial duel in the ruck.
Late goals to Campbell and Justin Sherman saw the visitors enter the final change with a slender lead.
With all to play for it was Casey who pressed early, snatching back the lead early through a Jack Watts goal.
The last quarter resembled a desperate scramble with both sides fighting for possession and territory.
A late Jason Johannisen goal cut the margin back to 2 points late in the game but time was against the visitors as Casey held on for the win.
Casey Scorpions 3.4 8.7 9.7 13.9 (87)
Williamstown 3.1 6.6 10.9 12.13 (85)
GOALS:
Williamstown: Panos 3 Cravino 2 Hooper Hoghton Johannisen Campbell Sherman Skinner Redpath
BEST:
Williamstown: Jolley Roberts Campbell Goodes Djerrkura Mcnamara
Development Report:
Williamstown won their round one match-up in convincing style, defeating Casey by 62-points in their season opener.
There were plenty of new faces on display for the Seagulls with no fewer than 10 first year players making their debut.
It was the likes of “older” players such as Ed Carr, Steven Witkowski, Kwame McHarg, Dylan Conway, Anton Woods, Justin Morris and Nick Sing that led the way on the day.
The young Seagulls impressed with their ball movement and ruthlessness as they surged clear after half time.
Casey Scorpions 3.2 5.3 6.6 9.7 (61)
Williamstown 2.2 9.4 16.5 19.9 (123)
GOALS:
Williamstown: Woods 3 Anastasio 2 Conway 2 McHarg 2 Wallace 2 Hevern Gray McLeod Carr Mead Morris Witkowski Muggivan
BEST:
Williamstown: Witkowski Carr Morris McHarg Gray Sing
Next Week:
Williamstown heads to Visy Park to tackle the Northern Blues in Round 2 on Saturday 31st March, 2012. The Development Game commences at 11:00am with the Seniors at 2:00pm.
