Tara Murray
The records will show a loss, but Williamstown took plenty out of its Victorian Football League Women’s match with Port Melbourne on Saturday.
After a win and draw in their first two matches, the Seagulls faced last season’s premiers, in a true test of where they are at.
Port Melbourne proved too strong as they kept the Seagulls goal less for the first three quarters, winning 5.2 (32)-1.3 (9).
Seagulls coach Liam Cavanagh said they were the sort of tests that they wanted to have.
“It was a big step up on what we did a week ago,” he said. “Last week in our effort metrics we were down, but this week we were really up.
“We had some really good opportunities. Port Melbourne is a fantastic team and had six AFLW listed players out there.
“We weren’t polished enough at the right times.”
Cavanagh said had they been a bit cleaner in front of goal they could have had more impact on the scoreboard.
Sharnie Whiting was the single goalkicker for the Seagulls.
Cavanagh said the biggest feeling for the group after the match was positivity.
“There were a lot more positives,” he said. “We left the game knowing what the level is and full credit to Port Melbourne.
“We left feeling that we can do that and that sort of performance by us is close and not out of reach.”
Zoe Day was the Seagulls best according to Cavanagh for her role in keeping Federica Frew goalless.
Cavanagh said that Day is the best full back in the competition.
“She’s our best kept secret,” he said.
India Barker and Ash Thorneycroft, who both made the move to the Seagulls in the off season, were the other two standouts and have been solid in all three games.
The loss has the Seagulls with one win, one draw and one loss after the first three rounds,
Cavanagh said they expect that they will build throughout the season.
“We will come home with a wet sail,” he said. “There’s less AFLW players in the back half of the year.
“We got more continuity last year and I think we won our last eight games in a row. If we can bank some wins in the early part of the year it will be good.
“We’re learning quality so it’s a positive.”
The Seagulls’ challenges don’t get any easier, facing the Box Hill Hawks on Saturday. The Hawks are undefeated.
“They have been naming 12 or 13 AFLW players each week and that is reflected in the results,” Cavanagh said.
“How often do you get to play against that many AFLW players? If we get beaten, we’ll get so much out of it and if we play well, we’ll be full of confidence, it’s a win-win.”
