By Lauren Wood, Williamstown Media
Despite breezy conditions, the ground was in top shape for this time of year as the two standalone clubs prepared to battle.
The Seagulls were eyeing a ninth straight win, while the Bullants arrived with renewed confidence after claiming their first victory of the season against Sydney the week prior.
In a late curveball, Williamstown lost Finn O’Dwyer and Tom Downie moments before the first bounce, with young defender Ned Pendergast and returning midfielder James Cousins slotting in.
It was only Pendergast’s second VFL game, while Cousins was featuring in just his fourth of the year following injury.
Skipper Cameron Polson won the toss and chose to kick with the wind, though with goalposts wobbling at both ends, it wasn’t an easy call to make.
The Seagulls started strong, with Nate Colenso laying a big tackle and Lucas Impey winning an early free kick off the back of last week’s best-on-ground effort.
Joel Fitzgerald launched a long bomb into the square that Damon Hollow marked on the line. Hollow went to open Williamstown’s account but the umpire deemed it a behind.
Williamstown attempted goals early but couldn’t convert, with behinds from Gadsby, Gollant, and Colenso pushing the score to 0.4.
The Bullants punished the misses with a goal from a costly turnover and suddenly had their noses in front.
The reply came through Jack Toner, who won a contested mark and nailed a long set shot from 50. From there, the Seagulls found their rhythm.
Brodie McLaughlin nailed a classic McLaughlin set shot, before unselfishly setting up Lucas Impey for his second goal of the season.
At quarter time, the Gulls led by 23 points and dominated the clearances 12 to 5.
Williamstown opened the second term with goals to Heath Ollington and McLaughlin, extending the lead to 41 points in just over half an hour of play.
But with the wind at their backs, the Bullants fought back with five goals to Williamstown’s three for the term, narrowing the margin to just 10 at the main break.
Joel Fitzgerald led with 14 touches at half-time, and the Seagulls were winning the mark count 59–32, a sign of their methodical ball movement compared to the Bullants’ run-and-gun like approach.
With the wind returning to Williamstown’s favour, the third quarter saw the Gulls regain control.
Gollant and Colenso added goals, while McLaughlin celebrated his 50th career major to cap off another classy performance.
The Bullants were held goalless for the term, and the Seagulls looked set to run out comfortable winners with a 34-point lead at the final change.
But the final quarter told a different story.
The Bullants struck within two minutes and quickly followed with two more as the rain set in and Williamstown’s momentum evaporated.
With the Gulls unable to add anything more than two behinds, the Bullants piled on the pressure, using the wind and their vocal crowd to their advantage.
A long-range set shot brought them within 12 points, and belief surged through the red and white.
A 50-metre bomb gave the Bullants the lead for the first time all game with just four minutes to go.
Williamstown had one last inside 50 in the 30th minute, but Polson’s kick into the wind fell short and was marked on the line by the Bullants, all but sealing the result.
They added one more for insurance, and the siren sounded with the Bullants triumphant 85–77 after kicking seven unanswered goals in the final term.
Fitzgerald finished with 24 disposals, 17 kicks, and 7 marks, while Lucas Impey gave another solid effort in the ruck with 46 hitouts.
For the first time since Anzac Day, the Gulls tasted defeat – and it’s one they won’t forget quickly.
The Seagulls will need to regroup quickly ahead of a huge home clash with ladder-leaders Box Hill next Sunday.
Final Score:
NORTHERN BULLANTS: 1.0 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 13.7 (85)
WILLIAMSTOWN:4.5 | 7.7 | 11.9 | 11.11 (89)
Best Players: Colenso, McLaughlin, Fitzgerald, Impey, Collier-Dawkins, Hall-Hahan
Goal Kickers: McLaughlin (3), Ollington (2), Colenso (2), Toner (1), Impey (1), Hollow (1), Gollant (1)
