By Malaya Rodezno, Williamstown Media
Saturday afternoon football produced a tense contest between Williamstown and Carlton in breezy conditions at IKON Park.
Deputy vice-captain Ellie McLinden pulled on the blue and gold for the first time since her ACL reconstruction, marking a significant milestone in her return to VFLW football.
Emily Eaves, Camryn Bux and Maighan Fogas also returned to the lineup.
Carlton started strongly, with the first clearance of the match. However, it was the Seagulls who struck first, with Mia Zielinski snapping a set shot from the boundary, only for the effort to register a minor score.
Moments later, the Blues go end to end, kicking the first goal of the game, three minutes into the match.
Again, the Blues apply relentless pressure. Applying heat on the ball, Williamstown turn the ball over right in front of the goal, giving Carlton an easy goal just meters out.
Applying their own pressure back, Williamtown hunted the ball, locking it in their forward 50.
Mia Zielinski was rewarded with a free kick after being held without the ball. Zielinski converted her set shot goal to cut Carlton’s lead to only 9 points at the first break.
The Seagulls opened the quarter with real intent, locking the ball inside their forward 50. After finding a strong marking target, Lilu Hung placed the ball perfectly for Emily Eaves, who calmly converted her first goal of the game from the set shot.
The Seagulls’ defenders held up well throughout the quarter, leaving Carlton scoreless in the second quarter.
Looking to play fast, the Seagulls took full advantage, with Lilu Hung slotting Williamstown’s third goal from a set shot, after Neve Crowley hit her on the lead.
Hung’s goal put the Seagulls up by 7 points at halftime.
The second term was dominated by intercepts and relentless pressure, leading to repeated stoppages from players across the ground.
Carlton was the first to score, kicking a goal two minutes into the quarter. Levelling the contest, the Blues kicked another goal, to take the lead by five points.
Trying to exit the Blues’ forward 50, the Seagulls kicked dangerously, before Carlton picked it off, to kick their third goal of the quarter.
Williamstown’s output dipped significantly in the second term, managing only one point while Carlton seized control. The shift in momentum saw Carlton leading by 11 points at the final break.
Entering the fourth, the Seagulls tried to pull back momentum, pushing the ball into their forward 50, but the Blues’ pressure set them up for another goal, leading by 17 points.
Despite the setback, Williamstown maintained its intensity. However, their efforts demanded a scoreboard return that never quite came.
The Seagulls never stopped trying, as Gaby De Angelis converted a late goal to squash the lead to just 10 points.
Williamstown ultimately won the inside 50 count; however, they were unable to convert on the scoreboard, kicking more points than goals.
Doing it all for Williamstown was ruck Georgia Howes. She collected 21 disposals, 7 marks, 18 hit outs and 5 clearances.
Returning midfielder Emily Eaves once again proved her dominance. Eaves gathered 16 disposals, a team high 10 tackles and 3 score involvements.
Lilu Hung also provided a spark, despite the loss. Hung finished with 15 disposals, 8 marks and 8 tackles.
The Seagulls were unable to hold off a rampaging Carlton and ultimately received their second loss of the season.
Williamstown will now turn its attention to Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday morning, aiming to get back on the winners’ list.
Full Time Score
Williamstown: 4.8 (32)
Tasmania: 6.6 (42)
Goal Kickers: Zielinski, Hung, Eaves, De Angelis
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