WILLIAMSTOWN tumbled to fourth in the Victorian Football League on Sunday after a top-of-the-table clash with Geelong ended in a 49-point loss.
Geelong, looking every bit the premier with nine straight wins, fielded perhaps its strongest team for the season with the likes of senior regulars Paul Chapman, Billie Smedts, Josh Hunt and Taylor Hunt all playing.
But the Seagulls, who were second heading into the game and looking to secure a double chance, were up to the task early.
Kicking truly at Burbank Oval, Williamstown led by seven points at quarter-time, with goals through Ayce Cordy, Cam Lockwood, Patrick Veszpremi and Stephen McCallum.
When Veszpremi kicked his second goal at the 17-minute mark of the second term, the Seagulls led by nine.
However, the Cats rallied late in the
quarter with four goals to take a 12-point lead into half-time.
Williamstown remained in the contest early in the third quarter to cut the margin to three points, but the Cats’ experienced bodies began to influence the game.
Five goals for the term gave Geelong a 20-point lead at three-quarter time, another eight goals in the last quarter saw the margin blow out. Geelong’s 19.21 suggested it could have been an ugly thumping.
Cordy, Veszpremi and Brent Prismall all got two goals, while Lockwood put in one of his best performances for the year.
Defensively the Seagulls battled hard but with George Horlin-Smith, Shane Kersten, Taylor Hunt, Jackson Thurlow and Jordan Murdoch all booting three, the Cats had too many options.
Williamstown plays North Ballarat away and Northern Blues at home in the final two rounds. Both Ballarat and the Blues are trying to ward off Collingwood and Essendon for a spot in the eight.
Football manager Chris Dixon said
several development league players were knocking down the door for selection after a massive 129-point win over second-placed Box Hill.
