By Bill Kyriakopoulos
A DISAPPOINTING Williamstown has suffered its sixth defeat of the season after it was played off the park by a determined North Ballarat outfit.
The Seagulls maintain third position on the ladder despite the 33-point loss but will be displeased with the poor home ground performance.
North Ballarat led at every change and kept Williamstown goalless in the second term to lead by 38 points at half-time.
It was a high-scoring third quarter for Williamstown, led by the brilliant Brett Johnson, but the Seagulls could not keep the opposition down with both teams kicking six goals for the term.
The Seagulls outscored North Ballarat in the last term with the sizzling Johnson again leading the way, but his six-goal haul for the game was not enough for the home team.
At Chirnside Park a determined Werribee could not hold off a fast-finishing Northern Bullants team, which recorded at 26-point win.
After an entertaining first half in which 18 goals were scored, the Tigers led by 11 points despite the surprising decision from coach Simon Atkins to play star forward James Podsiadly in defence.
But the top-of-the-table Bullants came out firing in the second half led by Carlton utility Matthew Lappin, to lead by three points at the last change.
Werribee couldn’t stop a Bullants’ potent forward line which included Digby Morrell and Adrian Deluca, and faded away in the final quarter.
Jarrod Garth and Teghan Henderson kicked three goals each for the Tigers, while Travis Robertson and Kieran McGuiness were two of the best on ground.
Werribee drops to seventh on the VFL ladder after its second consecutive loss.