Match Report - Prelim Final

[Dale61]

With a game the previous day (and the reserves curtain raiser earlier that day), and persistent rain overnight, the ground was in surprisingly good condition. How long the ground stayed this way was anyone's guess as some nasty weather was predicted for later in the day.

The breeze was good for about four goals, and with it blowing to the Williamstown Road end of the ground, Troy West won the toss and elected to kick that way.

As the players entered the playing arena, it was noticed that Leon Davis was strapped heavily around the right calf, so there was some concern about his fitness and whether he would complete the game.

The news maker, Brodie Holland, started the match lined up on Kangaroo listed player Dylan Smith in the midfield, and this match-up was where most of the huge crowds attention was focussed.

It was a relatively quiet opening as all players spent the first 5 - 6 minutes feeling each other out. Richo, Shack, Fletch and Smoker watched the early proceedings from the luxury of the pine.

It was beginning to be a battle of the defences as each team struggled to worry the scoreboard attendant. Gotchy opted for more drive out of the centre when he benched McG in favour of Fletch at the 16 minute mark, also giving Cam a break for Richo.

Both teams had a single goal on the board when Mahoney, scouting the pack after a boundary throw-in, swooped on the ball and snapped truly for his second. This gave the Gulls a seven point buffer, 18 minutes in to the game.

Dane Swan was proving to be a handful across half forward, and was presenting well. Both teams were inaccurate, but Williamstown were starting to gain the upper hand late in the quarter. A McKee goal saw the lead out to 13 points.

Jarrod was showing the benefit of his bulk and was too big for the lighter Borough defence, whilst Rupe was a lonely man across half back, but getting plenty of the leather.

Richo got a free from a ruck contest (obviously the ump forgot to NOT pay a free to us), and used all his experience to read the wind and take full points. Williamstown by 21 points.

Port excitement machine, Aaron Davey, was well held and not given any latitude to use his pace and set up his forwards. However, he was still showing enough to be a danger when he evaded three tacklers to kick to the goalsquare, where an unlucky Troy West was penalised, giving his opponent an easy goal. This obviously made up for the earlier umpiring error in favour of Richo.

The first quarter was soon over, after 32 minutes, with all of the Williamstown 22 having a run at some stage.

Port Melbourne started the second quarter with a flurry, but failed to convert their chances. After a couple of behinds, Williamstown were able to run the ball out of defence, and with some slick ball movement by both hand and foot, Mahoney booted his third to put us 19 points clear.

The ball was again in Port's forward zone when David Bourke fumbled, and when he saw Sam Cranage barrelling down on him, ducked his head and sucked in the umpire who quickly gave him a free kick within scoring range. This bought Port back to within 13 points.

The resulting centre bounce saw Kingy race out from the backline, take the handpass and fire it long to Stunning. A strong mark, although not paid, by Stunning saw the maggots call 'play on', which he did and snapped a left foot goal over his right shoulder, putting Williamstown further in front.

Port then arsed a goal soon after to keep them in range before Molly took possession of the pill, burst his way through the centre and kicked it long to Richo, who took a one-handed grab under heavy pressure. On a near impossible angle in the conditions, Richo almost missed the lot in registering a minor score.

Williamstown were putting enormous pressure on the Port forwards, never allowing them an easy shot on goal.

Fletch was starting to find space, which was something Port had to resolve in a hurry, but the blue-and-gold forwards couldn't capitalise on the good defensive work.

A turnover saw Port run the ball through the centre and a long kick saw Bourke take another mark, and his goal reduced the deficit to 9 points. At this point, both teams defences stood firm and the scoring started to dry up.

Leon finally broke the shackles when he goaled at the 22 minute mark and took the lead back out to double figures (15 points), and soon after, a huge bomb from outside 50 saw Port back to within single figures.

As the quarter wound down, a Williamstown forward thrust saw Molly given room to run in and take a huge grab in the middle of the pack, which was stationed in the goalsquare. He quickly played on and goaled, but Port again replied with a quick answer. Another forward frenzy into Willamstown's 50 saw a piece of Leon magic after a boundary throw in. He sprinted clear of the pack, gained possession, shot a lightning handpass out to Mahoney who was tackled and dispossessed, but had the foresight to push it forward where Brodes was waiting on the goal line and soccered it through for full points. This ensured Williamstown went in to the long break with a 13 point lead.

The second half was going to be a cracker.

The weather continued to close in as the players returned to resume the game, but this didn't stop Molly as within 60 seconds, he pounced on a loose ball and kicked towards goal, bouncing it through for full points. Two minutes later and Swanny grabs a mark inside 50, but on a tight angle. He looked to pass it off, but settled and slotted it through to open up the biggest lead of the day thus far - 25 points.

Shannon Motlop got possession not long after on his half forward flank, and after dancing out of a couple of would-be tackles, he snapped a goal to bring the lead back to 19 points.

Both teams settled down after this and the ball went up and down the ground, giving the scorer little to worry about.

Leon went off at the mid point of the quarter, and was getting treatment to his right calf.

Molly was a focal point across half forward and using his body as a battering ram, giving the Port defenders something to worry about. However, missed chances by both teams saw the scores increase by points only.

Williamstown were using the ball better, but too much 'finessing' saw a turnover result in a Port goal. A quick centre clearance saw the ball end up with Brodes, who kicked his second. Port continued to pepper the goals, but couldn't convert.

The 21 minute mark was the turning point of the match, firstly when Cam kicked a scorcher from 70 metres out, then Rupe, after receiving a bullet-like handpass from Brodes, followed a minute later with another from 60 metres. Williamstown had picked up a gear and were on fire.

Fletch then showed his brilliance with a spearing pass that almost drilled straight through Molly's chest. Jarrod was good enough to hold on, and his goal saw the margin shoot out to 34 points. Port weren't going to give up easily and tightened up defensively, making any further Williamstown score a rarity.

The D9 was called in to refuel at the 29 minute mark, but a late Port goal saw both teams go to the last change 29 points apart.

During the break, it was announced that Sam Cranage was the winner of the Stereo 974 Player Of The Year award. Congrats to Sam, but the biggest prize of all was still to play for.

The last quarter started with Molly and Leon back on the ground, but the wind had changed to a gale and the rain was again falling. Scrappy play saw Williamstown slowly, but surely, move the ball forward by way of the boundary. Port had gone to a man-on-man coverage, thus preventing Williamstown from getting a loose man anywhere.

Port were blowing their chances with inaccuracy, but after a kick-out, Cam took a mark, played on and handpassed over the top to Rupe, who then handpassed to Fletch, who found Brodie by hand. Dutchy kicked to a leading Molly, who took a strong grab whilst having to beat two opponents. Too far out to score kicking into the gale, Molly centred the ball and with Nick Maxwell running with the flight of the ball, took a courageous mark. His kick was low, hard and straight, giving Williamstown a 34 point lead.

Williamstown were still winning the centre clearances, but a Port free kick down the ground gave everyone the impression the maggots were out to see Port victorious. Fortunately, the kick for goal went wide, but time was a tickin'. Another charity free to Port saw them take full benefit, and another goal after 19 minutes saw the lead now down to 19 points.

Good lead up work then saw Marcus Baldwin finally get a shot on goal, and ever the opportunist, he didn't let his team mates down, kicking on the run from 40 metres. This gave Williamstown a little breathing space.

Shannon Motlop then kicked a 70 metre monster less than a minute after Baldy's effort, then he did it again from 55 to bring the margin to seven points at the 27 minute mark. The Gulls pushed forward and scrambled a minor score, meaning Port now had to kick two goals if they wanted to advance to next week.

Yet another charity free in the Port forward zone gave them a chance to bring the difference to less than one kick, but the ball drifted wide for a minor score. As the 30 minute mark ticked over, the siren sounded, met with jubilant scenes from relieved Williamstown (and Collingwood) supporters. The ground was a mass of bodies as spectators surrounded the players as they walked off for a hot, and well earned, shower.