AT the 13-minute mark of the third quarter at Williamstown in the Victorian Football League on Saturday, Coburg trailed by just six points.
When the final siren sounded, the Seagulls had won by 100 points.
An incredible 10-goal burst in the third term saw Williamstown open up a 62-point lead by three-quarter time, then the Seagulls followed that up with another eight goals in the last quarter.
Bulldogs-listed Jake Stringer, recruited from the Bendigo Pioneers after playing three games with Williamstown last season, tore the game apart with four goals in five minutes. He kicked five for the game and was ably supported by Charlie Nastasi with four and fellow Bulldog Patrick Veszpremi.
The first half couldn’t have been more different. Just nine goals were kicked by both teams, with Williamstown leading by 14 points at quarter-time and extending the lead to 17 at the main break.
The Tigers brought themselves into the contest with a few early goals in the third quarter before the Seagulls broke the game open.
Coach Peter German said the playing group had flicked a switch. “They got within a goal and all of a sudden the players realised the desperation of it all and we started using the ball more effectively.
“Stringer’s goals were a pivotal moment and they really capped off some good defence work and around the stoppages and in the midfield.
“The players realised the situation and it was great we were able to bring it together in the second half.”
The Seagulls host traditional cross-town rivals Werribee this Sunday at Burbank Oval and German says the anticipation has already begun.
“Westy [Werribee coach Scott West] has already texted me,” he laughed. “We’re very good friends, with a lot of respect for each other, but having said that there is a fair bit of rivalry between the supporters and the clubs.
“It’s early in the year, but it’s probably going to be one of the games of the year.”
Williamstown 24.13 (157) d Coburg 8.9 (57).
Williamstown – goals: J. Stringer 5, C. Nastasi 4,
P. Veszpremi 3, J. MacRae, E. Carr 2, D. Pearce,
C. Lockwood, L. Williams, B. Prismall, J. Sherman, C. Wood, J. Tutt, J. Grant. Best: B. Jolley,
C. Lockwood, J. MacRae, E. Carr, J. Stringer,
M. Austin.
