Williamstown builds on failures
http://www.leadernews.com.au/article/2008/04/29/34169_vfl_story.html
GREATER versatility and experience in the Williamstown line-up has skipper Brett Johnson optimistic about the Seagulls being a bigger threat to the VFL premiership in 2008.
After losing their preliminary finals in 2006 and 2007, the Seagulls are determined to make amends this season.
And, despite its round 4 loss to defending premier Geelong, the Seagulls look well poised to at least go one step further and progress to the last week.
"The last couple of years we've just scraped into the top four and bowed out in the preliminary finals," Johnson said. "Especially last year (when the side went down to Coburg by 61-points), to get beaten the way we did was pretty disappointing."
The Seagulls added former AFL players in Ben Jolley, Jason Cloke, Matthew Little and Callum Urch to its list over the off-season. Their experience was much-needed according to Johnson, to support the leadership group headed by himself and vice-captain Steven Greene.
"We did lack a little bit of experience last year," he said.
With Jolley taking some of the load off his own shoulders in the mid-field, Cloke the general down back and Little and Urch in attack, Johnson said, "I think we've got good leadership on each line now."
While the star recruits have been grabbing most of the headlines this season, Johnson has been happy with the continued improvement of home-grown Seagulls.
He singled out David Stretton, who has been a star at reserves level in recent seasons, as a player who has grabbed his opportunity in the seniors this year on the wing, while ruckman/key defender Scott Meyer, and dangerous mid-fielder/forwards Patrick Rose and Liam Picken have all taken their games to another level.
"It's been a work in progress over the last couple of years," he said.
"Hopefully this year it all comes together."
Johnson also highlighted the versatility the side now possesses in its line-up.
"... the guys are a lot more versatile this year guys can play forward or back. We're able to mix things up a bit."
The forward line, in particular, Johnson said was potent and full of options.
Along with Urch and Little, the Seagulls have a fit and firing Dean Galea back from a stint in South Australia, Jarrad Grant and Wayde Skipper from the Western Bulldogs and lively small forwards Picken and Rose.
"We've got some blokes who can take some catches down there," he said.
"We've got a lot of guys who can rotate though there.
Johnson said the new alignment with the Western Bulldogs was also progressing well and would work in the Seagulls' favour.
"The alignment has been fantastic," he said. "All the Bulldogs players who have come down have been playing with great spirit.
"It's great (coach Brad Gotch) Gotchy is development coach at the Bulldogs and coaching Willy 'cause you get the same message all the time.
"I think last year Gotchy didn't have much control over the younger guys at Collingwood 'cause they had their own development coaches.
"You were kind of getting mixed messages at stages.
"Blokes are (now) earning their spots on merit."
GREATER versatility and experience in the Williamstown line-up has skipper Brett Johnson optimistic about the Seagulls being a bigger threat to the VFL premiership in 2008.
After losing their preliminary finals in 2006 and 2007, the Seagulls are determined to make amends this season.
And, despite its round 4 loss to defending premier Geelong, the Seagulls look well poised to at least go one step further and progress to the last week.
"The last couple of years we've just scraped into the top four and bowed out in the preliminary finals," Johnson said. "Especially last year (when the side went down to Coburg by 61-points), to get beaten the way we did was pretty disappointing."
The Seagulls added former AFL players in Ben Jolley, Jason Cloke, Matthew Little and Callum Urch to its list over the off-season. Their experience was much-needed according to Johnson, to support the leadership group headed by himself and vice-captain Steven Greene.
"We did lack a little bit of experience last year," he said.
With Jolley taking some of the load off his own shoulders in the mid-field, Cloke the general down back and Little and Urch in attack, Johnson said, "I think we've got good leadership on each line now."
While the star recruits have been grabbing most of the headlines this season, Johnson has been happy with the continued improvement of home-grown Seagulls.
He singled out David Stretton, who has been a star at reserves level in recent seasons, as a player who has grabbed his opportunity in the seniors this year on the wing, while ruckman/key defender Scott Meyer, and dangerous mid-fielder/forwards Patrick Rose and Liam Picken have all taken their games to another level.
"It's been a work in progress over the last couple of years," he said.
"Hopefully this year it all comes together."
Johnson also highlighted the versatility the side now possesses in its line-up.
"... the guys are a lot more versatile this year guys can play forward or back. We're able to mix things up a bit."
The forward line, in particular, Johnson said was potent and full of options.
Along with Urch and Little, the Seagulls have a fit and firing Dean Galea back from a stint in South Australia, Jarrad Grant and Wayde Skipper from the Western Bulldogs and lively small forwards Picken and Rose.
"We've got some blokes who can take some catches down there," he said.
"We've got a lot of guys who can rotate though there.
Johnson said the new alignment with the Western Bulldogs was also progressing well and would work in the Seagulls' favour.
"The alignment has been fantastic," he said. "All the Bulldogs players who have come down have been playing with great spirit.
"It's great (coach Brad Gotch) Gotchy is development coach at the Bulldogs and coaching Willy 'cause you get the same message all the time.
"I think last year Gotchy didn't have much control over the younger guys at Collingwood 'cause they had their own development coaches.
"You were kind of getting mixed messages at stages.
"Blokes are (now) earning their spots on merit."