From www.localfooty.com.au
Reported by Luke D'Anello
Full Story Click Here
GENERATION next led Williamstown to a 12-point win against Bendigo in the VFL elimination final at North Port Oval on Saturday.
The Seagulls held a five-goal advantage at three-quarter time but survived a late charge from Gold to claim an 11.17 (83) to 10.11 (71) victory.
Young guns Jack Charleston, Stephen Witkowski and Jack Frost embraced the pressure-packed atmosphere of a final, the trio producing a display which belied their years in the defensive half.
"They had to do a power of work for us, our defenders, and I thought the young boys really stood up," Williamstown coach Peter German said. "Ever since he (Charleston) has come in to the side, the last six or seven weeks, he's been terrific. He's been one our best defenders on a weekly basis."
German said he felt his side tried to protect its lead in the final half-hour, conceding it "probably tightened up a bit".
"We probably just won the game in the end. I was probably a little disappointed, to be honest," German said.
"In the third quarter, we really could have put the game to bed. We should have probably been eight or nine goals up, I reckon, at three-quarter-time, and we kept wasting our opportunities. At the end of the day we won, but I guess in many ways I'm process driven. But we can take a lot from it I think. We definitely had our youngest and most inexperienced side since I've coached Williamstown the last three years.
"If you looked at it, talent-wise and name-wise, it was probably our worst side for the year."
Skipper Ben Jolley, Brett Goodes and James Wall also starred as the Seagulls extended their winning run to seven games.
They will face either Werribee or Casey Scorpions in a cut-throat semi-final this weekend.
German said Bulldogs-listed players Justin Sherman and Andrew Hooper are a chance to return, along with Nick Georgiadis, who was a late withdrawal. "We feel we've still for some upside with our team," German said.
"But you can't keep winning finals kicking 11 goals."
