FOURTH spot on the Victorian Football League ladder could come down to the final round of the season after Williamstown and Werribee both secured victories in the penultimate round on the weekend.
The Seagulls thrashed Tasmania by 84 points and Werribee easily accounted for North Ballarat by 55 points to set up a fascinating battle for fourth spot this week.
Williamstown has a one-game lead and is three percentage points ahead of Werribee but has the bye in the final round, while the Tigers face a white-hot Geelong outfit at Skilled Stadium on Saturday.
Werribee provided its travelling fans with a vintage performance over the eighth-placed Roosters, particularly in the first half.
The Tigers looked the more polished unit from the opening bounce, and wore off the home side’s resistance by quarter-time to lead by 14 points. Spearhead James Podsiadly was looking ominous in the forward 50, and Werribee’s young midfield was on top from the opening exchanges.
The Tigers blew the game apart in the second quarter with the only four goals, two of which came from the boot of Podsiadly.
He finished with four for the half before leaving the field with a leg injury, and returned later to finish with six majors.
The Tigers consolidated their lead in the second half en route to an easy win.
Williamstown also had little trouble in disposing of its opponent on Saturday, crushing Tasmania at Burbank Oval. Heath Lawry was outstanding with six goals as the Seagulls dominated in an almost flawless four-quarter display.
The Seagulls are likely to play runaway competition leader Northern Bullants in the first week of the finals if they can hold onto fourth spot this week.
