Williamstown has set up a Legendairy VFL Grand Final clash against the Box Hill Hawks at Etihad Stadium next Sunday at 3pm with a thrilling 12-point victory over Essendon in today’s Preliminary Final.
After trailing by 27 points midway through a spectacular third term, the Bombers regained the lead just before three-quarter time, but a four-goal-to-one final stanza from the Seagulls secured their berth in the decider.
The win ended Williamstown’s run of three consecutive losses in preliminary finals and resulted in the club’s first appearance in the Grand Final since a loss to Port Melbourne in 2011, as well as its first since becoming a standalone club in 2014.
In fantastic conditions for football at North Port Oval, the Bombers jumped the Seagulls early despite conceding a raft of forward 50 entries in the first quarter. However, the Essendon defence was able to hold strong as Williamstown continually bombed the ball long inside 50, allowing captain Marcus Marigliani and Anthony Tipungwuti to intercept and rebound at will.
In contrast, the Bombers moved the ball efficiently, finding targets around the ground and making the most of forward line opportunities, with Kyle Hardingham (three goals for the match) looking particularly dangerous.
The Seagulls refined their plan of attack after quarter time though, with small men Cameron Lockwood and Andrew Gallucci upping the pressure on Essendon’s defenders and hitting the scoreboard to establish a five-point lead at the main break.
Bomber midfielder Dan Coghlan broke the shackles of Williamstown’s Ed Carr to boot his second major at the start of the third quarter and put Essendon back in front, but the Seagulls responded with a devastating five-goal burst to open up a 27-point break.
Enter James Polkinghorne. Hayden Skipworth sent the prolific midfielder into attack and the move reaped instant rewards, as Polkinghorne nailed three goals – while Nick O’Brien racked up disposals in the middle – to help the Bombers claim an unlikely five-point lead at the end of a pulsating quarter that produced 11 goals in total.
Next, enter Leigh Masters. A skilful one-handed mark set the Williamstown hero up for his second goal in a minute early in the final term to open up the match-defining break. Captain Ben Jolley was supreme in the contests while Seagull defenders Peter Faulks and David Fahey stood strong as Essendon kept driving the ball forward to no avail.
The jubilation was evident on Williamstown faces when the final siren blew, and after a classic preliminary final, you can’t say the Seagulls didn’t earn their way onto the biggest stage of the Peter Jackson VFL season.
CLICK HERE to see the match details
Peter Jackson VFL Legendairy Grand Final:
Box Hill Hawks vs Williamstown
Sunday September 27, 3pm, Etihad Stadium
(Part of Etihad Stadium double-header with TAC Cup Grand Final between Eastern Ranges and Oakleigh Chargers at 11.05am)
Last Modified on 20/09/2015 18:42
