The Geelong Cats held off a fast-finishing opponent for the second week in a row in their Peter Jackson VFL clash with Williamstown at Torquay on Easter Sunday.
Geelong would have gladly accepted a seven-point win against last year’s Grand Finalists before the game, but after leading by 45 points at half time, relief was the overriding emotion at the final siren as Peter Shannahan reports.
While conceding the turnaround was largely due to Williamstown’s ball movement, Geelong Coach Matthew Knights pinpointed his side’s inability to stem the tide as a concern.
“To their credit, Williamstown got moving in the third quarter through players like Gilbee, Hooper, Jolley and Goodes.
“We couldn’t curtail their running or ball movement, which put pressure on our defenders,” Knights said post-match.
“We have to learn to slow down opposition ball movement against really good sides or we might get hurt in the future.”
The game was played in difficult conditions and the Seagulls looked to take early advantage of the strong, variable wind favouring the foreshore end of the ground.
Geelong, however, overcame the elements in a dominant opening term, with their midfield and forwards sharing the ball effectively to bring up eight scoring shots (3.5) to Williamstown’s four (0.4).
A clash of heads at the six-minute mark of the first quarter between Cats George Burbury and Jonathan Simpkin epitomised their side’s commitment to the contest and resulted in both players leaving the field temporarily.
Jordan Schroder kicked the first of his three goals and Geelong’s first major at the ten minute mark after a high tackle, before George Horlin-Smith and Jaxson Barham also kicked truly.
The Cats’ onslaught continued immediately after quarter time, with Tom Maas coming off half back at the first bounce and kicking long with the wind into space where Jack Shannahan swooped on the loose ball and kicked a goal under pressure.
Geelong’s Andrew Banjanin was rucking tirelessly and skipper Troy Selwood continually set the example for his young teammates with his fearless attack on the ball but inaccuracy in front of goal was becoming contagious.
Williamstown began to get on top late in the second term only to be twice denied by marks to big Cat Ryan Bathie at full back.
When Geelong kicked their 15th behind just before half time, it seemed irrelevant with a margin of 46 points separating the two sides, but lack of finishing skills can often prove to be fatal.
When Justin Sherman kicked Willy’s third for the term at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter, the scoreboard gap had narrowed to 26 points and Geelong seemed powerless to stop the bleeding.
Williamstown were winning contest after contest thanks to Cameron Lockwood, Mark Austin and Ben Jolley, while Geelong’s Horlin-Smith, Schroder and Jesse Stringer were shut out of the game.
Lockwood’s second major for the quarter, at the 30-minute mark, brought the margin to just five points and the Williamstown support contingent to their feet.
The final term was enthralling and both teams exhibited desperate defensive skills to keep the game alive.
Goals were traded early as Geelong scored through a mark and goal to Walker only to be answered quickly by Jordan Mead for Williamstown.
Cat Matthew Sully marked and goaled at the 10-minute mark and the remainder of the game was played on Geelong’s terms despite a late goal to Williamstown.
Geelong ‘s Josh Walker (2 goals) and Williamstown’s Tom Hill (4 goals) both impressed the Torquay crowd, making a mockery of the adage that tall-forwards are ineffective in windy conditions.
The rookie-listed Walker imposed himself physically in the air and on the ground, being involved in many of the Cat’s forward thrusts.
Hill, Western Bulldog’s number 89 Draft Pick in 2010, has yet to make his AFL debut but impressed the Torquay crowd with a number of powerful contested marks.
Williamstown Coach Peter German was philosophical about the 2012 season after the game.
“I think the competition has evened up I reckon and we’re still a young side. We’re hopefully going to get better each game with experience.
“We’ve just got to hope we can hang in there and hopefully in the second half of the year we’ll be better but we wouldn’t want to come from too far back.”
Williamstown travel to Eureka Stadium to take on North Ballarat in the ABC TV game on Saturday at 1.10pm, while Geelong hosts Frankston at Simonds Stadium at 1pm on Saturday.
Photo: Arj Giese
Last Modified on 11/04/2012 13:40