The Victorian Football League was at its unpredictable best on Saturday, with Williamstown suffering a shock 14.11 (95) to 12.8 (80) loss to Sandringham.
Before the game the third-placed Seagulls had lost only three times. Eleventh-ranked Sandringham had recorded just three wins and a draw, including a 96-point loss to Frankston in round 11.
But all that counted for little.
The Zebras controlled the contest and were leading by 11 points at the long break. Sandringham kicked another four goals to two in the third term to take a match-winning 20-point lead into three-quarter time.
The Seagulls came back with goals to Ayce Cordy, Nick Lower and Willie Wheeler, but eight points would be as close as they got.
Patrick Veszpremi kicked three for the Gulls and Tom Campbell two. Defenders Mark Austin and Cameron Lockwood impressed. Daniel Cross and Ben Jolley won plenty of the ball.
Williamstown football manager Chris Dixon said the Seagulls were done in by a better side on the day.
“We were outworked right across the ground,’’ he said.
“They had quite a few AFL players playing and we knew they were a much better team despite their form this season.’’
Williamstown meets Port Melbourne this Saturday at North Port Oval and is hoping to make amends for a 47-point loss in round eight.
Dean Galea kicked six for Port that day, but the Seagulls were without Jolley, who has been in good touch since returning from a shoulder injury.
