Williamstown’s games have not been for the faint of heart in the Victorian Football League this season.
The top-of-the-table Seagulls played out their fourth game decided by two points or less on Saturday, surviving a late scare to beat Geelong in a thriller at Simonds Stadium.
Seagulls coach Andy Collins admitted that his side’s performance “wasn’t convincing” while adding that the experience of playing in pressure-packed games should stand his players in good stead in similar situations later in the season.
“The good thing is we’re getting early wins,” he said. “We’re still learning a little bit about ourselves … to have four close ones, the footy gods have been interesting to us.”
The Seagulls rode their luck in time-on of the last quarter against Geelong.
They held an 18-point lead when Ben Casley goaled eight minutes into the final term.
But the Cats kicked the next three goals to threaten an unlikely come-from-behind win.
Young Seagulls defender Jack Charleston celebrated his 50th VFL game in the tight win.
It is a significant milestone because he’s a homegrown talent out of Spotswood in the WRFL and the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.
“To have 50 games at 21 years of age is a terrific credit to him,” Collins said. “He’s getting better and better in regards to his performances each week. Hopefully, his consistent years are ahead of him, but he definitely fights real hard every week.”
It was other youngsters who stamped their mark on this game.
Andrew Gallucci broke off the leash to be a threat as a small forward, while Ash Di Ciero booted two goals in an impressive debut.
Nick Meese, who is providing a lot of grunt in the middle of the ground, was named the Seagulls’ best player.
“He’s really been shouldering the ruck load,” Collins said. “He’s just a real honest competitor.”
Sam Dunell, with three goals, continued his superb start to the season, while Ed Carr, Ben Jolley and Adam Marcon won a heap of the midfield battles.
Poor kicking for goal was a sticking point for the Seagulls, who turned just 11 of 27 scoring shots into six-pointers.
The wind-swept conditions at the AFL venue were partly to blame.
“It was one of the windiest experiences the boys have had,” Collins said.
“We played on a really difficult day at Port Melbourne and this one was equal to that, if not harder.”
The Seagulls will face Footscray in a blockbuster at the Whitten Oval on Sunday.
Vice-captain Cam Lockwood is set to return for his 100th game for the Seagulls.
Collins speculates that the rivalry that existed between the two sets of players last season, following the break in the Bulldogs-Seagulls alignment, may have died down a bit.
“I think it probably was a rivalry last year, but both squads have been turned over quite a bit this season,” Collins said. “They’re probably nearly 50 per cent a new squad from last year’s premiership team.”
The Bulldogs will go into the derby fresh off a 66-point win over Frankston at the Frankston Oval on Sunday.
Ruckman Ayce Cordy booted four goals for the Bulldogs, while small forward Toby McLean continued his sparkling start to life at the Kennel with a best-on-ground display.
The Dogs have put together three wins in a row.
“They’re probably the in-form team at the moment,” Collins said.
