The VFL match against Coburg was an absolute must-win for Williamstown.
The Seagulls were desperate to halt their slide after dropping their two previous games by less than a kick and wanted to salute for leader Ben Jolley in his 200th VFL game.
The Seagulls did Jolley proud, producing one of their most complete performances of the season to down the Lions by 78 points at Burbank Oval on Sunday.
Seagulls coach Andy Collins was delighted with his players’ efforts in a key home game.
“I’m really pleased the players showed due respect by their performance to their captain,” Collins said.
Jolley had a day out with 28 possessions and two goals.
The captain’s two goals came when the heat was on in the first term.
“He got the game going in our direction,” Collins said. “He just leads from the front, leads by example, so I’m really pleased for him to have a great day on his 200th.”
Jolley got chaired off by his teammates following the game.
There is no more deserving player to receive the time-honoured tradition.
Over the years, Jolley must have had many local football clubs opening up the cheque book in bids to prise him away from Williamstown.
The Calder Cannons graduate has resisted those approaches to become one of the Seagulls’ greats of the modern era.
Collins praised the veteran’s loyalty to the blue and gold.
“You hear this all the time in local footy, ‘I can get paid more money and train less’,” Collins said. “Well Ben goes, ‘I want to challenge myself by playing against the best I possibly can’. That’s a real difference in philosophies and it just shows the qualities that he’s got as a person.”
Jolley’s day was a celebration a long way from the finish line.
The Seagulls led by six goals at half-time before sealing the win with a four-goals-to-nil third term to march out to an unassailable 64-point lead at the final change.
Collins was surprised by the scoreline blow-out given the visitors’ positive start to the season.
“We were really nervous about the game,” he said.
The Seagulls’ midfield was totally dominant, with Michael Gibbons, Ed Carr, Mitch Banner and Adam Marcon having the ball on a string.
Ruckman Nick Meese imposed himself physically on the game and defensively with a team-high six tackles.
Sam Dunell put on the finishing touches on the game with four goals to continue his fine start to life as a Seagull.
The Seagulls, second on the ladder with a 4-2 record, face Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Saturday in a noon start.
It will be another big milestone day, with vice-captain Cam Lockwood due to play his 100th game and young defender Jack Charleston his 50th.
Lockwood will be facing a race against the clock to ton-up on Saturday after suffering a corked thigh against Coburg on Sunday.
Footscray obliterated North Ballarat by 146 points at the Whitten Oval on Sunday. Lukas Webb, Jackson Macrae and Nathan Hrovat impressed for the Dogs and will be in contention for AFL call-ups.
So, too, will be Jack Redpath and Toby McLean, who snared five goals apiece, and Tom Campbell, who had 52 hit outs.
