By Travis Parnaby
Williamstown has stolen victory in the dying stages to shatter Frankston's fairytale finals campaign in a one-point thriller at TEAC Oval today.
The Dolphins looked home at the 27 minute mark of the final term, holding onto an 11-point buffer as both sides suffered from tiring legs.
The Seagulls fighting ability kicked into overdrive when rover David Stretton found himself clear on centre wing and drilled a pass to forward Matt Little on a strong lead. Little's goal from 50m cut the margin to just five points with less than a minute to play.
Up and about, the Seagulls swooped and a tiring Frankston defence could not hold out any longer. Callum Urch took possession on the boundary and dribbled a sneaky screw punt through the big sticks for the unlikeliest of goals to break Frankston's hearts.
Ricky Morris seemingly had one last roll of the dice, pumping the ball inside 50m for the Dolphins but the siren sounded as the ball was fisted clear by the Seagulls.
An ecstatic Stretton could not believe the Seagull's come-from-behind victory.
"Everytime we'd kick a goal they'd kick one," Stretton told ABC TV.
"It was a 10-point margin the whole last quarter.
"We manged to just sneak a few in right on the siren. I can't believe it."
Stretton was one of the Seagull's best, collecting 24 possessions. Other prolific ball winners in the engine room included Farran Ray, who was outstanding for 31 disposals including four spoils and skipper Brett Johnson with 26 touches including a goal and five clearances.
Stretton praised the side's work on the training track and said a strong fitness base was the key.
"I thought we were gone but I knew we had the fitness," Stretton said.
"We've been running over sides all year."
Stretton believed the win would be a huge confidence-booster going into next week's preliminary final against minor premier Port Melbourne.
"I can't wait, we'll be in with a big show," he said.
"Bring on Port Melbourne next week."
Jubilant Williamstown coach Brad Gotch said the "exceptional" win was testament to his players' character.
"The pressure was on and we needed to find something," Gotch told ABC TV.
"I just felt if we could pinch that goal, we could do something and we did.
"It's just so exciting for these boys who have busted their guts week-in, week-out."
A key to the win was Liam Picken, who kept Frankston's wildcard Justin Berry quiet. Picken collected possessions while restricting Berry to just 12 touches and importantly, no goals.
For Frankston, the match turned from happy days to horrowshow in a matter of seconds. Whilst departing coach Brett Lovett would dearly loved to have continued the finals campaign, he could not have questioned his troops' effort and endeavour.
Anthony Raso continued his scintillating form down back, racking up 24 disposals while the damaging Ricky Morris played a blinder on a wing, with 23 touches, 10 marks and three clearances. Byron Barry was excellent all day, stopping numerous Seagull forward thrusts with hard tackles, spoils or intercepts.
Frankston kicked with the wind and took a five-point advantage into the first change after Michael Lourey kicked his second goal.
Both sides struggled to kick with accuracy due to a swirling breeze, but the Seagulls soon found plenty of run in the second quarter through Ray (13 possessions) and Stretton. Urch caused headaches for the Dolphins defence, his forward pressure gifting Guy O'Keefe a running goal in addition to two goals off his own boot.
A late goal to Clinton Proctor in the pocket kept Frankston's hopes alive, adrift by 12 points at the long change.
Frankston responded to Stretton's goal with two in quick succession and much like their inspired third term against Coburg last week, the Dolphins lifted. But inaccuracy would cost them dearly - their return of 2.5 from a majority share of possession kept the Seagulls in the contest.
The Dolphins swiftly turned a three-point deficit into a nine-point lead when Proctor jagged his second. And when Luke Clark goaled from 45m after a stab pass from rover Paul Kennedy the Dolphins seemed headed for a successive memorable win.
But the wheels of luck turned the Seagulls way and Urch, a danger man all day, was able to thread through an amazing goal to seal an improbable win.
Port Melbourne takes on Williamstown in the second preliminary final on Saturday, September 20 at TEAC Oval at 2.10pm. The VFL Reserves Grand Final starts at 11am with Williamstown against Box Hill Hawks.
Last Modified on 14/01/2009 17:27