Williamstown’s Lin Jong lays a tackle on Bendigo’s Alex Browne. 82232_12 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WILLIAMSTOWN has slipped out of the top four after going down to Bendigo in an entertaining game marked by fierce momentum swings at Windy Hill on Saturday.
The Bombers were up by 51 points during the third quarter, but the Seagulls came at them late in the third quarter and kicked three straight goals to cut the margin to less than four goals.
Jack Redpath, one of Williamtown’s stand-out players with four goals, missed an opportunity late in the term to bring the deficit back to 14 points, and Bendigo held firm to run out 18.14 (122) to 15.13 (103) winners.
The Seagulls controlled the play in the first 20 minutes of the first quarter but didn’t punish the Bombers on the scoreboard.
Bendigo kicked six goals in the last 10 minutes of the quarter to post a seven-point lead at the first break.
Williamstown coach Peter German said that 10-minute burst was the defining period of the game.
“We controlled it in the first 20 minutes but we didn’t put the scoreboard pressure on,” he said.
“I think that we actually started to think ‘how easy is this going to be’, and we just dropped off all the things that made us good early.”
“In the last 10 minutes of the first quarter we allowed them to get some momentum going.”
Bendigo took that momentum into the second half and kicked three goals to Williamstown’s none to widen the gap.
“In the second quarter they defended us really well, we couldn’t get our style of game going,” German said.
“We had more inside 50s, we had more possessions, but that equates to nothing unless you’re actually effective with it.
“I think some of our ball use was really hurtful at times and they got a lot of back-to-back goals quickly from centre breaks.”
Williamstown has a must-win game against Box Hill this Saturday, in what will be the first senior VFL match at Burbank Oval since 2010.
The Point Gellibrand site has been overhauled with a new grandstand, function centre, training and recovery facilities and a drought-proof playing surface.
A bumper crowd is expected with the president’s luncheon being booked out and many past players slated to attend.
The match, which will be televised on ABC, starts at 1.10pm.
Bendigo 18.14 (122) d Williamstown 15.13 (103)
Goals: Bendigo: K. Reimers, C. Dell’Olio 3. Williamstown: J. Redpath 4, C. Smith 2.
Best: Bendigo: S. Gumbleton, R. Ladson. Williamstown: B. Jolley, M. Panos.
