Time to make a stand

[Dale61]

Local Williamstown paper, The Advertiser, reports:

Contenders or pretenders?

Williamstown coach Brad Gotch will know the answer about his hot-and-cold players in a fortnight.

The Seagulls face mini-finals against premiership contenders Geelong and Coburg Tigers, both away, in the next two rounds.

The big games shape as moments of truth for the blue and golds.

It's make-or-break for Gotch and his players.

Especially after Williamstown's bitterly disappointing 25-point loss to Tasmania in the wind and the wet at Point Gellibrand Oval last Saturday.

General Manager Brendan Curry said: "You've got to play hard-nosed footy (in conditions like those), you've got to win dirty.

"Tassie was better at it than us. It was pretty disappointing."

Curry bemoaned the side's wasteful scoreline of 8.21.69 (to 13.16.94).

"You don't win too many matches with a score like that," he said.

"We had our chances and didn't take them. They took their chances."

The Seagulls were thrown into chaos in the build-up to the game with the late withdrawals of full-back Troy West (personal reasons), ruckman Justin Crow (food poisoning) and centre half-back Mark Richardson (senior call-up by Collingwood).

Happily, captain West's unavailability was for all the right reasons.

His wife Rachael had given birth to their first child - a daughter Bronte Jade - the previous night.

Williamstown is hanging on for dear life in eighth position on the ladder - just percentage ahead of Carlton and Springvale.

Curry insists the heat is on.

"We're just one of probably six sides who are fighting for seventh and eighth (positions)," he said.

He is confident the Seagulls can fly high as the pressure intensifies.

"Expect the unexpected with us - you never know," he said.

It was a forgettabke day for the club with the reserves suffering a hefty loss to Werribee.

Rover Craig Smoker tried hard as he battles to regain his position in the seniors.

Reserves score:
Will: 1.1.7 ~ 3.2.20 ~ 3.2.20 ~ 7.6.48
Werr: 3.8.26 ~ 7.10.52 ~ 13.20.98 ~ 14.23.107

Goals: Odell 3, LaVerde, Smoker, McArdle, Tyrell.
Best: Teakle, Smoker, Fonua, Odell.

"Racetracks are for racing, roads are for getting there."

[This message has been edited by Dale61 (edited 11 July 2002).]