Zebras go out in style in Williamstown

22/08/2022

Sandringham end their season in style with a 40-point win over Williamstown.

Photography: Mark Woods

After a tight first half, a six goal to twelve second half gave us our eighth win, as we beat Williamstown by 40 points in our final match of the season.

Sam Dunell finished his VFL career on a high note, kicking 3 goals, and collecting 14 disposals.

Meanwhile, debutant Matthew Harms was very impressive as he kicked four goals during the second half, and racked up nine disposals and five marks.

Goy Lok continued his good form from last week notching 23 disposals, 12 kicks and 6 tackles, whilst Riley Virtue also put in a solid performance, collecting 18 disposals, 10 kicks and 5 tackles.

AFL-listed players Jack Bytel and Matthew Allison were also among the best, with Bytel kicking two goals from 28 disposals and racking up 12 tackles, whilst Allison collected 18 disposals, and booted a goal.

In near-perfect conditions at Williamstown Oval, we started the match well doing plenty of attacking early, with Sam Dunell kicking our first major at the 4 minute mark after taking a strong mark inside 50. 

The Seagulls soon hit back kicking two goals, before Matthew Allison launched a missile from outside 50 to give us our second goal. 

Both teams had opportunities during the final 10 minutes of the term but were unable to score any majors as we went into quarter-time with scores sitting at 13 to 14 in our favour. 

The match remained even during the second term, as both teams traded goals. 

Our first came a minute into the term, with Riley Virtue setting up Maxwell Sinclair who snapped a goal from the forward pocket, but the Seagulls were quickly able to respond with another major.

Dunell kicked his second midway through the term after juggling the ball to mark it inside 50, but the Seagulls were quickly able to respond again keeping the margin at one point.

A couple of behinds from the Seagulls gave them the lead towards the end of term before Leo Connolly was able to hit Blake Watson 30 metres out. He then kicked after the siren to give us back the lead going into half-time, with the scores at 28 to 33.

Williamstown got going quickly in the third term, scoring a major within the first two minutes and regaining the lead, but it was short-lived as Jack Bytel put us back in front after being awarded a free kick inside 50. 

We then kicked three goals in six minutes, the first coming from Jack Peris who crumbed the ball 45 metres out and quickly snapped it in on the run, the second from Matthew Harms who took a set shot after marking a pass from Dunell at the top of the goal square, and the third another set shot from Dunell after Darby Hipwell dodged a tackle and found him 30 metres out on a slight angle. 

At the 15 minute mark of the third term we had stretched the lead out to 23 points.

Nine minutes later, Peris scored his second after a nice pass inside 50 from Mitch Riordan, and Harms kicked his second, sidestepping his opponent and running into an open goal.

The Seagulls hit back with a goal of their own late in the quarter, and we went into three-quarter-time up by 29 points.

The Seagulls' momentum continued early in the final term, scoring another major within the first minute. They continued to attack but were only able to score three behinds until Chris Carey booted a goal 40 metres out on the run, bringing the Seagulls' attempted comeback to an end.

At the 16 minute mark Harms kicked his third, intercepting the ball 45 metres out and booting it through on the run. A minute later he received the handball from Goy Lok and ran in to kick his fourth.

Second-gamer, Joe Nowell, took a strong contested mark and slotted what would be our last goal for the day, pushing the margin out to a game-high 46 points.

The Seagulls kicked one more late goal, as we finished the season in style with a 40-point win.

Final Score: Sandringham 17.8.110 defeated Williamstown 10.10.70

Goals: M. Harms (4), S. Dunell (3), J. Bytel (2), J. Peris (2), M. Allison, J. Nowell, M. Sinclair, B. Watson

Best: J. Bytel, G. Lok, B. Watson, S. Dunell, M. Harms, C. Carey

Written by Jye Pierce - Sandringham FC Media