Williamstown notched up its first Peter Jackson VFL win for 2012 after turning a 23-point three-quarter time deficit into a 14-point win over the Northern Blues at Visy Park on Saturday, as Adem Saricaoglu reports.
In a second half where every goal was kicked to the Legends Stand end of the ground, it was the Seagulls that regained control of the see-sawing match with a six-goal final quarter burst.
Coach Peter German said after the game the blustery conditions were difficult to navigate.
“It was a tricky wind really, it seemed to be going one way then the next minute it was going the other way,” he said.
The pressure was hot early in the game as turnovers proved to be a common source for goals.
Williamstown was able to take advantage of Northern’s wayward kicking and by quarter time had established a 10-point lead.
Ayce Cordy proved potent up forward for the Seagulls and by halftime already had four goals, while at the other end Andrew Collins slotted two for the second term.
Cordy’s tally could have been five, but he missed a shot from 50 after the siren that would have extended the lead to 21.
An early third quarter 50-metre penalty brought Northern’s Aaron Joseph to the goal square for an easy goal, but it was a Collins’ specky in the middle that seemed to spring the Blues, and their fans, into life.
Josh Bootsma soon added another goal before a wayward Williamstown kick-in saw Brock McLean set Nick Duigan up for a goal that put Northern in front, giving them full momentum.
The Blues had full control of the game and on the rare occasions where Williamstown pressed forward, the Blues’ back line, led by Carlton full back Michael Jamison, held their nerve.
Jason Tutt was given a rare chance to goal for the Seagulls late in the term, but his kick sprayed out on the full.
German asked his players to attack the game and take risks in his three-quarter time address, and his players certainly responded, dominating centre-clearances and using run-and-carry that seemed to tire the Blues the longer the match went on.
Western Bulldogs veteran Lindsay Gilbee scored Williamstown’s first goal since the first half, four minutes into the last quarter, before Brett Goodes added another five minutes later to breathe life into the game.
Inspired efforts by Gilbee, Goodes, Andrew Hooper, Stephen Witkowski and ruckman Tom Campbell led to Williamstown’s stunning turnaround, while the Blues simply looked out on their feet.
Witkowski nailed two consecutive goals, the second of which put the Seagulls in front 17 minutes in.
However it was Hooper who got the final say, kicking the game’s last two goals to seal the stirring win.
After the game German said he was impressed with his side’s final quarter effort.
“We had to try and address a few issues at three-quarter time because we were facing an uphill battle, so to be able to turn that around and grind out a win was pleasing.”
German then added it was important particular players were able to lift when the game was on the line.
“I thought Witkowski was terrific, we just love the way he goes about his footy. He’s a real honest player, he has a real appetite for the game and he’s smart.
“I thought Goodesy’s last quarter was pretty productive too.”
Gilbee’s efforts were particularly impressive considering his lack of match fitness.
“(He’s) come up well and I hope he’ll get even better,” German said.
“He hasn’t played for the last six weeks so he’s not 100 per cent at the moment, but to get through the game was the main aim for him.”
Disappointed Northern coach Robert Hyde said his side was “too cute and too fancy” when the game was up for grabs.
“I said at three-quarter time that our effort was great but if we had got that first goal, it would have given us a five-goal buffer and psychologically it puts (Williamstown) on the back foot,” Hyde said.
“We’ve just got to get smarter, especially in the last quarter, get smarter and work harder. It’s as simple as that.”
Williamstown will face Geelong in Torquay in round three, while the Blues have a bye.
Last Modified on 02/04/2012 13:43