Williamstown didn’t reach its lofty heights of recent weeks, but it was effective in bringing down North Ballarat at Eureka Stadium in the Victorian Football League on Saturday.
The Seagulls will get no style points for their 13-point win over the Roosters, but they achieved the desired result to seal a finals double chance at a ground that’s notoriously difficult for away sides.
The past seven visiting sides to Eureka have returned home licking their wounds. But the Seagulls have also made winning on their travels a habit in their 150th anniversary season, doing so in all corners of the country from the MCG to Perth and now the Victorian country.
“It wasn’t our best performance and we’re pretty disappointed with how we played as a whole, but it’s a good sign to be able to grind out a result, especially against a team like North Ballarat,” Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon said.
“For us to go up there and not play at our best, do a lot of things wrong and still come away with the victory is pleasing.”
Not until time-on in the last quarter did the Seagulls feel they had broken the resolve of the home side.
Trailing by 32 at three-quarter-time, the Roosters were kicking with a strong breeze in the final term and used it to mount a late comeback, even after being limited to one rotation on the bench.
Goalless in the last 30 minutes, the Seagulls managed to keep the home side at bay, holding on for a gritty win.
“They certainly came at us in that last quarter,” Dixon said.
“It wasn’t really until the 25-minute mark that we thought we were safe. Our ability to defend into the wind in the last quarter was pretty strong.”
Kane Lambert was at his brilliant best for the Seagulls.
The 22-year-old is recapturing the form that saw him claim the Fothergill-Round Medal last season as the VFL’s most promising young player.
“He was exceptional and has been back to his best in the past month or so,” Dixon said.
“His two Foxtel Cup games were outstanding and he’s been best on ground in our last two VFL games as well.
“He’s one who has been pretty influential and is starting to get back to the form that saw him go close to winning the Liston [for best player in the VFL] last season.”
Brad Mangan and Nick Song were outstanding defensively for the Seagulls. Ryan Ferguson was the lone multiple goalkicker with two.
Otherwise, Williamstown was light on for individual highlights.
“If you look across our side, there were a lot of players down on their usual output, both offensively and defensively,” Dixon said. “We didn’t feel as though we had too many winners.”
The Seagulls have a difficult trip to Sandringham in the last home-and-away round this Saturday.
In other games, Footscray came from behind at half time to record a hard-fought 27-point win over the Casey Scorpions in Craigieburn on Sunday.
The Bulldogs were superbly led by Lin Jong, who bobbed up with two goals from the midfield, Nick Lower and Jase Perkins. Jack Redpath was the focal point with three goals.
The Dogs take on Richmond at Punt Road Oval from 1pm on Sunday.
