Richmond VFL went down to Williamstown by 22 points at DSV Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Seagulls at home are always a tough proposition, and they showed why, the final score reading, 13.5 (83) to 8.13 (61).
Samson Ryan struck the first blow for Richmond, drifting forward from the ruck, marking strongly and kicked truly to the ‘jumping castle end’.
Williamstown got the home crowd cheering, rattling off the next three goals in quick succession, edging out to a two-goal lead.
James Trezise, Tom Brown and Lachlan Street provided run and rebound from the back-half, although Richmond’s inaccuracy meant it didn’t gain maximum benefit from the good work up the field.
Ben Miller got the Tigers’ second quarter off on the right note, soccering through a goal from close range.
The Tigers kept fighting, with Seth Campbell showcasing his steel and spark around the ball.
Green was the happy recipient of some class work from Austin Johnson and Misilifi Faimalo, with the industrious small forward slotting Richmond’s third major.
The goal shrunk the margin to a solitary point, however, Williamstown hit back instantly, reinstating its seven-point buffer.
Richmond went into the main break eight points down with plenty of room for growth.
Williamstown advanced its lead to 13 points with the opening goal of the third term before Mohammed Yassine’s quickfire right-foot snap brought the Tigers closer.
Williamstown hit back with a duo of majors, extending the deficit to a game-high 20 points.
The Tigers’ boldness in wanting to inject speed into the game and access the corridor led to the Seagulls sweating on turnovers and cashing in on the scoreboard.
Williamstown made the Tigers pay late in the quarter, transitioning the ball from the back-half and nailing a goal after the three-quarter-time siren, pushing its lead past four goals.
The Tigers were the first to strike in the fourth quarter, as Hugo Ralphsmith streamed through the corridor and pierced the Sherrin onto the barrel chest of Kaelan Bradtke.
Bradtke had a tricky set-shot to navigate on a tight angle, from close range, but cooly snapped it through on his left.
Richmond hadn’t been able to kick consecutive goals all day, and that trend continued as the Seagulls answered back with their 10th goal.
The positive for the Tigers was that Bradtke’s sure right-boot launched the ball over the goal umpire’s hat following a slick centre clearance from Tyler Sonsie.
Ralphsmith was deployed forward in the final term and showed is wares, sinking his right slipper into the ball, registering a goal from beyond the arc.
The Tigers fought until the end, but a well structured and drilled Williamstown outfit had the answers all day.
WILL 3.1 5.2 9.5 13.5 (83)
RICH 1.4 3.6 4.9 8.13 (61)
Goal Kickers:
Richmond: Ryan (2), Bradtke (2), Yassine, Ralphsmith, Miller, Green
Best Players: Dow, Brown, Melville, Sonsie, Trezise, Green
