Debutants for Williamstown included 19 year old Luke Cartelli who won the Reserves Best and Fairest after graduating from Keilor to the Western Jets. Recruits Ben Davies and Chris Egan played their first game as VFL listed players after previously playing with the club when Williamstown was aligned to Collingwood.
Western Bulldogs top draft pick Ayce Cordy played his first game as did Robert Murphy who was returning from his knee injury.
First Quarter
Collingwood was certainly more efficient in the first quarter with Cameron Wood dominating the ruck and Ben Reid in great form at Centre Half Back for the Magpies. Brad Dick kicked two first quarter goals whilst Guy O’Keefe snapped Willi’s only first quarter goal. When Chris Bryan goaled before quarter time the Magpies had established a 15 point lead.
Williamstown 1 .3 Collingwood 4 .0
Second Quarter
Collingwood begun the second quarter with consecutive goals to open a 5 goal lead. Wayde Skipper begun to exert his influence and midfielders Brett Johnson, Ben Jolley, Sam Reid, Patrick Rose, Guy O’Keefe, Ben Davies and David Stretton begun to exert an influence. Up forward Chris Egan kicked a miraculous goal and then a strong tackle resulted in another goal. Ayce Cordy and Jarrad Grant came to life and up back Tim Callan, Robert Murphy, Cameron Wight, Cameron Lockwood and Scott Meyer were providing plenty of rebound.
Williamstown 7 .7 Collingwood 6 .2
Third Quarter
Williamstown assumed control of the game during this quarter by kicking 8 goals to Collingwood 4. The lead did stretch to 45 points before the Pies kicked the final 2 goals of the quarter. Guy O’Keefe and Sam Reid were outstanding whilst defenders Easton Wood and Andrejs Everitt were able to kick running goals off half back.
Williamstown 15 .8 Collingwood 10 .6
Fourth Quarter
Collingwood kicked the opening goal through Brad Dick but Williamstown responded with consecutive goals to Matthew Little. Malcolm Lynch was lively during this term and Guy O’Keefe consolidated BOG status by kicking his fifth goal. Wayde Skipper continued his outstanding form and Jarrad Grant showed that his AFL debut is not far away. In the end Williamstown ran out 62 point winners.
Williamstown 21 .11 (137) Collingwood 11 .9 (75)
Goalkickers : O’Keefe 5, Little 4, Egan 3, Grant 2, Davies 1, Jolley 1, Johnson 1, Skipper 1, Wood 1, Everitt 1
Best Players : O’Keefe, Reid, Skipper, Johnson, Rose, Davies
Reserve's Wrap
Williamstown begun the season against the Coburg Tigers with a stirring 45 point victory after trailing by 17 points at half time.In a brilliant 15 burst, Williamstown went from 5 .19 to 13 .19 with an 8 goal burst which included 5 goals from Dean Galea in the third quarter.
Williamstown 1 10 4 14 13 19 19 22 (136)
Coburg 2 3 8 7 8 9 13 13 (91)
Goalkickers : Galea 7, Stack 3, Keddell 3, Rampe 2, Florance 1, Nicolopoulos 1, Graham 1, Joyce 1
Best Players : Galea, Keddell, Langlands, Rampe, Shaw, Miller
Next Sunday 26th April Williamstown plays Western Suburbs rival Werribee in the ABC TV Match of the Round at Williamstown.
* Reserves Williamstown Vs Werribee 10:20am
* Seniors Williamstown Vs Werribee 1:10pm
Guest Speaker at the President’s Luncheon is Terry Forrest QC with the Luncheon beginning at 11am.
Cost is $40 per head – Bookings with Nicole Hopkinson, 9390 0611
