Source: Williamstown FC website.
Williamstown made 3 changes to the side that defeated Sandringham by 48 points in Round 4. Into the side came debutant Dylan Joyce, Dylan Addison was dropped by the Bulldogs and Henry White was promoted from the Reserves. Out of the side went Ayce Cordy (injured), Ben Jolley (ill) and Xavier Gotch was dropped.
In beautiful sunny conditions at Frankston, the undefeated Williamstown played the winless Frankston. In 2008 Williamstown defeated Frankston twice by small margins and another close game was anticipated.
FIRST QUARTER
Williamstown won the toss and kicked to the end favoured by the wind but it was Frankston full forward Aaron Murray who kicked the opening goal. This seemed to spark the Seagulls who then kicked the next 7 goals. Patrick Rose was lively up forward with 2 goals and Guy O'Keefe, Callan Ward, Wayde Skipper, Dean Galea and Jarrad Grant kicked majors. Dylan Joyce was very lively in his first game and Cam Lockwood, Tim Callan and David Stretton were solid contributors.
Williamstown 7.4 Frankston 2.5
SECOND QUARTER
Williamstown kicked the opening goal through Rose but Frankston were dominating at the clearances through Marcus Marigliani, James Magner, Paul Kennedy and Peter Whelan. Ben Davies was winning plenty of the ball and Guy O'Keefe and Henry White were working hard. The Williamstown defence was under siege with Frankston forwards Aaron Murray, Justin Berry, Tory Dickson and Dale Whelan all kicking multiple goals. In a 37 minute quarter where 15 goals were scored Frankston kicked an amazing 10.2 to Williamstown 5 goals straight.
Williamstown 12.4 Frankston 12.7
THIRD QUARTER
With the game in the balance the vital third quarter was going to be pivotal to the result of the game. Frankston maintained their momentum by kicking 3 of the first 4 goals before Captain Brett Johnson begun to win plenty of the ball to kick start the Seagulls. Chris Egan kicked 2 great goals in 5 minutes and when Tim Callan kicked a great running goal the Seagulls were 2 goals in front. Frankston would not buckle and late goals to Berry and Proctor enabled the Dolphins to lead by a point at three quarter time,
Williamstown 16.9 Frankston 16.10
FOURTH QUARTER
This game was always going to go down to the wire and Williamstown begun the quarter with a quick goal to Rose. Callan Ward played an outstanding final quarter and was supported by Dylan Addison, David Stretton, Dylan Joyce and Brennan Stack. Up forward Jarrad Grant, Jason Cloke and Matthew Little provided a target. Frankston would not lie down and continued to attack but when Rose kicked his seventh goal and Grant his third the Seagulls led by 12 points. Murray out-positioned Cam Wight to kick his sixth but the siren sounded a minute later.
Williamstown 21.13 (139) Frankston 20.13 (133)
Goal Kickers : Rose 7, Grant 3, Little 2, Ward 2, Egan 2, O'Keefe 2, Galea 1, Skipper 1, Callan 1
Best Players : Rose, Ward, Davies, O'Keefe, Stretton, Skipper
RESERVES WRAP
Williamstown Reserves won their fourth consecutive game by 73 points in a dominant display against Frankston. Young New South Wales recruit Dane Rampe played an outstanding game and was very impressive. Young Bulldogs draftee Liam Jones who played his first game for Williamstown after his school side had a bye over the weekend was excellent with 12 marks and 4 goals as a key forward. Malcolm Lynch was a solid player with 19 possessions, 5 goals and 12 tackles. Ruckmen Jordan Roughead and John Shaw dominated and Jarrad Boumann was very disciplined up back.
Williamstown 7.7 10.10 18.12 22.13 (142)
Frankston 0.0 3.2 5.3 11.5 (72)
Goal Kickers : Lynch 5, Jones 4, Roughead 3, Shaw 2, Langlands 1, Lee 1, Cartelli 1, Rampe 1, Sablich 1, Georgiadis 1, Isbister 1, Grossman 1
Best Players : Rampe, Jones, Boumann, Roughead, Shaw, Lynch