By Tom Williamson, Williamstown Media
With four changes to the side, Williamstown welcomed back co-captains Finn O’Dwyer and Cameron Polson to reinforce the backline, while Zac Pritchard made a timely return and Lachlan Gollant was handed his club debut.
Gollant wasted no time making an impact, booting the opening goal of the game after relentless forward pressure from Brodie McLaughlin.
The first quarter was a brutal contest with both sides bringing intense heat in the wet conditions – a staggering 53 tackles were recorded.
Werribee took advantage of some costly Williamstown free kicks to lead 4.0 (24) to 1.2 (8) at the first break.
Toby Triffett led all ball-winners with 10 disposals in the opening term, setting the tone for the Seagulls’ response in the second quarter.
Gollant continued his dream debut by slotting his second, quickly followed by McLaughlin, who capitalised on a turnover generated from Williamstowns rebound-50 pressure.
Despite gifting Werribee another goal via a free kick, Williamstown showed fight through a clever goal from Damon Hollow, narrowing the halftime margin to just two points after outscoring the Tigers 3.3 to 1.1 in the quarter.
As the rain rolled in, the game turned into a scrap, but Hollow was once again quick to pounce early in the third, roving beautifully and giving the Seagulls their first lead since the opening minutes.
Gollant made it three from three quarters to extend the advantage to 13 points, before a late Werribee goal cut it back to seven at the final change. Wasteful kicking of 2.5 for the quarter meant the Gulls missed a golden opportunity to apply scoreboard pressure.
Riley Collier-Dawkins led the disposal count with 21 touches at three-quarter time, while Williamstowns defensive pressure continued to keep them in the game.
But Werribee stormed home in the final term, kicking six goals to two and flipping the match on its head with a dominant 28-point burst.
Despite final-term majors from Gollant – who finished with four in a stellar debut – and McLaughlin, the Gulls couldn’t halt Werribees momentum.
In the end, Werribee emerged winners 12.7 (79) to 8.11 (59), leaving Williamstown to rue missed opportunities and costly discipline errors in key moments.
The Gulls now turn their focus to a home clash against Southport as they look to bounce back onto the winners list.
Final Score:
WILLIAMSTOWN 1.2 | 4.5 | 6.10 | 8.11 (59)
WERRIBEE 4.0 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 12.7 (79)
Best Players: Gollant, Downie, Collier-Dawkins, Triffett, Hall-Kahan
Goal Kickers: Gollant (4), McLaughlin (2), Hollow (2)
