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[size=18][b]Willy ‘Streeting’ Away[/b] [/size]............................................VFLfooty.com Tribune 9-6-08
[b]Peter Street put in a best-on-ground performance on the way to Williamstown’s comfortable 46 point victory over the Northern Bullants, their eigth of the season, from nine starts. [/b]
Standing at a mammoth 211cm, Street, a current Bulldog and former Cat, used his countless years of AFL experience when dictating terms around the ruck where he controlled the hit-outs against two opponents of less experience, Sam Jacobs, a Carlton rookie listed player, and Irishman Aisake O’hailpin, they struggled to nullify Streets height advantage throughout the contest. Streets workman like performance became the catalyst that enabled Williamstown to comprehensively dominate the mid-field battle and release the pressure around the stoppages. In an amazing statistic, when Street was on the ground Northern could only manage three goals, so profound was his dominance.
The Seagulls pilled on three early goals and looked like running all over the Ants only minutes into the opening stanza. Stretton was winning every loose ball, Little marking strongly across half-forward and they both finished accurately in front of goal. The pair tallied four of Williamstown’s five majors at the quarter time break.
Northern returned from the quarter time huddle, with the message of injured coach David Teague ringing in their ears, they only had seven tackles in the opening quarter, he was displeased. They responded, forward-line spearheads, Hartlett and Jackson, began to get their hands on the ball in dangerous areas, Colbert was beginning to get on top and when Street left the ground for a rest late in the second, the Ants took advantage. Captain Josh Vansitart and Vice-Captain Adam Iaccobucci lead a late quarter surge of four goals, reducing the margin to nine points entering the long break, and growing in confidence.
The third term was controlled from start to finish by the Seagulls, they showed their superior talents in close and on the break. Josh Hill and Brennan Stack gained the ascendancy in the back-half, their collective team-work was too slick for the Northern forwards, Stack and Hill set-up several forward thrusts that resulted in Seagull goals. O’Keefe and Jolley continued to hit forward targets Picken and Little, Galea also featured. The Bullants pressure was no-match for the top of the table Seagulls. The final term produced eight goals that both equally shared, to the Bullants credit they fought the contest out, an aspect of the game they have struggled with this season.
Street and Hill were the best for the victors, whilst Darren Pfeiffer tried hard all day for the losers. Little kicked five goals, Stretton and Rose added three each, spearhead forward Dean Galea could only manage one goal in his return from injury, look for him to build on that performance against Frankston next week at home. Northern face Collingwood in the Princes Park Derby next week, a must win for the Bullants – the Pies have lost five in a row and are languishing near the bottom.
[size=14][b]Northern Bullants [/b][/size]
Goal Kickers: J. Edwards 3, D. Boundy 2, D. Pfeiffer 2, J. Saddington, A. Hartlett, A. O'hAilpin
Best Players: D. Pfeiffer, A. Iacobucci, A. Joseph, M. Austin, J. Vansittart, L. Blackwell
[size=14][b]Williamstown [/b][/size]
Goal Kickers: M. Little 5, P. Rose 3, D. Stretton 3, L. Picken 2, D. Galea, M. Lynch, G. O'Keefe, S. Reid
Best Players: J. Hill, B. Stack, L. Picken, D. Stretton, B. Jolley, S. Greene
[size=12][b]Votes [/b][/size]
3 - Street (WS)
2 - Hill (WS)
1 - Stack (WS)[/b]
