By ADEM SARICAOGLU
HAVING won its past six games, Williamstown may well be flying in the VFL.
As impressive as their senior team’s form has been, the Seagulls’ development squad has not put one foot wrong since the start of the season.
Williamstown finished its home and away season undefeated after 18 games, finishing well ahead of the pack and earning a week off in the first week of the finals.
Development coach Brett Henderson credited the diversity of the club’s entire playing group for his team’s success this year.
“It’s the group. It’s a good mix of some experienced guys, although they’re not old, they’ve played a little bit of senior footy and obviously the younger guys that have come out of the TAC Cup have been very good, and very coachable,” Henderson said.
When asked of the importance of his team’s relationship with the senior group, Henderson described it as “vital”.
“We’re one club and Germo (senior coach Peter German) has been fantastic for our whole group, and it’s just been very educational for our players and even myself as a coach.
“I think we’ve all benefited from that and it’s great just to be all on the one page.”
Henderson particularly noted the impact of young players who have taken their opportunities with the senior team throughout the year.
“Guys like Nick Sing, Jack Charleston, Shaun Wyatt, Dylan Conway, Jordan Mead, there’s quite a few of them who have gone on and played senior footy and, to me, that’s my first priority.”
With the VFL itself a development and feeder competition for AFL clubs, the development league is designed for young up-and-coming VFL-listed players.
Although less value is placed on winning the development premiership by most VFL clubs, Henderson said his side has now made that, along with the development of their players, the main focus since establishing their dominance over the rest of the competition.
“We’ve come this far now and certainly we want to win a premiership.
“That’s probably why you’re in any competition, to be successful, and they probably just need a bit of reward for their hard work.”
