Let go … Williamstown’s Nathan Djerrkura tries to break free from a tackle. 66861 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Michael Esposito
WILLIAMSTOWN triumphed over Northern Bullants by 29 points in a game of extreme momentum shifts at Preston on Saturday.
The Seagulls looked to have the game sewn up after posting a 59-point lead at half-time, but in an extraordinary third term the Bullants kicked six goals and kept Williamstown goalless to cut the margin to 22 points.
But the Seagulls reclaimed control in the last quarter with Brian Lake kicking two early goals at full-forward to effectively kill the contest.
Williamstown didn’t have the genuine forwards normally at its disposal, with Andrew Hooper and Jarrad Grant recalled for the Bulldogs and Zephaniah Skinner and Mitch Hahn out injured, but rotating big men Will Minson and Jordan Roughead, and the speedy Justin Sherman – serving the first of his four-week penance for racial vilification – adequately filled those gaps.
WERRIBEE has come within striking distance of the top four after eclipsing Casey by two goals in a feisty affair at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday.
The Tigers held a six-goal lead at three-quarter-time but withstood a fierce comeback in the last quarter to win 15.12 (102) to 13.12 (90) and replaced the Scorpions at sixth on the ladder.
Werribee is just one win behind fourth-placed Northern Bullants.
Robbie Tarrant, Jarrod Mather and Sean Tighe were among Werribee’s best players, while Robbie Castello and Ben Warren kicked three goals each.
Daniel Schibeci, in his second game for the club, kicked two goals.
Werribee had to rely on a more even spread of goalkickers with the likes of Cam Pedersen and Ben McKinley on AFL duty.
The Tigers had 10 individual goalkickers.
PETER German said he was excited about Williamstown’s Foxtel Cup semi-final clash against East Perth at Etihad Stadium this Saturday.
“I think it’s great for VFL footy. I know we won’t fill the stadium out but I just think for VFL footy and WAFL footy, and for the next level down it’s great exposure,” he said.
“We’re competitors, we’re footballers and we’re in it and we’re in it to win it. We’ll have a look at our side and see if we can expose a couple of other younger kids, that’s what the competition’s also good for.”
The game starts at 5pm.
