WILLIAMSTOWN kept Swan Districts goalless until early in the last quarter as it comfortably moved through to the second round of the Foxtel Cup, running out 37-point winners at Patersons Stadium on Saturday.
Both sides went without a major in the first quarter, but the Seagulls looked likely to embarrass last year’s WAFL premiers by keeping them without a goal for the match until Tim Geappen kicked their first major five minutes into the final term.
It was immediately followed by another goal, this one to Brett Wolfenden, but it was all too late as Williamstown had the game sewn up and finished 8.7 (55) to 2.6 (18) winners.
Being the VFL affiliate of the Western Bulldogs, Williamstown had a number of players with AFL experience. Nathan Djerrkura (15 possessions and six tackles) and Will Minson (11 disposals and 36 hit-outs) were most dominant, while leading forward Liam Jones kicked two goals.
Clancee Pearce, who is on Fremantle’s rookie list, was most prolific for the Swans with 21 possessions while former Richmond midfielder Tom Roach collected 20 disposals.
Making the Swans’ inadequacy up forward harder to explain, the game was played out in perfect conditions, but it was both sides who struggled in the opening term.
Swan Districts took a one-point lead into the first break, but the quarter was riddled with skill errors highlighted by poor delivery into their respective forward lines.
Williamstown forward Patrick Veszpremi had the best opportunity to kick a major, but his long shot at goal brushed the inside of the post as it dribbled through.
Williamstown’s experience and strength around the ball came to the fore in the second quarter, with a four-goal-to-nil term. Jones broke the deadlock in the opening minutes of the quarter with a set-shot from outside fifty, and it kick-started the Seagulls into action.
Luke Dahlhaus benefited from a quick centre clearance and even quicker hands from magical forward Zephaniah Skinner to run into an easy goal, while a goal to Bulldogs’ veteran-turned-mature rookie Mitch Hahn and another to Andrew Hooper gave Peter German’s side a 23-point lead at the main change.
Despite having former West Coast premiership teammates Ashley Hansen and Adam Hunter roaming through its attack, Swan Districts’ inability to move the ball through the middle of the ground with any rhythm was its major downfall.
It was a trend that continued in the third term. While Williamstown added another two goals and broke out to a 34-point lead at the last change, the Swans kicked another two behinds, taking their total score to six behinds at three-quarter time.
Given the Swans’ impotence in front of goal, the fourth quarter was played out with little intensity and though the Swans finally managed to scrape through two quick goals, the Seagulls’ lead was never threatened.
Two late goals to Williamstown, including one after the siren from Jones, ensured its progress to the quarter-finals of the competition, where it will meet the winner of next week’s clash between West Adelaide and Ainslie.
Callum Twomey
Swan Districts 0.2 0.4 0.6 2.6 (18)
Williamstown 0.1 4.3 6.4 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Swan Districts: Geappen, Wolfenden
Williamstown: Jones, Veszpremi, Dahlhaus 2, Hooper, Hahn
BEST
Swan Districts: Pearce, Roach, Miles, Hams, Davis
Williamstown: Minson, Djerrkura, Schofield, Johnson, Jolley, Veszpremi
INJURIES
Swan Districts: Nil
Williamstown: Ed Barlow (hamstring)