WILLIAMSTOWN was a mere shell of its grand final team from last year with an inexperienced line-up going down to Casey Scorpions by two points in a Victorian Football League season-opener at Casey Fields on Saturday evening.
The Seagulls fielded just seven players from the side that lost to Port Melbourne in last September’s season-decider and handed debuts to a host of youngsters.
Seagulls coach Peter German said it would take time for the side to mesh.
“It’s the youngest side I’ve coached in my time at Williamstown. We had 12 debutants, a lot of young players who were as raw as anything and only seven from last year’s grand final.
“The challenge throughout the year is to develop a younger side.”
It was a real seesawing affair with both sides having purple patches and down periods.
Captain Ben Jolley was best for his hard-nosed approach to the stoppages.
The Seagulls will need to produce over four quarters if they are to beat the Northern Blues at Visy Park on Saturday.
