Just walking the dog

by AJ BRADY

IN round three action in the Victorian Football League for season 2008, the 3SER 97.7FM Casey Radio team saw Williamstown enjoy a stirring second-half fightback to overpower a gallant Port Melbourne by 37 points at Burbank Oval, Williamstown, on Saturday.

In a day billed as "Dog Day Afternoon" by the locals, a promotion where people were encouraged to bring their dog along to the game, the notoriously windy and freezing cold conditions usually on offer at this bayside venue were, mercifully, not a factor.

The sun was shining and the air was warm, with only a reasonably slight south-easterly breeze favoring the city end of the ground.

A solid crowd of around 2,000 were in attendance to watch the home side in action. The Western Bulldogs-aligned Seagulls had started the season in excellent fashion, posting two big victories over Werribee and Collingwood in the first two rounds, vindicating their energetic pre-season recruiting drive.

Coming in, the stand-alone Port Melbourne had also been in great form, enjoying a stirring last-gasp one-point victory the previous weekend against competition heavyweight Sandringham.

The day started well for Williamstown, with prodigal son Saade Ghazi having returned from Port Melbourne to take the helm of the reserves, steering them to a huge victory over the outclassed Borough.

Williamstown's winning ways continued, with captain Brett Johnson winning the coin toss and electing to kick with the aid of the two-goal breeze to the city end of the ground.

The game began at an absolutely cracking pace. Fast, attacking forward, with precision passing to leading forwards saw 11 goals kicked in a rapid-paced first term.

Unheralded Williamstown midfielder David Stretton was let loose by the Port centremen to begin with, and replied by gathering 11 disposals in the first term; he was ably assisted by Brennan Stack, who gathered eight disposals, and Peter Street in the ruck, who dominated with 11 hit-outs for the term, giving first usage to the engine room.

Despite this dominance, Port maintained touch, only going into the first break a goal down, thanks largely to some excellent rebounding work from Toby Pinwill, who gathered eight disposals, assisted well by dual Liston medallist David Robbins, and the electrifying Robin Nahas, both with seven disposals.

At the first break, the ever-cool and reserved Williamstown coach, Brad Gotch, urged his men to maintain the defensive pressure in the midfield, ensure increased accountability for everyone's man, and work harder at the stoppages.

The second term was quite a surprise to the 3SER 97.7FM commentary team, (who all tipped the 'Gulls to win by approximately five-to-six goals) as Port Melbourne got on top all over the ground, in particular in the midfield, and with John Baird (nine disposals for the term) sharking Street's continual tap-outs, helped well by Stephen Brewer (nine), Robbins and Nahas (both seven again), the Borough piled on seven goals with the wind to take a stunning 20 point lead into the major break, and suddenly Williamstown looked vulnerable.

Captain Brett Johnson came into the game more in the second term, collecting nine disposals, as did James Beaumont with seven, however with less help from Stretton (kept to just five after being heavily tagged during the term), the Seagulls had much work to do in the second half.

After the half-time break, the formerly lethargic, flat-footed Seagulls suddenly seemed rejuvenated, springing to life thanks largely to the industrious work at the stoppages from Johnson, who in this term collected another eight disposals. New recruit Ben Jolley gathered five and was proving more than handy, whilst Callan Ward also provided good assistance, with five disposals.

The Seagulls piled on eight goals for the term, whilst restricting Port Melbourne to just two, to turn a 20-point half-time deficit into a 14-point three-quarter time lead. Baird (six disposals) and Robbins (eight) continued to lead from the front in the midfield and backwards-of-centre, whilst David Fanning was trying hard in the ruck and around the ground, gathering six disposals for the term.

At the final change, new Borough coach Gary Ayres kept his charges in at the huddle for an extraordinarily long time. The Seagulls players had assumed their positions for the final term, and the Borough were still locked in deep conversation.

Ayres made an impassioned plea to his charges not to let this golden opportunity slip, they had the wind advantage in the final term, play all-out attacking football, and singled out Stephen Brewer for a stirring last quarter performance.

While the Borough made some noises early in the final term, Williamstown soon rested control of the match back their way, and never looked in trouble after about the 10-minute mark of the term. Terrific final terms from Johnson (nine disposals), Stretton (seven) and Liam Picken (seven) saw the Seagulls power away to a six goal victory in a very high-scoring match, 24.7.151 to 17.12.114.

In the final term for the Borough, captain Luke Cotchett battled manfully in defence, gathering seven disposals, assisted again by the ever-improving Fanning around the ground (five disposals) and Pinwill (six disposals).

It was very much a time for reminiscing among the faithful at Burbank Oval, with VFL/AFL and Williamstown legend Barry Round making one of his last appearances before moving to Queensland. He was joined by another VFL/AFL and Williamstown legend in Terry Wheeler, who still looks as good as he did two decades ago, as well as Port Melbourne assistant coach, yet again VFL/AFL legend and one of Round's best friends, Bernie Quinlan. The number of photos of Round and Quinlan together taken at the match would fill an entire album.

Better players for the victorious Seagulls included: captain Johnson, who led the front all day, working hard to feed off of Street's dominance in the ruck, and push the Seagulls forward at every opportunity, finishing with 32 disposals and a number of clearances; Street, who dominated in the ruck with a whopping 43 hit-outs and two goals, and combined it with never-before seen agility and dexterity around the ground by the 211cm giant; Picken, who was industrious forwards-of-centre all day, quietly going about his business, but rising to the occasion when he had to, finishing with 21 possessions and three majors; Ward, the young Bulldogs-listed player showed he'll be one to watch in coming years, providing some good run off the half-forward flank, finishing with 19 disposals and a string of hard-ball gets; Dean Galea, another Williamstown prodigal son, returning after 12 months in the SANFL with West Adelaide, led and marked sensationally deep in the forward line, finishing with six goals, 14 disposals and six marks; and, Stretton, whose electrifying first term helped set up the victory, finishing it off nicely with a great last quarter to bookend a fine 27-disposal, two-goal game.

For the beaten, but far from disgraced Port Melbourne side, their best included: ruckman Fanning, it's odd to mention a beaten ruckman as being in the best, but his continued improvement around the ground, his pace, agility, ball-handling skills and 23 quality disposals made for a strong day's work. He also won 21 hit-outs and kicked three goals; Pinwill, who provided a solid target up forward, as well as pinch-hitting down back when needed, finishing with 24 disposals in a strong effort; Baird, who continually put his body on the line for the cause, reading the ball beautifully many times off of Street in ruck at the stoppages, plus working hard to win contested ball, finishing with 24 disposals; Nahas, who continually impresses with his deft footwork and outside running, the little man picked up 22 disposals and set Port alight on many occasions; Robbins, who also just keeps backing up each week, this time working hard to win in-and-under possessions, finishing with 23 disposals; and, Brewer, who responded to Ayres's message with a 21 disposal game, also working hard for his side.

Next week for these two teams sees a couple of crackerjack contests coming up. For the Seagulls, they face reigning premier Geelong in an AFL curtain-raiser match next Saturday down at Skilled Stadium in Geelong. For the Borough, they face their old VFA adversary in Coburg, their preliminary final conquerer last season, at TEAC Oval, also on Saturday.

In other round three results in the VFL, Tasmania caused a minor storm, as last season's wooden spooners defeated last year's premiers, Geelong, by four goals at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Former Cat goalsneak, native Taswegian Carmeron Thurley was best for the Devils, while little man Shannon Byrnes was adjudged best for the Cats.

In an absolute corker at ABD Group Stadium in Coburg, the highly-rated Tigers went down to the just-as highly-rated North Ballarat side by one point. Richmond-listed forward Cleve Hughes was voted best for the Tigers with four goals up forward, whilst for the Roosters, Brett Goodes, Adam's brother, showed his renewed dedication to training is paying dividends with a best-on-ground performance.

In the second ever night game at Casey Fields in Melbourne's outer south-east, the Scorpions had an easy 33 point victory over the hapless Box Hill side. St Kilda regular Andrew McQualter was judged best for the Scorpions, Ben McGlynn was best for the Hawks.

In Sunday action, at Bartercard Oval in Werribee, the other Tigers of the VFL shook off indifferent early season form, and teething problems with their new partial alignment with North Melbourne, by posting a 20-point victory over the Bendigo Bombers. North-listed Matt Riggio was voted best for the 'Bees, Bendigo's Courtney Johns staked his claim for an AFL recall by being voted best for the Bombers.

Finally, in what was arguably the upset of the round, stand-alone Frankston travelled to the house of pain that is Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval, Sandringham ... and not only came out of it alive, but with four points to show for it, with a stirring two goal victory. Ever-reliable Shaun Pollard was voted best for the Dolphins, whilst for the Zebras, "The Axe", defender Andy Biddlecombe, was judged best for them.

To finish with, the ladder at the completion of round three in the VFL sees North Ballarat on top of the table, unbeaten on 12 points, ahead of Williamstown (also on 12) by just two percentage points. Then comes the Northern Bullants, Casey Scorpions, Tasmania and Frankston, all on eight points. Round out the top eight are Coburg Tigers and Sandringham, both on four points. Outside the eight are Geelong, Bendigo Bombers, Port Melbourne, Werribee and Collingwood, all on four points, whilst Box Hill remains rooted to the bottom, without a win thus far.

In what should be a bumper round of action in round four Casey Radio 97.7FM 3SER will ensure all your VFL action is covered. On Saturday, the team covers the 2007 preliminary final rematch between Port Melbourne and Coburg, live from 1.30pm, and then on Sunday, in a station-first, the team makes the long trek to Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo, to cover the game between the Bombers and Casey Scorpions, again beginning at 1.30pm.

Join the team led by Kain Pollard, Phil Pearce, Anthony Brady, Nick Nikolovski, Chris Weaver, Peter Banfield, Cameron Scott, Rebecca Beed and Nigel Carmody, either via radio on 97.7 on the FM dial in Melbourne, or over the web on www.3ser.org.au if you are outside of Melbourne and near to a computer, and 3SER will make sure you have your VFL fix.

16 April 2008

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