LET’S sit back for a minute and reflect on Williamstown’s form since June 9 in the Victorian Football League.
The past six matches have been heaven for thrillseekers, with breathtaking comebacks and pulsating finishes the norm.
The first three games of that period were tough for the Seagulls: losing to Box Hill by a kick after leading at three-quarter-time; having to force a draw with Frankston after trailing by 41 at the last break; and suffering an extreme case of the yips, kicking 9.16 in a narrow seven-point loss to North Ballarat.
Throw in a couple of byes in a frustrating four-bye season and never-ending rumours of a possible alignment split between Williamstown and AFL affiliate Western Bulldogs, and you start to wonder if the season is all about to unravel.
All along, Seagulls coach Peter German kept the faith, telling anyone who wanted to listen that his young squad would be better for the experience in the second half of the season.
The further the Seagulls tumbled down the ladder during their luckless run, the less people listened.
But it has all turned around for the blue and gold’s in the past month. A routine victory over Collingwood was followed by a two-point heart-stopper over top-four outfit Werribee.
That coincided with captain Ben Jolley’s 100th game for the club and him being awarded life membership.
Suddenly, the good vibes were back as the Seagulls were starting to get some positive results on the redeveloped home track at Morris Street.
Still, the Seagulls ended round 17 sitting in ninth spot, and had a clash with all-conquering Port Melbourne on the horizon.
They couldn’t do it again, could they?
Let’s just say German could be a week closer to using “I told you so” in his chats with the press.
The Seagulls produced an incredibly gutsy performance to edge Port Melbourne by 11 points in the mud at Burbank Oval on Saturday.
It coincided with another Jolley milestone, his 150th VFL game. The win has lifted the Seagulls to fifth with four rounds to play.
Suffice to say, German has not been shocked with the three-game winning run.
“It’s just now, for the first time this year, we’re winning the close ones. I’ve said right from the start of the year that we’d be a better side at the back end of the season.”
The Seagulls had only three goals to three-quarter-time but made the most of the breeze in the final term with four goals to zip to seal a come-from-behind triumph.
SCORES
Seniors: Williamstown 7.14 (56) d Port Melbourne 6.9 (45). Williamstown – Goals: J Sherman 3, D Addison 2, T Hill, A Hooper. Best: J Sherman, D Addison, B Jolley, T Campbell, E Carr, M Talia.
Development: Williamstown 10.21 (81) d Port Melbourne 10.11 (71). Williamstown – Goals: J Polizzi 2, J Gray 2, M Lyons, R Muggivan, J Wallace, B Christodoulou, J Mead, D Bugeja. Best: M Cravino, M Fogarty, S Wyatt, N Georgiadis, J Polizzi, B Christodoulou.
