No charge at all from the AFL, so Hudson will be right next week.

Just a quick question, does anyone think Boumann could get into the team before September?

Seagulls jumped by hungry Tigers

Williamstown hosted the sixth placed Coburg Tigers in Round 15 of VFL football on Sunday. Williamstown made 4 changes to the side that defeated Sandringham last week – Josh Hill and Cameron Wight returned to the Seagulls from the Western Bulldogs and Easton Wood and Jarrad Boumann were promoted from the reserves. Boumann, a young draftee from the Dandenong Stingrays, made his senior debut after strong performances at reserves level over the last month. Out of the side went Adam Cook (suspended), Steven Greene (injured) and Paul O’Shea and Henry White were omitted.

The Coburg Tigers were strengthened through the inclusion of Richmond listed players Greg Tivendale, Cam Howat, and Daniel Connors whilst Coburg goal sneak Joe Gazzo was also included.

FIRST QUARTER

In blustery conditions Williamstown won the toss and kicked to the favoured end but it was Coburg who had the early initiative through Cam Howat, Chris Hyde and Daniel Jackson. Kayne Pettifer who marked strongly early then seriously injured his knee and was stretchered from the ground in the opening 10 minutes. Coburg ruckmen Graham and Cartledge both goalled in the first quarter as did Hyde to put pressure on the Seagulls. After a slow start Williamstown steadied and forwards Boumann, Galea and Little all kicked majors as did captain Brett Johnson. On baller Sam Reid injured a shoulder late in the quarter and was assisted from the ground and Stretton, Beaumont, Jolley and Johnson were key contributors in establishing the slender lead of 3 points.

WILLIAMSTOWN 4.3. (27) COBURG 3.6. (24)

SECOND QUARTER

Coburg now had an opportunity to use the wind but it was Willliamstown who controlled the bulk of play during the second quarter. Onballers Josh Hill, Shaun Higgins, Callan Ward, Liam Picken, Brett Johnson and Ben Jolley controlled the tempo of the game and clogged up the Coburg team. Up forward Patrick Rose and Jason Cloke were instrumental in causing match up problems for the Coburg defence. It wasn’t till the 25 minute mark of the quarter when Joe Gazzo snapped a goal from the goalsquare and a minute later Dean Putt goaled from a free kick to give Coburg the lead. Willi responded with captain Brett Johnson goaled on the run to re establish the lead for the Seagulls at the long break.

WILLIAMSTOWN 6.6 (42) COBURG 5.8 (38)

THIRD QUARTER

Williamstown received another blow when young gun Callan Ward was unable to resume in the second half through injury. It was going to be a critical stage in the game and when Williamstown surged with goals to Cloke, Rose and O’Keefe to establish a 4 goal lead it seemed that a match winning lead was being established. But the Coburg Tigers were not to be denied and they responded through goals to Tivendale and captain Paul Shelton to reduce the lead. Guy O’Keefe and Liam Picken were busy players as coach Brad Gotch had to switch players around to cover injuries. When Tivendale marked and then received a 50 metre penalty to goal just before three quarter time it was clear that Coburg were committed to causing a big upset.

WILLIAMSTOWN 10.11 (71) COBURG 9.11 (65)

FINAL QUARTER

Whichever side could win the centre breaks was going to be crucial in deciding the winner and it was Coburg who kicked 2 goals in the opening minutes to grab the lead. The experienced players like Tivendale, Jackson, Hyde, Coughlan and Howat were very influential around the ball and when Carnell, Collins and Putt goaled the Coburg side were on a roll. Williamstown still kept plugging away and Cloke and Rose goalled to reduce the lead to 2 goals at the 27 minute mark. A poor kicking clanger which would have set up a certain goal to reduce the margin to 6 points was then swept down the ground and finished in the hands of ruckman Tristan Cartledge who kicked truly to stretch the winning margin to 18 points.

WILLIAMSTOWN 13.14 (92) COBURG 16.14 (110)

GOALKICKERS : Rose 3, Johnson 2, O’Keefe 2, Cloke 2, Little 1, Galea 1, Lockwood 1, Boumann 1

BEST PLAYERS : Johnson, Higgins, Street, Jolley, Rose , Hill.

Williamstown do not play next week as it is the second half of the split round. With Port Melbourne expected to defeat Frankston next Saturday Williamstown will drop to third position on the ladder on percentage behind North Ballarat and Port Melbourne.

RESERVES WRAP

Williamstown and Coburg clashed in the curtain raiser to decide top spot – both sides were undefeated and had dominated the competition and this clash was much anticipated.

In a stunning first quarter Coburg kicked 8 straight goals to clearly establish their superiority as they looked the quicker, stronger and more skillful side. Williamstown was able to battle away and also had their moments but all credit to Coburg who recorded a convincing 51 point victory.

WILLIAMSTOWN: 2.0.12 ~ 5.6.36 ~ 6.8.44 ~ 11.11.77

COBURG: 8.0.48 ~ 11.2.68 ~ 15.11.101 ~ 19.14.128

GOALKICKERS : Urch 3, Lyons 2, Boyd 2, O’Shea 2, Shaw 1, Smith 1

BEST PLAYERS : Boyd, Barling, Urch, Shaw, Tanner, Langlands.

In Round 16 Williamstown travel to Hobart to play Tasmania on Saturday 2nd August and our reserves have a bye in this round. Williamstown’s next home game is on Saturday 16th August when we take on Bendigo.