Port Melbourne and Williamstown are two powerhouses of the competition, and certainly have an age-old rivalry to show. If history is any indication, this could well be a September to remember, as both clubs will lay everything on the line this weekend for a chance at premiership glory as Brendan Lucas reports.
Last time these sides met in a grand final was in 1964, where Port Melbourne was victorious. Forty-seven years on, Williamstown will be itching to avenge their loss, despite the fact they lead the head to head battle with Port in Grand Finals 4-1.
Port Melbourne have proven themselves against Williamstown on two occasions this season. The Borough crushed the Seagulls in round seven by 51-points, and narrowly escaped Williamstown again in a thrilling round 20 contest by 5-points.
Port Melbourne’s undefeated season to date is impressive, and a Grand Final win would make the Borough the third team in VFA/VFL history to equal such a feat – the last being North Melbourne in 1918.
Despite Port’s dominance, there are several factors that may give Williamstown the edge.
Williamstown’s finals campaign has been outstanding – defeating triple-premiers North Ballarat in their Qualifying Final by 67-points, and disposing of western rivals Werribee Tigers by 83 last weekend in emphatic fashion.
The form of many of these players is also promising. Young gun Nathan Djerkurra and Josh Hill have been named in the best twice over the Seagulls’ 2011 Acacia finals appearances. Both have given the Seagulls’ electrifying forward pressure.
Mitch Hahn is also another who has had a stellar season up forward, leading the way with 36 goals for Williamstown, and despite being held goalless last weekend, he had good support from Sam Reid and Matthew Panos.
Whilst at the opposing end for the Borough, medium forwards Frosty Miller Medalist Patrick Rose and Dean Galea’s combined total of 126 goals for the home and away season will also make them hard to stop.
If Will Minson’s recent form is any indication, Port Melbourne’s ruck division headed by David Fanning, Wayde Skipper and Fabian Deluca may be challenged, as first use of the ball in the midfield will give one side a significant advantage. Minson will have able backup in Jordan Roughead.
Seagulls midfielders, captain Brett Johnson – a big game player – and Ben Jolley are two who have been exceptional this season. Jolley has led the way for the club in the VFL’s best and fairest finishing with 13 votes.
However, the overall winner of the best and fairest, the J.J. Liston Trophy, is Port Melbourne’s Shane Valenti who will also lay claim to helping turn the odds in his side’s favour. With the likes of Nathan Batsanis, Toby Pinwill and Sam Dwyer by his side, the contest is expected to culminate into a tantalising midfield battle that all football fans will watch over intently.
The key to the game may well come down to the venue, as the transition from the smaller dimensions of the VFL grounds may well work in Williamstown’s favour.
The Seagulls’ had 15 listed Bulldogs’ players in their squad against Werribee last week. At Etihad Stadium in Docklands this week their run and spread on a big ground, not to mention their experience on the ground in this year’s Foxtel Cup will prove pivotal to the outcome.
Williamstown are proven winners at the venue, whilst Port Melbourne are undefeated this season, but will have the memory of their 2008 Grand Final defeat at the venue.
This Sunday two of the VFL’s oldest and most intriguing rivalries go head-to-head in the biggest game on the football calendar for the 2011 Peter Jackson VFL Premiership.
Who will write the record books? Only time will tell.
Prediction: Williamstown by 8 points.
View a preview of the game from ABC TV HERE
Port Melbourne vs Williamstown
Head to Head Played: 235
Port Melbourne: 125
Williamstown: 104
Draw: 6
2011 meetings:
Rd 7 Port Melbourne 15.7 (97) def Williamstown 6.10 (46)
Rd 20 Port Melbourne 17.17 (119) def Williamstown 16.18(114)
Highest/ Lowest Score vs this week’s opposition:
Williamstown
27.17.179 (1989) / 1.4.10 (1889)
Port Melbourne
34.22.226 (1995) / 0.5.5 (1899)
Last Modified on 23/09/2011 11:27