By Tom Williamson, Williamstown Media
COBURG’S emphatic victory broke a 17-year, 17-match losing streak against the Seagulls, dating all the way back to July 2008.
Coburg opened the scoring before Brodie McLaughlin responded for Williamstown with his first goal of the day. Some sharp ball movement from Noah Gadsby to McLaughlin in the centre helped set up Damon Hollow’s first goal, giving the Seagulls a brief spark.
But from there, it was all Coburg. The Lions piled on three unanswered goals before a late reply from Jovan Petric through some goal line marking gave Williamstown a lifeline just before the first break. However, Coburg led by 15 points at half-time.
Coburg turned the screws in the second quarter, kicking three goals to none and established a commanding 35-point lead by the main break. Dominance around the stoppages (18 clearances to 15) and inside 50s (30 to 21) gave them a stranglehold on the match.
Joel Fitzgerald led disposals for the Seagulls with 14 touches and four marks in the first half, while Jake Greiser chipped in with 13. Jack Brown led the tackle count with 4.
Williamstown showed some promise early in the third term, kicking the first goal through a Tom Downie intercept mark. Unfortunately, it was their only major for the quarter as Coburg continued to control the contest heading into the final term.
The Lions surged to a game-high 78-point lead just nine minutes into the last quarter before the Seagulls finally came to life, kicking six of the last seven goals to add some respectability to the scoreboard.
Defenders Jake Greiser and Joel Fitzgerald battled hard in defence, combining for 52 disposals and 19 rebound 50s, while Gadsby continued to provide energy on the wing.
Fitzgerald finished with a game-high 27 disposals for Williamstown, followed closely by Greiser with 25. Toby Triffett led the tackle count with five, while Luke Parks and Greiser led the marking tally with 13 and 12 respectively.
While it wasn’t Williamstown’s day, the Seagulls will look to bounce back when they face Werribee on Anzac Day at Avalon Airport Oval.
Final Score:
WILLIAMSTOWN 3.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 11.2 (68)
COBURG 5.3 | 8.7 | 14.8 | 18.11 (119)
Best Players: Parks, Greiser, Toner, Ollington, Petric, Triffett
Goal Kickers: Petric (4), Hollow (2), McLaughlin (2), Brown, Noonan
