By Travis Parnaby
Port Melbourne is the first team into the 2008 VFL Grand Final next Friday at Telstra Dome after a stirring 21-point win over great rival Williamstown.
The Borough turned a half-time four-goal deficit into a 16-point three-quarter time advantage and survived a late Williamstown rally to record a memorable victory.
First year coach Gary Ayres has guided the Borough into its first grand final since 2004 and they have the chance to break a 26-year premiership drought at TEAC Oval.
"We were really under the pump in that second quarter and it shows what character, what spirit, what belief these players representing the Port Melbourne footy club today," Ayres told ABC TV.
"We couldn't have gone any worse in that last 10 minutes of the second quarter. That's full credit to Brad Gotch and his boys. They were super competitive and we really had to work but hopefully this gives us a real good chance."
Best afield was Ryan McMahon (29 disposals and six marks), who played on with a dislocated finger and often found himself on the receiving end of Williamstown's tireless physical pressure at the base of packs.
"It was probably the best win I've been involved in," McMahon said.
"Gary told us in the rooms to believe in ourselves. We came out in that third quarter and that last quarter was sensational."
McMahon noted that the Borough's spirit lifted in the final quarter when onballer Sam Dwyer copped a heavy shirtfront from Williamstown's Liam Picken as he ran into a crucial goal.
"It probably lifted us. He knew he was going to get hit, he took the hit," McMahon said.
Williamstown's best was Jason Cloke, whose desperation at the contest willed the Seagulls and his team-oriented deeds included a mighty smother on the wing in the last quarter and several strong overhead marks.
The Borough established a 23-point quarter-time margin with the aid of a howling wind but the Seagulls responded with a withering burst in the second term. They slammed home eight goals to one to open a 24-point advantage including a brilliant running effort from youngster Callan Ward.
Williamstown had the chance to further dent the Borough's hopes when Ward blazed away from 50m but the kick missed everything.
From there, the Borough's urgent play saw them boot six goals whilst holding the Seagulls goalless. The Borough's dominance saw them have 24 to seven forward entries and the quarter included a brilliant effort from Robin Nahas, who tackled Caeron Lockwood on half forward to create a turnover to Jarrod Dalton. Dalton handpassed to Nahas whose freak, party trick handball found the running Dalton for a fantastic goal.
Both sides had grounds for optimism in the last quarter - Williamstown with the breeze and Port Melbourne with the momentum. Toby Pinwill lifted his workrate for the Borough and snapped truly after Adrian Bonaddio had charged out from full-forward.
Port Melbourne kicked the next goal through Sam Dwyer, who was stretchered from the field after a brutal hit from Seagull Picken.
No doubt Dwyer's inspirational act - he knew the contact would be forthcoming - exemplified the Borough's determination to get into a grand final.
Port Melbourne faces North Ballarat in Friday's VFL Grand Final at Telstra Dome at 7.40pm. Tickets available through www.ticketmaster.com.au or at the gate. The TAC Cup Grand Final will kick off a massive Celebration of Victorian Football at 4pm.
Last Modified on 13/01/2009 18:07