By Mark Murray
WERRIBEE and Williamstown will meet on Sunday in one of the most anticipated battles between the two combatants in years.
Both sides are eyeing finals campaigns with the Seagulls sitting in second position having dropped just one match for the season.
The Tigers had stormed into sixth spot on the back of four straight victories but had their run ended by Port Melbourne on Saturday.
Werribee started the season with four consecutive losses but has recovered to be sitting in seventh.
With no AFL matches in Victoria on Sunday due to the split round, Werribee general manager Mark Penaluna hoped Melburnians would turn out in droves to Bartercard Oval in Werribee at 2pm.
Western Bulldogs champion Chris Grant is a chance of lining up again in what would be a huge drawcard.
“We hope to get a heap there,” Penaluna said. “There are no AFL matches on and this is a pretty big match for both sides.
“Given the rivalry that already exists between Werribee and Williamstown we expect that we’ll get a really healthy crowd.
“We hopefully can use the home ground to our advantage and get another win on the board, but it’s not going to be easy.
“They are a good side that has been travelling well.”
Williamstown thumped Werribee by 53 points in the season opener but the margin is expected to be a lot closer this time around.
The Tigers midfield is firing on all cylinders while the forward set-up of James Podsiadly, Matthew Robbins, Andrew McDougal and Jordan Barham has been troubling the opposition.
But it’s in attack where Williamstown is most dangerous, with Dean Limbach leading the competition goal-kicking table with 31 goals.
The experienced Andrew Williams has also be a constant avenue to goal for the Seagulls, and both he and Limbach will need to be paid the ultimate respect this week.
Brett Johnson and Kane McKenzie have also been damaging.
At home Werribee will fancy its chances, but Williamstown hasn’t lost only one match for no reason, and the game will ultimately be won or lost in the middle of the ground.
