Williamstown have notched up their second win in a row, after an impressive last quarter display helped them overrun the Casey Scorpions by 40-points at the Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday as Brendan Lucas reports.
The Scorpions were coming off the back of a bye, and the first quarter proved that. They were convincingly beaten in every possible area, managing a measly one behind, with the Seagulls’ Mitch Hahn and Jarrad Grant proving lively up forward.
In a game that was played from defence, rebounding was essential to scoring, and Williamstown seemed to do it far better in the first. However, after the first change the Scorpions turned the game around, with a brilliant first possession in the term from Tom Scully leading to a goal that gave the Scorpions the start they needed.
Casey dominated much of the quarter, and were led by the likes of captain James Wall, Tom Scully and Sam Blease. Although, they would have been disappointed heading into the main break, after two late goals to the Seagulls’ Jarrad Grant who kicked his third for the game, and Andrew Hooper gave them a slim 3-point lead at half time.
In what was shaping as a thrilling contest, the Seagulls’ Luke Dahlhaus who has been in stellar form this season, started strong early, with three inside 50’s in the opening three minutes of the third term. However, costly misses and an inability to capitalise wasted the Seagulls’ opportunities.
Nearing the end of the third quarter, the Seagulls finished strongly, following the same trend the quarter before to give them to late goals through Jarrad Grant who kicked his fourth, and Michael Fogarty.
With a comfortable 17-point lead at the last change the momentum was all with the Seagulls. Scorpions coach Brad Gotch told his players at the three quarter time huddle to keep working hard and to stem the Seagulls attacking game style.
“You need to keep running hard, but you’re doing a much better job at the stoppages, you’re also stopping their spread which is promising, but you have to continue to do those things,” he said.
The last term got underway, as the first goal came at the 16-minute mark through the Seagulls’ Ben Jolley, after backchat from Fevola cost the Scorpions a fifty metre penalty. Although, Fevola was quick to reply, slotting his third at the other end.
The Scorpions needed the next goal, but were unable to do so, as the Seagulls’ Ed Barlow put the game beyond reach from the Scorpions.
After the game, Williamstown coach Peter German said he was pleased with his sides’ performance, but was lucky to escape with a win against a strong Casey side.
“Last year when we played them, we got them on a bit of a downer, and I think that this year watching them they have only lost two games by a kick or two. Even though they have injuries up in Melbourne, they have some really talented players like Gawn and Blease, so from our point of view we’ll take that win, that’s for sure,” he said.
When asked about where his side sits in comparison to last year, German commented on the change in personnel as a contributing factor.
“Our backline is completely different, when you throw in the likes of Dahlhaus and Skinner, our team has completely changed, our structures have changed.”
“We are a little bit behind from last year, we won a lot of our games much easier, so we seem to be dropping off a quarter here and there which you saw today, but the beauty is that we can only improve and we need to focus on the things that made us good last year and rectify it.”
Last Modified on 01/06/2011 10:28