Saturday, September 11, 2010

Bullants upset Gulls' in second half blitz

The Northern Bullants have blasted their way into back to back VFL Grand Finals with a 12 goal second half over Williamstown prevailing 16.8.104 to 11.12.78 at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday afternoon.

It was heartbreak for premiership favourites Williamstown who were on top early but a big second half to the Bullants spearheaded by forwards Ash Arrowsmith, who booted two goals from 18 disposals, and Carlton youngster Levi Casboult, setup a re-match with last year's opponent North Ballarat at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Midfielder Jarrod McCorkell was pivotal with 28 disposals and a goal, as was Rohan Kerr, (15 disposals, 2 goals), and Joe Anderson, (1 goal from 19 disposals).

Ben Davies was fantastic for the Seagulls off half-back with 37 disposals and a goal while Brett Johnson and Cameron Lockwood both gathered 28 touches.

Andrejs Everitt opened the scoring courtesy of a free kick for a high tackle but Williamstown had to wait another 16 minutes for their second in a scrappy first quarter.

The Bullants were on top with Sam Jacobs dominating the hitouts but couldn't get on the scoreboard until late in the quarter when Chris Johnson sent home a long goal from 50 metres after earlier missed chances.

Brett Thornton, the general in defence with 28 touches, repelled numerous forward thrusts while at the other end Lukas Markovic and Peter Faulks were equally as solid for Williamstown in a scrappy first quarter.

Some clean disposal from Matt Little gifted Everitt his second goal after the quarter time siren giving Williamstown the edge at the first break.

Brad Fisher marked in the goal square and reduced the margin to two points to start the second quarter.

Youngster Ahmed Saad will be attending the upcoming Victorian AFL State Screening session for the Draft combine and when he goaled from a free kick the Bullants were in front.

After numerous turnovers in the midfield Matt Little marked strongly and converted his only goal for the day from 50 to put Williamstown back in front.

The Seagulls got on top for the next 5 minutes but couldn't make the most of the momentum with Captain Brett Johnson, Stephen Tiller and then Liam Jones missing opportunities and when Ahmed Saad's pass found Joe Anderson the lead changed again.

A series of behinds from Williamstown had scores level and the deadlock was broken when Jordan Roughead marked and goaled seconds before half-time giving the Seagulls a 5.5.35 to 4.5.29 lead.

A nervous start after half-time by Williamstown provided the Bullants with numerous opportunities and they were in front again when Jarrod McCorkell hit Ahmed Saad on the lead who kicked his second.

An electrifying 2 minutes of football saw 3 goals kicked quick in quick succession as Rohan Kerr extended the Bullants lead only to be answered by Brett Johnson with a goal on the run from 40 which was cancelled out when Brad Fisher grabbed his second from a quick centre clearance as the game opened up in a free flowing second half.

Levi Casboult produced arguably his best 5 minutes for the Bullants kicking two goals and stretching the margin to 19 points.

The first came when he kicked long to a vacant goal square from 45 metres followed by a strong mark and goal from outside 50.

When Ash Arrowsmith marked strongly on the lead and sent through the Bullants sixth goal for the quarter they held a commanding 24 point lead and Williamstown were staring at defeat.

The Bullants continued their dominance to start the last quarter with Ash Arrwosmith kicking two quick goals extending the lead to 40 points.

Williamstown's hopes were kept alive when Ben Davies drilled a goal with his 32nd disposal and Andrejs Everitt got a second goal in as many minutes with a long bomb but Rohan Kerr steadied the ship for Northern with a freak snap from the boundary.

Two goals to Pat Rose and one to Jordan Roughead reduced the margin to 14 points but goals from David Ellard and Zach Tuohy sealed the Bullants win and a chance to claim their first premiership since 1984.

Northern Bullants 1.5 4.5 10.7 16.8-104
Williamstown 3.1 5.5 6.7 11.12-78


Williamstown
Goals: A. Everitt 3, J. Roughead 2, P. Rose 2, B. Davies, B. Johnson, B. Stack, M. Little
Best: B. Johnson, B. Davies, B. Jolley, L. Markovic, C. Lockwood

Northern Bullants
Goals: A. Arrowsmith 3, B. Fisher 2, L. Casboult 2, R. Kerr 2, A. Saad 2, J. Anderson, Z. Tuohy, C. Johnson, D. Ellard, J. McCorkell
Best: J. McCorkell, S. Jacobs, A. Arrowsmith, J Anderson, R. Gale, B. Thornton

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Williamstown claims VFL minor premiership

Williamstown have taken out the VFL minor premiership with a 94 point thrashing of the Box Hill Hawks at a wet Box Hill City Oval on Saturday afternoon as they look for their first VFL premiership since 2003.

The Seagulls had winners all over the ground but the influence of big men Will Minson, who gathered 22 disposals, Jordan Roughead (19 disposals, 1 goal) and Andrejs Everitt (3 goals from 14 disposals, 9 marks) were particularly telling in the wet conditions as Williamstown won 22.10 (142) to 7.6 (48).

Forward Matt Little claimed the Frosty Miller Medal with 5 goals for the day finishing with 80 for the season and Patrick Rose contributed 3 goals as Ben Jolley gathered 20 disposals in another solid performance.

In contrast it was a tough day for the Hawks who had won their previous seven games with Sam Gibson their best for the day kicking a contender for goal of the year from 17 disposals as Gary Moss gathered 19 disposals in the midfield.

A heavy downpour just before the bounce made for scrappy conditions early with the opening minutes played exclusively in Box Hill's forward half before Cameron Lockwood opened the scoring after he ran into an open goal with Williamstown's first inside 50 of the game.

Box Hill got their first after an inspiring bit of play from Sam Gibson who ran the length of the ground and was involved in a chain of handballs before steadying to kick truly from deep in the left forward pocket.

Matt Little submitted his own contender for goal of the year when a kick off the ground from deep in the right forward pocket curved magnificently through for his 76th of the season.

Williamstown were soon on top when Andrejs Everitt goaled after marking uncontested then Matt Little kicked his second when he took a strong grab on the lead and kicked truly from 50 metres.

Matt Hoegel gave Box Hill their second reducing margin to 13 points but Jordan Roughead, who had reportedly flown to Sydney as an emergency for the Western Bulldogs, marked and goaled soon after as he dominated around the ground all day.

Dane Rampe kicked a long mongrel punt from outside 50 on debut to push the margin to 25 points as the Seagulls dominated the quarter.

Williamstown demonstrated Geelong-like football, cutting in from the back flanks and running the ball through the middle, and this link up play finished with a perfect long kick from Pat Rose to the advantage of Matt Little who took a comfortable mark 25 metres out and slotted his third goal four minutes into the second quarter.

Patrick Rose was on the receiving end soon after with a mark in the goalsquare and Andrew Hooper pushed the half-time margin out further with a snap from 30 metres.

In a sign of the Seagulls dominance Box Hill didn't take their first mark inside 50 until four minutes into the 3rd quarter but Gary Moss couldn't convert pushing his shot accross the face of goal.

Three minutes of football in which Williamstown slammed home three goals from Matt Little, coaches nephew Tom German, then Andrejs Everitt ended the contest.

Matt Little turned provider when he booted the ball deep inside 50 for Brennan Stack to kick the Seagulls sixth of the quarter and take a 73 point lead into the last change.

Patrick Rose kicked a spectacular goal out of mid-air for his third as Brennan Stack joined the party with two goals for the last quarter.

Box Hill grabbed two goals in a row from Ryan Jackson and Liam Shiels but was held to their lowest score of the season as Williamstown ran out comfortable winners.

Williamstown head into the finals as premiership favourites and will play either Port Melbourne or Casey Scorpions first up.

Box Hill Hawks 2.1 4.2 5.3 7.6-48
Williamstown 6.2 11.2 17.4 22.10-142


Box Hill Hawks
Goals: S. Gibson, L. Shiels, R. Jackson, G. Moss, J. Hoegel, T. Duryea, T. Tuck
Best: S. Gibson, L. Shiels, G. Moss, W. Sierakowski, R. Schoenmakers, C. Pedersen

Williamstown
Goals: M. Little 5, B. Stack 3, A. Everitt 3, P. Rose 3, T. German 2, J. Hill 2, D. Rampe, J. Roughead, A. Hooper, C. Lockwood
Best: W. Minson, A. Everitt, J. Roughead, B. Jolley, M. Little, P. Rose

http://www.thesportsbump.blogspot.com/