It might be early March and the middle of the VFL practice match circuit, but old foes the Werribee Tigers and the Williamstown Seagulls refused to take backward steps on a searing Saturday at Arden Street.
Tempers flared and spot fires broke out during the third quarter of a physical western derby that had the lot, minus premiership points.
When the dust settled, the Tigers had run out convincing 24-point winners for their second win in a row in the pre-season.
The Seagulls are still a little rough around the edges.
Having broken away from their alignment with the Western Bulldogs at the end of last season, they remain a work in progress under new coach Andy Collins.
Collins has the unenviable task of integrating 34 new players into the squad but is adamant the side can be fast-tracked for immediate results when the home-and-away rounds arrive.
“Most Williamstown supporters from last year wouldn’t recognise this team because we’re more than 50 per cent new in our senior line-up,” he said.
“It is going to take time, but no excuses – we’ve got three weeks and they better get there by round one.”
In the Arden Street encounter, the Seagulls used 27 players, which might have led to a disjointed performance.
They didn’t have the same flow of the Tigers, particularly in the first half, but picked it up after half-time.
“Our second quarter wasn’t up to our standard,” Collins said.
“We were turning the ball over unnecessarily; their physicality took a step up and we didn’t match it.”
With spots up for grabs for round one, it was a chance for players to step up in a match that had the intensity of a regular season game.
Onballers Leigh Masters and Cam Lockwood were superb at the coal face.
Small defenders Stephen McCallum and Jack Charleston negotiated a lot of the Tigers’ forward entries.
Jake Owen, the Calder Cannons’ best and fairest, put his name up for round one consideration.
Mitch Banner, once on the Port Adelaide list, had a team-high 18 disposals to go with six marks and three tackles.
Collins was happy to get another match under the belt for players who are learning to come together and play to his structures.
“It was a really good hit-out for both teams,” he said.
