Matthew Panos kicked three goals in Williamstown’s impressive semi-final win over Casey on Saturday. 86534_18 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
WILLIAMSTOWN face old enemy Port Melbourne in this Saturday’s VFL preliminary final, after the Seagulls put the Casey Scorpions to the sword on the road on Saturday.
The Towners have now claimed the scalps of every team that finished in the top four as part of a remarkable winning streak that now stretches back two months, including a stirring 11-point win over the Borough in late July.
Club CEO Brendan Curry told Star on Sunday the even contribution of the 23 players who take the park each week has been the secret to Williamstown’s success during the second half of the season.
“We rely on 23 players, it doesn’t matter if they’re on the VFL list or Western Bulldogs list,” Curry said.
“So if we’ve got 23 contributors every week, hopefully we’ll keep getting the same results we have over the last eight weeks.”
Beating Casey on its home turf is never easy, but looking at the scoreboard throughout the day it would have been hard to argue such a case.
In very tricky, blustery conditions the Seagulls kept Casey scoreless in the opening term and went into the first change 21 points up.
However both sides could only manage a goal each on the second quarter as the elements took hold of the game, with many stoppages throughout the first half stifling both teams’ running games.
Up by 20 at half-time, Williamstown broke the game open in the third quarter and piled on five goals to Casey’s two to double their lead to 40 by three-quarter time.
Casey managed to string some goals together in the last term to keep to game interesting, but Williamstown never looked in doubt, ultimately cruising home to a 37-point win.
Curry praised his club’s ability to play good finals footy throughout the day.
“With the pressure we put on the Casey Scorpions I think we dragged them down and the pressure we applied on them forced some turnovers in those conditions,” he said.
“Our tackling was at a very high level and I think that was the recipe for our success.
“In finals there’s going to be a lot of contested footy, so I just think the way we went about it was a credit to Germo (coach Peter German) and the coaching staff and the players.”
Makeshift ruckman James Wall was again impressive in his mobile ruck role, receiving best on ground honours for his 21 disposals and six marks, while fellow tall Tom Hill continued his own good form with two goals.
“We thought it was one of Tommy Hill’s best games,” Curry said.
“When he went into the ruck he had an impact and he competed hard.
“Really the game was won in the engine room and our defence.
“We’ve probably got the youngest defence going around and with some unheralded great performers there, whether it’s Jack Frost, young Jack Charleston, Nick Sing in the last eight weeks, Steve Witkowski, they’re all teenagers and they’re doing a great job.”
Saturday’s preliminary final kicks off at 2.10pm at North Port Oval.
Casey: 5.8 (38) d by Williamstown: 11.9 (75)
Goals: Casey: Gysberts, Thompson, Nicholls. Williamstown: Veszpremi 3, Panos 3, Hill 2. Best: Casey: L. Tynan, Pollard, Smith. Williamstown: Wall, Jolley, McNamara.
