James Wall proved vital in the ruck for Williamstown on Saturday. 83813_05 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
SATURDAY’S thrilling four-point win over Geelong at Simonds Stadium was by far Williamstown’s most impressive so far this season.
The Cats had won nine straight games and looked poised to secure top spot on the ladder heading into September, while the Seagulls had won five straight, all in the muddy and slippery conditions of its beloved Burbank Oval.
Having played their previous six games at home, the young Seagulls travelled up the highway and beat the Cats at their own game in what would best be described as a low-scoring shootout in perfect conditions.
Missing regular contributors Liam Jones and Tom Campbell due to AFL commitments, Williamstown managed to overcome a fast-finishing Cats outfit that included AFL premiership players David Wojcinski and Shannon Byrnes.
The Seagulls led by one point at quarter time, however ill-discipline would soon cost them their lead with two Geelong goals scored as a result of free kicks and 50-metre penalties.
A free kick was given to Geelong captain Troy Selwood directly after the Cats slotted a goal in the forward pocket, giving them a sudden 11-point lead halfway through the second term.
The Seagulls were quick to respond however and by half-time managed to cut the deficit down to two points thanks to goals from Dylan Conway and Nick Georgiadis.
Georgiadis kicked his second major two minutes into the third quarter as he began to show why coach Peter German has rated him so highly since breaking into the side late this season.
Kwame McHarg then set up Justin Sherman to establish a 15-point lead for the Seagulls, but two goals from Geelong’s Jesse Stringer brought the game back within a kick.
With Geelong dominating possession for most of the third quarter Williamstown relied on the counter-attack to penetrate into the wind.
By three-quarter time the Seagulls found themselves 10 points ahead with the wind advantage for the final term, but the Cats were determined not to leave their small but loyal home crowd disappointed.
It took just 30 seconds into the final term for Jonathon Simpkin to again bring the game back within four points.
Both sides then traded blows on the scoreboard but Williamtown managed to keep itself in front for the entire quarter, surviving late missed opportunities for the Cats to hold on for a memorable win.
German said the win was made even more impressive by the fact last-minute changes were needed to replace Jones and Campbell, among others.
“We had to pull three or four players from our development training session, so to win with all those things against us was pretty good,” German said.
German also praised the efforts of James Wall, who was forced to ruck the entire game.
“Giving away size and bulk and to be able to still get his hand on the ball and to be able to be effective in the ruck I thought was an outstanding effort,” German said of Wall.
The Seagulls now play Bendigo in this Saturday’s elimination final at North Port Oval.
Geelong: 11.7 (73) lost to Williamstown: 11.11 (77)
Goals: Geelong: Stringer 3, Brown 2, Simpkin 2, Burbury 2. Williamstown: Sherman 3, Georgiadis 2, Moles 2. Best: Geelong: Eardley, Byrnes, Stringer. Williamstown: Sing, Moles, Sherman.
