Williamstown forward Mitch Hahn surveys his options. 68892 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WILLIAMSTOWN came agonisingly close to ending Port Melbourne’s unbeaten run on Saturday, but the Borough was spared by a narrowly off-target Brett Goodes snap in the final stages to come away with a five-point win at Avalon Airport Oval.
Port Melbourne twice in the last quarter seemed to have the game sewn up. A Tristan Francis goal put Port Melbourne three goals in front at the 20-minute mark, but Andrew Hooper replied immediately to keep the Seagulls alive.
When former Seagull Patrick Rose, well held by Dane Rampe all game, restored the three-goal margin in the 25th minute, only a supreme optimist would have believed Williamstown could mount a successful challenge – but an exceptionally long quarter made for
the tensest finish to a VFL game this season.
The Seagulls, proving the previous week’s trip to Perth for the Foxtel Cup grand final had not fatigued them, kept coming, and goals to Mitch Hahn (29th minute) and Brett Goodes (32nd) sparked a thrilling final four minutes.
Goodes had a chance to earn hero status when he pounced on a ball 35 metres from goal but his snap missed and Port Melbourne held on to maintain its perfect season, running out 17.17 (119) to 16.18 (114) winners.
The crowd not only witnessed an epic encounter that could lay claim to match of the year, but were spared the irritation shared by television viewers who watched the coverage cut short with three minutes to go, due to the final quarter running for 36 minutes and the ABC’s obligation to broadcast the lawn bowls world cup at 4pm.
Williamstown produced one of its finest quarters of the season to open up a 27-point lead in the first term.
The ultra-composed Seagulls refused to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the event or Port Melbourne’s pressure, with Patrick Veszpremi and Jarrad Grant proving the most dangerous of Williamstown’s imposing forward line.
But Port Melbourne reeled Williamstown in the second quarter and nine minutes into the third term hit the front for the first time.
A dominant Port Melbourne kicked seven third quarter goals and had completely stifled Williamstown’s run.
“It was a bit of an arm wrestle but in three-quarter time they kicked seven goals, so we’ll probably scrutinise that quarter more than any of them, to work out why and understand why we allowed them to kick those seven goals,” Williamstown coach Peter German said.
“There are certainly parts of the game that can alter the whole dynamics of the game and I thought probably some of our ball use going forward was pretty poor and stopped us from getting a goal and allowed them to reload back the other way.
“You can say poor kicks, missed opportunities and missed tackles (cost Williamstown the game), but I’m sure Port can say the same thing as well, but they won the game.”
While Port Melbourne’s undefeated record remained intact, the match did challenge the school of thought that Port Melbourne are runaway flag favourites.
“Probably just to rattle their cage a bit has probably given us some sort of understanding we can at least compete with them,” German said.
“We’re disappointed but Port have recruited well all over the field and they’ve got a stable unit. I think that more than anything that’s their real strength.
“It’s the same backline every week, it’s almost the same midfield and same forward line, where if you’d ask us what’s our best side I wouldn’t know. It’s what gets handed to us on a Wednesday or Thursday.”
Williamstown will take on Box Hill at Box Hill City Oval in the televised game at 1.10pm on Saturday.
