Port Melbourne made the trip across the West Gate Bridge to take on traditional rival Williamstown in Round 4 of the VFL season. Although not a happy hunting ground in recent seasons, Port had high hopes of a victory after beating last season’s grand finalists the Northern Bullants the previous weekend.
In windy conditions the first term was a bit of a scrap, with both defences on top. Sam Pleming seemed to have the ball on a string taking many marks and judging the windy conditions fantastically well. Bulldogs listed player Brennan Stack was looking very dangerous for the Towners. Port and Willy both had a lot of the ball through the midfield but it was Williamstown’s better goal kicking that saw them take a quarter time lead: 3.2 to Port 0.5.
The second term saw the game open up and both sides displaying good skills in tough conditions. Ryan McMahon, Adam Bentick and Stephen Brewer were getting plenty of possession and a beautiful left foot running goal to Chris Cain saw the Borough kick there first. Port begun to creep there way back into the game and not long after Adrian Bonnadio kicked truly from 40m out to get Port’s second goal. A couple of very ordinary umpiring decisions resulted in 2 goals to Willamstown to give them a slight buffer. All the hard work done by Port’s midfielders was let down by missed opportunities in front of goal. Although Port managed a third goal for the term, they trailed 3.10 to 9.5. The past few seasons Port has struggled with goal kicking at this venue, last season they went into halftime with a similar score line having kicked 2.12.
Port Melbourne made there charge early in the third quarter. The backline of Dalton, Brewer and Pleming were repelling all of Williamstown’s forward thrusts. Phil Raymond in his new role in defence was also doing a top job backing him self to take marks and also spoiling when the ball was in a dangerous position. A couple of goals including 2 freak snaps by Sam Pleming and Toby Pinwill gave Port reward for there hard work. Soon after Pleming’s goal a poor umpiring decision lead to a Williamstown goal to give them a 3 goal lead. Adam Bentick kicked Port’s next with a tremendous bit of play. He intercepted a Williamstown pass, to which the ball hit the ground. Although being out numbered he tackled the Willy defender, grabbed the ball and under extreme pressure snapped a 45m goal. Port Melbourne were beginning to surge and the lead was down to 11 points. But this is where the game turned. A couple of blunders in defence gifted Williamstown a couple of goals and when Willy goaled just before the siren they had kept there 5 goal half time lead. For all Port’s midfield dominance and hard work the term ended with both sides booting 4 goals. There was 3 or 4 terrible umpiring decisions that lead to a number of Williamstown goals but Port’s poor goal kicking in the first half really left them a task with a quarter to go.
Early in the last Port’s goal kicking yips continued with Malcolm Lynch missing one from a set shot 10m out. The Borough needed everything to go right for them to make up the 30 point buffer, but it was Williamstown who kicked the opening 2 goals to virtually ice the game. Port never gave up and out scored there opponents in the last quarter but it just wasn’t to be there day.
Ryan McMahon, Toby Pinwill and Adam Bentick were fantastic all day in the midfield winning plenty of footy and being hard at the contest. Cory McGrath, Stephen Brewer and Phil Raymond were also very good in defence. Multiple goal kickers for Port were Callum Sinclair (2) and Adam Bentick (2).
Next Saturday Port Melbourne play the unbeaten Sandringham at Teac oval in a must win match. Match starts at 2pm.
2010 VFL Seniors
Williamstown 3.2 9.5 13.6 16.13 (109)
Port Melbourne 0.5 3.10 7.12 11.15 (81)
GOALS:
Williamstown: Hooper 3 Jones 3 Little 2 Stack 2 Johnson 2 Davies German Carr Hill
Port Melbourne: Sinclair 2 Bentick 2 Pleming Brewer Pinwill Bonaddio Burstin McMahon Cain
BEST:
Williamstown: Davies Minson German Stretton Stack Markovic
Port Melbourne: McMahon Brewer McGrath Bentick Pinwill Raymond
Last Modified on 05/05/2010 15:26