By Star Weekly
PICTURE GALLERY: Foxtel Cup: Williamstown v West Perth
Williamstown has cruised to its second Foxtel Cup title, holding a disappointing West Perth to a record-low one goal in the grand final at Simonds Stadium in Geelong tonight.
Here is a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of how the game transpired as reported live on the Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay Star Weekly Facebook page:
2014 FOXTEL CUP GRAND FINAL
Williamstown v West Perth
1ST QUARTER
A totally dominant opening term from Williamstown with goals to Jake Owen, Scott Clouston, Charlie Nastasi, Jack Dorgan and Kane Lambert.
Seagulls No. 1 ruckman Sean Tighe has been outstanding, following up his ruck work with tremendous endeavour at ground level.
The Seagulls defence, led by Peter Faulks, Brad Mangan and Nick Sing have been resolute on the few West Perth forays forward.
The local side has totally dominated the clearances.
It really has been one-way traffic.
Clouston is the dominant forward on the ground, taking marks at will, including a wonderful mark going back with the flight of the ball.
QT: Williamstown 5.4 (34) lead West Perth 0.2 (2).
2ND QUARTER
A goal-less second quarter from both sides, but don’t think the momentum in the game has swung around.
This quarter was played almost exclusively in the Seagulls forward half but the Willy forwards could not put the score on the board.
The main culprit was Sam Critchley, who got involved in the term, took a couple of good marks and made a number of good leads, only to be let down by his finishing.
On one occasion, Critchley marked the ball five metres out on a tight angle, played on and got caught by his opponent. At least he’s presenting and getting his hands on the ball.
Clouston, playing further up the field as a centre half forward, continues to be the key marking target on the ground.
The defensive wall of Peter Faulks, Brad Mangan and Jake McKenzie has been nearly impenetrable.
An indication of the Seagulls dominance in this game can be found in the lop-sided 26-8 inside 50 count.
The engravers can just about start putting Williamstown’s name on the Foxtel Cup.
HT: Williamstown 5.9 (39) lead West Perth 0.2 (2)
3RD QUARTER
Williamstown is on track to restrict West Perth to the lowest score in Foxtel Cup history.
The previous low score was by Queensland side Mount Gravatt, who finished with 2.1 (13).
It’s fast turning into an embarrassing night for the visitors from WA.
The Seagulls booted early second half goals through Sean Tighe, who took the ball out of the ruck and in one motion snapped for goal, and late inclusion Charlie Nastasi, who was taken high in a tackle and received a 50m penalty for the easiest of goals.
Fair play to West Perth’s under siege defence, who are holding up okay against the tide, but their side is generating no forward movement, let down by terrible skill errors.
3QT: Williamstown 7.11 (53) lead West Perth 0.2 (2)
4TH QUARTER
Williamstown was able to restrict West Perth to the lowest score in Foxtel Cup history, but could not keep them goal-less, after Corey Chalmers snapped the WA team’s only goal early in the last.
The remainder of the quarter was party time for the Seagulls, who knew from early on that the silverware and the $100,000 would be heading to Morris Street.
The bearded Jack Johnstone rubbed salt into the West Perth wounds with consecutive goals before Scott Clouston completed the rout.
Clouston, Johnstone and Charlie Nastasi booted two goals apiece for the match.
Ben Davies, the hard working, link up onballer, claimed the best-on-ground medal.
The Seagulls winning margin was 63 points.
It was the second time the Gulls had won the Foxtel Cup.
Coach Andy Collins has coached the winning team in consecutive years after taking West Adelaide to the big prize last season.
FT: Williamstown 10.11 (71) defeat West Perth 1.2 (8)
