By Ben Carbonaro
The Werribee Tigers were unable to continue their winning streak, going down to Williamstown by 59-points at Chirnside Park on Sunday.
Werribee had got their season back on track with consecutive wins against Collingwood and Box Hill, but they struggled to contain a Williamstown outfit that are firming as premiership favourites.
Just a goal separated the Tigers and Seagulls at quarter time, with the home side working hard all over the ground but they still trailed by two at half-time.
It was a different story during the second half, with the Seagulls playing a better brand of football and dominating with scoreboard pressure as well as superior skills.
Tigers coach Simon Atkins was happy with his team’s endeavour, but was disappointed that good work from the previous two games had come undone.
“Just the disappointment of what we’ve been able to do as a group over the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“There was just far too much difference between what we’ve done and back down to that level.”
Turnovers and sloppy skills have been evident in each of the Tiger’s losses, 7 Atkins highlighted it as a major factor in the loss.
“We just overused the football and didn’t make right decisions, we got into a shoot-out in the third quarter, I don’t like kicking in shoot outs.”
Nathan Thompson backed up his good form from the Box Hill game as he booted eight goals in a best on ground performance.
North Melbourne-listed Levi Greenwood (26 disposals, 7 clearances, 3 tackles) and Leigh Adams (25 disposals, 1 clearance, 1 tackle) both put their hands for AFL selection.
Flinn Chisholm (8 tackles) and Tigers skipper Dominic Gleeson (6 tackles, 3 blocks, 4 spoils) were relentless with their pressure around the packs, but it could get their team a win.
With Todd Goldstein promoted to North Melbourne side to play in Sydney, Liam Gardiner and Andrew Banjanin shared the ruck duties.
Both acquitted themselves well with 16 and 17 hit-outs respectively, but their performances were over shadowed by the performance of Western Bulldogs-listed ruckman Wayde Skipper.
Best for the Seagulls was Skipper with a 26 disposal, 24 hit-out and four goal performance.
Matt Little and Skipper were both equal top goal scorers for the Seagulls, with Bulldogs-listed Tim Callan chipping in with three goals of his own.
The Werribee Reserves disappointing season continued, going down by 31-points 14.21.105 to 11.8.74
Another poor start hindered the Tigers, but there was hope at half and three quarter-time but another last quarter fade out cost them dearly.
Paul Kennelly (38 disposals) was best on ground for his impressive midfield performance, while Travis Lunardi (29 disposals) also impressed.
North-Melbourne listed forward Nathan O’Keefe, Ryan Normington and former Geelong rookie Chris Kangars were the only players to kick multiple goals.
Next for the Tigers is a clash against Port Melbourne at Chirnside Park on Saturday, with action getting underway at 2pm.
Werribee Tigers
Goal Kickers: N. Thompson 8, M. Barlow 2, T. Bongetti, L. Greenwood, L. Adams, D. Gleeson
Best Players: N. Thompson, L. Adams, L. Greenwood, A. Obst, F. Chisholm, M. Barlow
Williamstown
Goal Kickers: W. Skipper 4, M. Little 4, D. Joyce 3, P. Rose 3, G. O’Keefe 2, J. Grant 2, B. Stack 2, B. Jolley, J. Cloke, M. Lynch, A. Everitt
Best Players: W. Skipper, B. Johnson, D. Addison, J. Grant, J. Cloke, D. Joyce
Last Modified on 08/07/2009 11:36