Williamstown put on a clinic in today's Peter Jackson VFL Legendairy Semi Final, defeating their arch rival Port Melbourne by 87 points.
After two defeats at the hands of the Borough in 2013, the Seagulls turned the tables when it mattered most, leading from start to finish to send Port packing from the finals series.
We recap how Williamstown won their way through to week 3 of the Peter Jackson VFL Legendairy Final Series.
Clinical Seagulls
A devastating opening stanza and a 12-goal third term has helped Williamstown set up a Preliminary Final matchup with Geelong.
The Seagulls sent an ominous warning to next week's opponents with a clinical display against the 2012 grand finalist Port Melbourne, crushing them by 87 points on their home turf, North Port Oval.
The win produced Williamstown’s second highest score ever against Port Melbourne, and was one of the biggest losses Port Melbourne has experienced under Gary Ayres over the last six years.
The margin ballooned out to as much as 110 points during the final term as Peter German's men out ran, out bustled and out tackled their opposition.
The Seagulls small brigade kicked the first five goals of the game, as they set up a 32-point lead as the clock ticked into time on. Williamstown's strength was highlighted by the fact that they had five individual goal scorers in the opening 20 minutes, and the Borough defence was unable to plug the holes.
With a 33-point quarter time lead, it was more of the same in the second term as the Seagulls half back line continued to set up the player.
The likes of Cam Lockwood, Mark Austin and Lukas Markovic were resolute in defence, while the matchup of Jack Johnstone on Chris Cain was reducing the midfielders influence, especially in the absence of Port captain John Baird who missed with a hamstring injury.
No one could have contemplated how the game would pan out in the third term, as Williamstown kicked the opening seven goals of the quarter to put the game beyond doubt. Anthony Anastasio, Jason Tutt, Ben Casley and Ed Carr all added goals as the Seagulls extended their 50-point half time lead to 92 points at just the 14 minute mark of the third quarter.
While Julian Rowe finally broke the drought for Port Melbourne adding only their third goal for the afternoon, Williamstown finished the term strongly kicking five of the last eight goals to amass a 98-point lead at three quarter time.
The men in the middle were unstoppable for Williamstown, with Ben Jolley (23 disposals) and Willie Wheeler (24) making the most of the Cam Wood and Tom Campbell ruck combination. Stephen McCallum also played his part as a defensive half forward for the Seagulls.
While Port Melbourne added some honour to the scoreboard with seven of the last 10 goals of the game, Williamstown were well and truly starting to plot how to defeat the premiership favourites Geelong the following week.
Johnstone (19 disposals) in his stopping role on Cain (22) was best for Williamstown, along with Tutt (five goals), Wood, Cam Lockwood (21) and Wheeler.
With 14 individual goal kickers, Tutt led the way with five, Pat Veszpremi four, and three each to Anastasio and Casley.
For Port Melbourne, Rowe kicked six, with Adrian Bonaddio their only other multiple goalkicker with two.
Rowe was their best, along with Marc Johnston (23 disposals), Hugh Sandilands and Shane Valenti (18).
CLICK HERE for the best and goals from today
SUNDAY FINAL
Casey Scorpions vs Werribee Tigers, 2:10pm North Port Oval
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 07/09/2013 19:21