Williamstown has taken a liking to the unique conditions at Box Hill City Oval.
The Seagulls used their win over Box Hill Hawks in the final round last season as a launching pad to premiership glory.
And they hope Saturday’s hard-fought 10-point win over the Hawks can be a another springboard to a top-four finish in what is becoming an increasingly tight race at the top of the VFL ladder.
The Seagulls are one of four teams in positions one to four on 36 points jostling for double chance positions.
“There’s definitely a logjam up there,” Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon told Star Weekly.
“There are games every week that are critical in the context of the season.
“It’s absolutely critical you just keep banking wins and that’s what we’re all about. We’re not looking too far ahead; we’re just trying to get the four points each week.
“You can’t afford to drop your guard at all given the evenness of the competition.”
The ground conditions at Box Hill made for a two-paced game, which suited Williamstown down to a tee.
The middle of the ground was gooey, which suited the hard in-and-under types.
Outside the centre square, it was a truer playing surface, which put a premium on winning the centre clearances to give your runners first use of the ball.
“It was like two games at times,” Dixon said. “The ball was sticking in the mud in the centre, but around the ground it was a pretty quick game.”
The centre square bog was tailor-made for Seagulls ruckman Nick Meese, who played a significant role in the victory.
He relished conditions so much that he required a fresh jumper at half-time because the Seagulls colours were unrecognisable.
The experienced big man finished with 51 hit-outs, 18 possessions and five tackles.
“His ruck work went a long way to us getting that centre clearance dominance we needed,” Dixon said.
“The slow traffic in the middle of the ground is always going to favour him and he was just a monster in there. He dictated the game for us.”
If there was a player who thrived in both mud and on the pristine wings, it was Willie Wheeler. The Seagulls onballer was the standout player from both sides with 35 possessions, 11 clearances and a goal.
“He was clearly the best player on the ground and it went a long way to us winning the game,” Dixon said.
Jake Owen turned back the clock with three goals for the Seagulls.
Owen was once talked about as having AFL rookie list potential, but an elbow injury has clouded that view over the past 12 months.
It was a game in which Owen re-captured something resembling his form of two years ago.
“We’ve sort of been waiting for him to get back to that 2014 form when he burst onto the scene,” Dixon said.
“He had that elbow injury last year which restricted him, but it’s great to see him back playing good senior footy. He’s such a difficult match-up because of his mobility and height.”
The other shining light for the Seagulls was Caleb Hislop. The Tasmanian was scintillating in only his second game at the level with 28 possessions and 11 clearances.
“He’s an exciting prospect,” Dixon said. “Hopefully it highlights our depth and shows what we’re trying to build at development level, having guys ready when they step up.”
Williamstown will face an improving Coburg in a danger game at Burbank Oval on Sunday.
