Williamstown began its VFL premiership defence with a runaway 45-point win over Richmond at Burbank Oval on Sunday.
The Seagulls went into the main break staring at a three-point deficit, but re-emerged to run rampant in the second half, piling on 10 goals to three for their first win of the season.
“As the game went on, we were able to dictate terms a bit more and it was really pleasing to run over the top of them,” Seagulls’ football manager Chris Dixon told Star Weekly.
With one of the deepest lists in the competition last season, some of the Seagulls were presented with an extra workload. In the midfield, Willie Wheeler and Michael Gibbons were happy to oblige.
Wheeler started the season like a house on fire, with 25 touches and two goals, while Gibbons worked hard both ways, with 23 possessions and seven tackles.
With Richmond boasting star ruckman Ivan Maric, the Gulls’ Nick Meese and Ayce Cordy had a huge responsibility. The pair broke even – a win under the circumstances.
And there seems to be no stopping Seagulls goalsneak Anthony Anastasio. The livewire lit up Morris Street with four goals, one in each quarter.
“He was best-on,” Dixon said.
The Seagulls meet Box Hill Hawks at home on Sunday on a day when they will unfurl their senior and development league premiership flags from last season.
“We’ve got both teams playing next week, so we saved it for that,” Dixon said.
Meanwhile, Footscray had a comfortable 49-point win over the Northern Blues at the Whitten Oval on Sunday. Footscray faces Richmond in the second round at Punt Road Oval on Saturday at noon.
