Tara Murray
Williamstown will have to do it the hard way if it’s to make the Victorian Football League women’s grand final.
The minor premiers fell short in their semi final against North Melbourne on Saturday, with the Kangaroos progressing straight into the final match of the year.
The Seagulls will now try and make the grand final through a preliminary final win.
On Saturday, the Seagulls led by seven points at quarter time.
The second quarter would be the difference in the two sides. The Kangaroos kicked six goals to one to open up a 24 point lead at the main break.
The margin would be too big with the Kangaroos winning, 8.5 (53)-5.5 (35).
Seagulls coach Liam Cavanagh said they were made to pay for a poor period in the second quarter.
“We gave it away in 14 minutes,” he said. “We won every stat in the first, third and fourth quarters and scored heavily.
“Our layers weren’t right in the second quarter and they scored six unanswered goals. They are good on the inside and then getting to the outside, we weren’t able to stop it during that period.
“It rained heavily [in goals].”
Sharnie Whiting kicked three goals.
Ash Thorneycroft and vice-captain Emily Eaves had 16 disposals each.
Cavanagh said it was their leaders that really stood up.
He said Eaves really showed her leadership, Teagan Brett played one of her best games playing up the field more.
White was good up forward while Thorneycroft also had a good game”
Cavanagh said they would take a lot out of the loss.
We have a chance to be better for it,” he said. “The way we came into it was if we were good enough we would go straight in. If we weren’t good enough, we have another game under our belt.
“The good thing is we made the errors we did in a dame where we had a second chance.”
The Seagulls will face the Western Bulldogs for a spot in the grand final on Sunday at ETU Stadium.
The Seagulls beat the Bulldogs in the first week of finals.
“It’ll be a game of chicken and whether anyone will change anything,” he said. “They had the winning formula on Saturday and we won last time.
“We want to get it on our terms and make it contested. If we give them too much space it will hurt us the other way.”
Meanwhile, the Seagulls’ men’s side suffered a second straight loss on Saturday.
The side headed up to Queensland to face the Gold Coast Suns.
There were only three points in the game at half time, before the Suns kicked eight goals to four in the second half to win, 11.18 (84)-8.9 (57).
Brodie McLaughlin was the only multiple goal kicker for the Seagulls with three.
The Seagulls have slipped to ninth on the ladder, but are only a game behind fourth.
