Williamstown has won it's inaugural Foxtel Cup game beating last year's WAFL Premiers Swan Districts by 37 points at the weekend. The Gulls were dealt a tough task first up with the draw handing them a long trip across the Nullabor to face the reigning Western Australian champs.
Factors like heat, the bigger ground and the use of Burley Footballs were predicted to be major obstacles for the travelling side, however the class and organisation of the side proved too strong for a Swans District side who have now lost their first four games of the season.
Fresh from a big win over Werribee the Seagulls brought in youngsters Luke Dahlhaus, Nick Sing, Kwame McHarg and Jason Johannisen who all played in the development game last week. Brian Lake and Lindsay Gilbee both were recalled to the Western Bulldogs line up while Ben Davies, Mitch Wallis and Brett Goodes were other notable absentees from the side that beat the Tigers in Round 1.
The first quarter proved to be a bruising affair with both sides trying to stamp their authority early. Knowing that Swan Districts were going to throw everything at them early on, Peter German encouraged his side to absorb the pressure early on and be strong defensively. A tight tussle ensured with either team unable to kick a major in the first quarter as the Gulls adjusted to the wide spaces of Subiaco Oval.
With the aid of a slight breeze in the second quarter the Seagulls started dominating the stoppages with Will Minson winning the lion's share of hit outs much to the delight of Brett Johnson and Ben Jolley who were clinical with their work around the clinches.
Young Bulldog, Dahlhaus was also instrumental in the middle and was potent up forward as he kicked a nice running goal. Jayden Schofield was relishing being back in his home state and was very damaging running off half back. Four quick goals saw the visiting side take a 25 point lead into the main break.
Despite kicking into the breeze in the 3rd quarter Williamstown managed to maintain it's intensity across the ground and keep Swan Districts from inflicting any scoreboard damage. Goals to Patrick Veszpremi and another to Luke Dahlhaus stretched the lead out to 34 points at the last change.
Nathan Djerrkura was winning plenty of the ball in his first outing in Williamstown colours while down back the likes of Sing, Grossman and Ed Barlow were managing the threat of Swans forwards Ash Hansen, Tony Notte and Tim Geappen.
Mindful of North Ballarat being overrun last week in Perth, Coach German encouraged his players to keep working hard and not drop off despite the big three quarter time margin.
Swans finally managed to kick their first goal of the game thanks to a free kick inside 50 and when they kicked a second goal 60 seconds after some may have thought the heat was catching up to the Gulls.
However goals to Patrick Veszpremi and Liam Jones ensured that Williamstown would win the quarter and run out 37 point winners advancing to the next round of the Foxtel Cup, where they will meet either West Adelaide or Ainslie.
Williamstown 8.7.55
Swan Districts 2.6.18
Goals: Jones, Dahlhaus, Veszpremi 2, Hahn, Hooper
Best: Minson, Jolley, Johnson, Djerrkura, Dahlhaus, Schofield
Next Week: Williamstown face Box Hill at Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee.
Sunday the 17th of April. Development - 11am, Seniors - 2pm. All Western Bulldogs supporters are encouraged to come along and watch and get their football fix for the weekend seeing as the Western Bulldogs have the bye this week. Western Bulldogs members can use their 2011 Williamstown membership to gain free entry to the game.