By LIAM TWOMEY
WILLIAMSTOWN will play Box Hill in the VFL qualifying final after the Seagulls accounted for the Northern Blues by 30 points on Saturday.
The victory lifts Williamstown into third spot on the ladder and sets up a date with the Hawks this weekend.
The Seagulls enter the game in solid form after leading at every change against the Blues to set up the 17.9 (111) to 11.15 (81) win.
“Our first half, we played to our plans pretty well,” Williamstown coach Peter German said.
“We used the ball pretty well and (Liam) Jones was really active for us forward.
“In the second half, to me it was almost like we were playing for the line. Full credit to the Northern Blues for the way they were able to turn it into a one on one game.
“Maybe after half-time a lot of our guys started to look past the end result. Still, I’m pleased with the way the players fought the game out, we just probably had those lapses for 10 or 15 minutes in the second half.”
Jones was dominant on the Seagulls’ forward line throughout the afternoon and finished the match with six goals.
Around the ground he was well supported by William Wheeler and Jack Charleston who both won a number of key contests to help set up the win.
After finishing the season with a 12-6 win/loss record and having secured a double chance, German is happy with how his side is entering finals.
“Our last couple of games have been against good opponents,” German said.
“Both of them were wanting to win to make finals.
“I still think we just scrounged a bit. We didn’t play how I know we can play. Sometimes that is what you have to do and sometimes that is what finals are. I think the last couple of games we have been challenged and we have stood up.”
Earlier in the day Williamstown’s development side also defeated the Northern Blues to the tune of 27 points and finish the home and away season on top of the ladder.
