Williamstown’s Nathan Djerrkura tries to break free from a tackle.
BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WILIAMSTOWN’S quest for a historic Foxtel Cup/VFL grand final double was shattered on Sunday by an irrepressible Port Melbourne, which capped off a remarkable unbeaten season to claim the premiership at Etihad Stadium.
In the first grand final between the two arch-rivals since 1964, Port Melbourne was simply too good, reversing a 21-point first-quarter deficit to run out 56-point winners.
Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres said people had written off a stand-alone team’s chances of winning the premiership, but in many ways it proved to be a great advantage.
Ayres has been able to build for this moment with four years of careful planning, without having to deal with the constant revolving door of available players that affect AFL-aligned clubs.
And Port Melbourne’s players are, on average, three year’s older than Williamstown’s. Such experience cannot be quantified.
Ironically, former Williamstown players Dean Galea and Patrick Rose were among the most damaging players for Port Melbourne, kicking nine goals between them.
But the Borough had winners all over the park. Sam Dwyer was enormous in the midfield, Tobias Pinwell was a deserving Norm Goss medalist, while ruckman Wayde Skipper blanketed Will Minson’s influence.
For Williamstown, Matthew Panos was the Seagulls’ most dangerous target, kicking four goals, while Brett Goodes was rarely beaten even when Port Melbourne’s midfield has assumed control of the match. Christian Howard was busy with 21 possessions, while Nathan Djerrkura showed several flashes of class.
Played in front of a perhaps disappointing crowd of just under 12,000 people, the game started similarly to the sides’ classic encounter in round 20, with Williamstown shooting out of the blocks to kick the first four.
The Seagulls simply looked more comfortable on the fast track and wide expanses of Etihad Stadium, streaming down the wings with precision and punishing the Borough whenever they tried to move the ball through the middle.
But, just like in round 20, Port Melbourne wrested control in the second term with a withering 15-minute burst, kicking seven goals to one and taking a 21-point lead.
Port Melbourne threatened to shut the game down in the third quarter when Cory McGrath put the Borough 33 points ahead halfway through the term, but the plucky Seagulls, through Goodes and Djerrkura, remained in touch.
Brennan Stack’s shot for goal which was touched on the line may have provided the spark Williamstown needed to make a charge, but instead Port Melbourne’s Billy Burstin kicked a spectacular checkside goal against the run of play.
Brett Johnson’s goal on the siren was a just reward for the Seagulls, who had rebounded from an onslaught and wrested momentum back from Port Melbourne in the last 10 minutes of the third quarter.
When Panos converted a 50m set shot in the third minute of the final quarter to cut the margin to 15 points, a fight-back seemed on the cards, but a quick reply from Nathan Batsanis, followed by goals to Galea and Chris Cain changed all that.
Williamstown had little choice but roll the dice, missed two gettable goals, and were punished by a relentless Port Melbourne.
When Galea put the Borough six goals in front, it was officially party time. Williamstown was deflated and Port Melbourne was up and about. Rose, Michael Dillon and Dwyer blew the margin out in junk time to seal a victory and create history.
As Williamstown, rank underdogs despite its enviable mix of AFL and VFL talent, despondently trudged off Etihad stadium, Port Melbourne’s players celebrated being the first VFA/VFL team since North Melbourne in 1918 to go through a season undefeated.
