By Malaya Rodezno, Williamstown Media
In wintery conditions out at Casey Fields, the Seagulls were determined to beat the Demons for the first time in their history.
Williamstown welcomed back ruck Krystal Russell, midfielder Izzy Khoury, and forward Neve Crowley.
The ball stayed locked in Casey’s forward 50 for most of the first quarter, with Williamstown hemmed in under pressure.
The first score came three minutes into the game, as Casey intercepted a missed kick and put the ball through the goals.
The Seagulls put pressure on Casey, creating easy opportunities for themselves.
An effective turnover allowed Williamstown to move the ball into space, finishing with a textbook set-shot goal from forward Neve Crowley.
Aiming to build on their score, the Seagulls kicked another goal through Sharnie Whiting, who streamed forward, kicking the goal on the run.
Williamstown took the lead at the first break by six points after kicking two goals within the last three minutes of the quarter.
Defender Zoe Day and forward Sharnie Whiting both made their mark in the first, putting their skills to good use.
Day sliced through the defence early in the second term, driving the ball inside the Seagulls’ attacking end.
However, despite constant surge and pressure, the Seagulls let a goal slip, as Casey streamed into two big open sticks.
Despite leading the inside 50s count 16-5 and the clearance count 17-10, Williamstown only managed a one-point lead.
Whiting turned back the clock, kicking two goals for the quarter — the second a sensational snap around the body at the 19-minute mark — and setting up another for forward Teagan Brett.
Williamstown had a 19-point lead entering the third quarter.
Casey responded early in the third and surged forward, trying to convert a goal. Yet, Williamstown’s defensive pressure forbade Casey as they only managed five behinds.
Eventually, the Demons kicked a goal at the fourteenth minute mark through a chaos ball inside the forward 50.
Despite not adding to their score, the Seagulls held a 31-23 lead at the final break.
Forward-Ruck Georgia Howes was finally able to convert a goal for the Gulls, slamming the ball on her boot registering a goal to ultimately stretch the lead over the Demons and kick the last score of the game.
Williamstown managed not to let go of the lead throughout the fourth quarter and take home the win, securing their sixth of the season.
Despite being tagged for most of the game, the midfielder duo of Emily Eaves and Megan Williamson played their role. Eaves collected 17 disposals, 9 tackles and 7 clearances, whilst Williamson picked up 13 disposals, 10 tackles and 4 clearances.
Whiting provided a spark in the forward line, booting three goals and Howes dominated throughout, gathering 29 hit outs, six clearances, and one goal.
The goals were spread out among the team, with four different contributors.
With this win, Williamstown has now claimed its first-ever win over the Casey Demons in the Rebel VFLW.
The Seagulls will focus their attention on Saturday when they take on Essendon back home at DSV Stadium at 10:05 am.
Final Score:
CASEY DEMONS 1.0 | 2.0| 3.5 | 3.5 (23)
WILLIAMSTOWN 2.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 6.4 (40)
Best Players: Eaves, Howes, Whiting, Barker, Thorneycroft, Williamson
Goal Kickers: Whiting (3), Brett, Crowley, Howes
