VFLW Match Report: Round 12 vs Williamstown

03/08/2026

The Sandringham Zebras fell to Williamstown by 19 points despite a blistering opening quarter at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval that saw us establish control early before the visitors gradually wrestled back the momentum across the second half.

The day also marked several significant milestones, with Georgia Goss from the Dandenong Stingrays making her VFLW debut, while Chloe Saultry and Isobel Hartog both celebrated their 50th VFLW game.

We couldn’t have asked for a better start, responding to Williamstown’s opening goal with three unanswered majors to seize complete control of the first term. We dominated territory through repeat forward 50 entries, capitalising on opportunities and making every inside 50 count.

The midfield laid the platform early, with Courtney Aughtie controlling the ruck contests and directing the midfield brigade around stoppages. Zoe Barbakos generated important clearances and defensive spoils, while Saultry set the tone with relentless pressure, producing a strong tackle before following up with a clever gather. This opened up an opportunity for Emma Stuber, who timed her run perfectly and calmly converted the chance to register her first major of the day.

Defender Mackenzie Williams produced a memorable moment when she launched a brilliant 40m set shot from the boundary for her first VFLW goal. Saultry hit the scoreboard after Felicity Hilford's long kick from outside 50 spilled perfectly into her path, extending our lead to 18-7 at quarter-time.

Williamstown began to shift the momentum in the second quarter. Although we continued to move the ball effectively with short, composed kicking chains and maintained periods of possession, we were unable to convert our chances. The scoreboard kept ticking over, but Williamstown capitalised on their own opportunities with consecutive goals to edge in front by a single point at the main break.

The siren to start the second half was electric with Aughtie winning the opening hit out before surging from the centre clearance. This was quickly followed by Jo Lin gathering the ball inside 50 and calmly slotting a goal inside the opening 30 seconds to reclaim the lead.

Despite continuing to create opportunities through multiple forward 50 entries, we were unable to convert from territorial advantage into scoreboard pressure. Williamstown gradually controlled field position, making the most of repeated forward entries to regain the lead late in the third term.

Our defensive pressure remained a feature throughout the contest. Jacinta Boyd produced a courageous mark under immense pressure, Galaminda Gellar applied a crucial tackle on the wing, while another outstanding rundown tackle denied Williamstown a certain scoring opportunity. Yet with repeat inside 50s yielding only a rushed behind, the momentum continued to swing the visitors' way.

The final quarter became a tightly contested, stoppage-heavy affair. We continued to work the ball patiently from defence, linking through precise kicking and marking while attempting to build attacks along the wing. Indi Sherritt was particularly influential in the closing stages, accumulating possessions and using the ball efficiently, while Galaminda Gellar's precise ball use and Aughtie's vision helped generate attacking chains.

Despite periods of composed ball movement, we struggled to capitalise once the ball hit the ground in the forward half, allowing Williamstown to intercept and launch counter-attacks.

We’ll be back at home at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval next week for our final home game of the year, taking on the reigning Premiers North Melbourne Werribee on Saturday 8 August at 12:05pm.

Scores

Sandringham: 3.0, 3.2, 4.3, 4.4 (28)

Western Bulldogs: 1.1, 3.3, 4.8, 6.11 (47)

Goals: Lin, Saultry, Stuber, Williams

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