By LIAM TWOMEY
A FINAL quarter blitz from the Northern Blues cost Williamstown the four points in its clash at Visy Park on Sunday.
After taking a three-point lead into quarter time, the Seagulls took control of the match in the second quarter, kicking four goals to one and opening a 20-point gap at half time.
The margin only increased after the break with a Scott Clouston mark and goal followed by a Nick Meese goal shortly after lifting the margin to 33 points.
However, from there the match took an unexpected turn.
After struggling to make an impact on the scoreboard for the first two and a half quarters, the Northern Blues suddenly clicked into gear.
A flurry of late goals closed the gap to just 12 points at three quarter time with both teams right in the hunt.
The momentum of the contest continued to change in the final term as the Blues kept pushing.
Northern eventually fought its way to the front at the 18-minute mark courtesy of a Jack Anthony goal.
From there, the two teams traded a goal each as the Seagulls ran out of time to get the lead back, falling by four points.
The 15.11 (101) to 14.13 (97) loss is Williamstown’s second of the season after the Seagulls also came up short against Box Hill a week earlier.
Despite the loss, Anthony Anastasio showed why he is one of the most dangerous small forwards in the VFL, kicking four goals.
Mitch Banner was the only other multiple goal scorer for Williamstown and finished with two majors.
Around the ground, Ben Davies and Cameron Lockwood worked hard all afternoon to be the standouts for the Seagulls.
For the Northern Blues, Thomas Temay and Anthony were a dangerous combination up forward and finished the match with seven goals between them.
Williamstown will look to secure its first win of the VFL season when it hosts the Footscray Bulldogs this week.
The Bulldogs will be full of confidence after beating Richmond by 117 points last week.
