GCFC v WILLIAMSTOWN
MERRIMAC OVAL
17 APRIL 2010

A plucky GCFC forced VFL premiership favourite Williamstown to earn a 16.17 (113) to 11.11 (77) win at Merrimac Oval this afternoon.

For the second week in a row, GCFC’s young guns showed plenty of grit against highly-fancied opposition, but in the end VFL flag favourite Williamstown - with a strengthening last quarter breeze at its back in the crucial final term - was too good when it mattered.

It looked good early for GCFC when a quick clearance from the opening bounce saw Daniel Harris snag the first goal of the game for the second week in a row.

Dixon, Russell, Harris and skipper Marc Lock were all heavily involved early in an opening term played at a frenetic pace. All helped create plenty of GCFC opportunities, but the home side struggled to convert in windy conditions. But Williamstown had no such trouble and took a deserved eleven point lead into the first change.

In the second term, Williamstown had the early running, and a quick forward entry saw them kick the first goal. But GCFC’s hard work in close paid off when Dixon wobbled one through almost impossible traffic, and when the industrious Matera set up Shreeve, the home side had made it a five point game. Three minutes later, Stanley converted some more quality Dixon toil across half forward and all of a sudden GCFC had the lead for the first time since the first minute.

It didn’t last long, though. Williamstown kicked the next three. GCFC’s Shreeve answered with his second goal a few minutes later, but Williamstown added another just before the siren. At half time the margin was twenty points.

After half time, GCFC was rewarded early for some great Nathan Ablett ground level pressure when Rory Thompson kicked truly.

When a spectacular marking effort by hard working defender Jack Hutchins went wrong and he was momentarily forced from the ground, it provided a turning point of sorts. Suddenly Williamstown couldn’t convert and GCFC was slotting its limited chances. Magin and Patrick goaled after two brilliant Matera take aways, and when some frenzied GCFC defensive pressure set up Magin’s second six-pointer in five minutes, GCFC was in front.

Williamstown hit back quickly to ensure GCFC’s lead was short-lived but at three quarter time, with only nine points separating two very willing sides, the scene was set for a thriller.

But the match didn’t go according to script for the home side. With the benefit of an ever-strengthening breeze, Williamstown fired the first final quarter shots with three early goals. Magin stemmed the flow with a superb long range effort – his third – but with the weather on its side and plenty of gas left in the tank pre-match favourite Williamstown proved too big a hurdle.

In the end GCFC was a more than worthy adversary and without a doubt one step closer to its maiden VFL win.

The team will now travel to Melbourne for an Anzac Day weekend clash against Werribee Tigers under lights next Saturday night.

GCFC 1.4 (10) 5.6 (36) 9.9 (63) 11.11 (77)
Williamstown 3.3 (21) 8.8 (56) 10.12 (72) 16.17 (113)

Goals: Magin 3, Shreeve 2, Liddy , Thompson, Dixon, Harris, Patrick, Stanley.
GCFC BEST: Weller, Coad, Matera, Stanley, Smith, Magin