By Luke D’Anello
WILLIAMSTOWN fine-tuned its preparations for this Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Port Melbourne with a 35-point win against Sandringham at Avalon Airport Oval in round six.
The Seagulls conceded seven goals in the final term, but the 21.13 (139) to 16.8 (104) win kept their unblemished VFL record intact.
Peter German’s team was quick out of the starting blocks and established a 27-point advantage at the first break, but the coach was far from impressed and issued a few stern words to his players at quarter-time.
By half-time, the Seagulls’ lead had been trimmed to 18 points. They responded, though, in the premiership quarter, kicking six goals to one as their quality performers came to the fore when it mattered most.
Brett Goodes produced a blistering display and iced his performance with five majors, while Bulldogs rookie Matthew Panos bagged four.
Former Sydney Swan Ed Barlow kicked three, while Brian Lake, banished to the VFL because of a lack of fitness, relished his move up into the attacking half.
Lake pocketed two goals in the second half, while Sam Reid also kicked two.
Luke Dahlhaus, who played TAC Cup for Geelong Falcons last season, showcased a work ethic that belied his 18 years.
Meanwhile, Williamstown will face West Adelaide in the quarter finals of the Foxtel Cup at AAMI Stadium on 4 June. The match starts at 5.15pm and will be broadcast live on Foxtel.
ELSEWHERE, Werribee suffered an 11-goal loss against Bendigo Bombers at Windy Hill on Saturday.
The Tigers were outclassed after half-time as Bendigo piled on nine goals to two on its way to the 18.17 (125) to 7.17 (59) win.
Bendigo led by 22 points at half time and by 39 at the final change.
Werribee struggled in the final half-hour as Bendigo kicked six goals to one to score a percentage-boosting win.
Tigers skipper Dom Gleeson said the loss was a backward step.
“We just didn’t come to play I think. I’ve never been part of a team where we’ve folded so easily, so early, and not just one or two players, it was us as a whole, collective group,” Gleeson said.
“We were really disappointed as a group (Saturday) night and it’s something that we’ll address during the week.
“We seem to play well one week and then poorly the next. We are after consistency and we, as a group, haven’t been able to do that.”
Robert Tarrant was named as Werribee’s best, while North Melbourne rookie Majak Daw was again influential.
Matthew Scott and Ben Sharp also worked hard and Sean Tighe, with two goals, was the only multiple goal-scorer for Werribee.
The Tigers, sixth on the ladder with a 3-3 win-loss record, have the bye this week.
But former Hawthorn player Travis Tuck will be available to face Northern Bullants after the break, with the 23-year-old’s eight-game drug ban now expired.
Whether Tuck will play in Werribee’s senior or reserves side on 21 May is yet to be decided, but Gleeson is keen to see the midfielder in action.
“He’ll be a huge plus. He was someone when we played against Box Hill that we really focused on. Now we’ve got him on our side, it’s a brilliant thing,” Gleeson said.
“It would be great to get him in ASAP I think. The earlier he’s in, the better because of the quality footballer he is and the quality guy that he’s shown himself to be over the past three months.”
Tuck was the first player suspended for registering three strikes under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy last year.
In March, he decided to resume his career with Werribee after missing a spot on Hawthorn’s rookie list.
