A reinvigorated Josh Hill played one of his best games for Williamstown on Saturday. 64833 Picture: SARAH MATRAY
BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WILLIAMSTOWN rebounded from the previous week’s gruelling five-point loss to Port Melbourne in mighty fashion, thrashing Box Hill by 101 points in a merciless performance on Saturday.
It was even more impressive considering Williamstown had eight changes to its line-up from the Port Melbourne game.
Coach Peter German said having such drastic list changes from week to week was nothing new, but he was pleased the significant contribution of several fringe players added to the weekend’s side.
Williamstown had seven players who had played no more than two games for the senior side and collectively had played seven senior games.
“It was probably one of the first chances we got this year to be able to introduce some players. Our backline was very light on games played, so from that point of view it was pleasing,” he said.
Matthew Cravino, in just his second game for the senior side, was among Williamstown’s best.
“He plays well week in week out in the seconds. He’s got a few limitations about him but in saying that he’s also got some good strengths so if he can bring them to the table on match day he can be a valuable contributor for us,” German said.
He said Williamstown’s depth meant that regardless of how many Bulldogs players were available during finals, his side had the personnel to challenge any team.
Williamstown finished the game more than 100 possessions ahead of Box Hill, with Dyan Addison (26 possessions), Sam Reid (26), Brett Johnson (25) Mitch Hahn (25), and David Stretton (24) among the major ball winners.
Box Hill’s Brad Neil kicked the game’s first goal just 34 seconds after the first bounce, but the Hawks’ second didn’t come until the 18-minute mark of the second quarter.
In between Williamstown piled on 11 goals to effectively kill the contest by the main break.
If Box Hill decided to play for pride in the second half, it didn’t show, as the Williamstown juggernaut rolled on against the flimsy resistance of the Hawks, ensuring that if the Seagulls and North Ballarat finish the season on equal points, Williamstown will have the better percentage to secure second spot.
Mitch Hahn booted Williamstown’s first goal after six minutes of tense, cautious football from both sides, but after a pin-point pass from Lindsay Gilbee to Ed Carr and another goal to Hahn, who was a constant presence in the forward line, the Seagulls opened the floodgates and tore through the Hawks with direct, clinical and hard-running football.
The lack of physical pressure from Box Hill gave Williamstown licence to do as it pleased and defender Matthew Grossman took full advantage of this with one of the goals of the season.
Grossman glided past two opponents from half-back, had a one-two with Bret Johnson and then with Ben Jolley, and slotted the ball home from 50m.
Unchecked players were lining up to kick goals and Williamstown had amassed an 11-goal lead at half-time. The second half did not produce much more of a contest, with the dispirited Hawks going through the motions and the relentless Seagulls moving the ball as if performing a training drill.
“We were able to maintain our intensity the whole four quarters,” German said.
That’s something that in many ways has been lacking all year. We’ve played some good games but I’m not sure whether we’ve played with that type of intensity and work rate for the entire four quarters.”
