THE last time Williamstown and Frankston met in the Victorian Football League, the Seagulls withstood a late charge from the Dolphins.
This time around the Seagulls had to make a late charge of their own.
Horrible kicking for goal – not helped by a typically strong breeze at Burbank Oval – left Williamstown two points down at three-quarter time despite having eight more scoring shots. The Seagulls did in the last quarter as they had threatened to all game, breaking it open with a slew of goals to clinch the win, 14.20 (104) to 10.8 (68).
Frankston was right in the game until that point. It led by eight points at quarter time, 2.1 to Williamstown’s five behinds. Both teams added two goals apiece in the second term, but it was the behind tally that resulted in the scores being level at the long break – Williamstown 2.14 to Frankston’s 4.2.
Dolphins coach Simon Goosey would have smelled an upset after his side matched Williamstown goal for goal in the third term, but the Seagulls finally delivered on three quarters of inaccurate promises with 8.3 to put paid to not only Frankston’s winning hopes but likely finals chances, too.
The Seagulls moved back to third with the victory and will look to secure a double chance with games against Collingwood, Geelong, North Ballarat and Northern Blues to come.
Jake Stringer booted three for the Seagulls, Tom Campbell impressed again and defender Stephen Witkowski played his first senior game since round three.
Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon said they had kept Frankston in the game. “We’d like to have had more control over the contest; our poor kicking meant we weren’t getting the reward for effort,” he said.
“It kept Frankston in the contest, but we knew it’d be tough because they played really well against us in Frankston earlier in the season.
“We weren’t able to build score- board pressure despite playing well around the ground. We knew if we could get a run on and kick a few goals we’d be able to get the momentum and break the game open – that’s eventually what happened.”
Dixon said the playing list was in good health, with Jamie McNamara best on ground in the reserves, but he rated Justin Sherman only a “50-50 chance” to return from a knee injury for the finals.
