The 2015 season has been a glorious fairytale for the Williamstown Football Club.
Two years after ending their alignment with the Western Bulldogs and going it alone, the Seagulls claimed flags in the Victorian Football League and development competition, completing a rare double act.
What made the title wins even more special is the extraordinary number of western suburbs talent involved.
Six former Western Jets lined up in the VFL grand final while a further nine former Jets played in the Seagulls’ development league flag win.
Now a new batch of former Jets are poised to create their own history in the country’s premier state league competition.
Following brilliant top-age years, Lachlan Knight, Liam Carter, Mitch Norton and Brayden Monk have been snapped up by Williamstown as the club plans for its 2016 premiership defence.
Jets region manager Shane Sexton said the signings were reward for years of hard work by the recruits.
“In terms of the VFL, we are talking about elite level sport here,” he said.
“This is the major senior domestic competition in the country. It is no mean feat to reach that level.”
The eagerness of Williamstown to look towards home-grown talent further highlights the partnership between the Seagulls and the Jets as being one of the most successful across the TAC Cup and VFL competitions.
The clubs share a base in Williamstown and play their home games at Burbank Oval.
For players, the partnership exposes them to top-line football at soon as they are ready.
Numerous Jets have jumped at the opportunity to play for Williamstown throughout their top-age TAC Cup season, giving them a taste of what it takes to make it at the next level.
Carter and Monk both played in the Seagulls’ development league premiership while Norton made his VFL senior debut.
They, and Knight, may not be the only members from last year’s Jets squad that find a home in Williamstown.
Several Jets are going through pre-season trials at the Seagulls in the hope of landing a spot on the club’s 2016 list.
“At the end of the season we sat down with our players in great detail and evaluated what they have done this year and what is going to be in their best interest going forward,” Sexton said.
“There are certainly other boys that are looking to get themselves onto a VFL list.
“Williamstown will have a fairly significant number of spots on their list and these boys will be putting their hands up to fill those.”
It was a quiet draft period for the Western Jets, with one player selected across the national and rookie drafts.
Luke Goetz, 18, was taken by the Western Bulldogs with pick 29 in the rookie draft.
Goetz, a promising ruckman out of Altona, rocketed into draft calculations late thanks to a strong finish to the season.
This year’s draft period was further proof AFL clubs are no longer looking at only under-age competitions to find their new superstars.
Williamstown knows how to keep players on the radar of AFL clubs better than any other, with Seagulls pair Andrew Gallucci and Adam Marcon selected in the rookie draft.
Gallucci was picked up by Carlton while Marcon is the second Williamstown player in the past two years to be rookie-listed by Richmond.
He joins former Seagull Kane Lambert at the Tigers.
Four VFL players were selected at the national draft.
Sandringham’s Mitch Brown and Coburg defender Michael Hartley joined Essendon.
Box Hill Hawk defender Sam Collins is on his way to Fremantle while Collingwood selected Rupert Wills from its own VFL team.
“There is a clear trend now that AFL clubs are going to watch these mature-age kids and track their progress through the VFL,” Sexton said.
“It is a really good pathway for the kids that want to reach that level.”
The Jets are turning their attention towards climbing back up the ladder next season after finishing 14th this year.
Having blooded a number of bottom-age players throughout the year, the Jets will no longer be considered one of the TAC Cup’s youngest sides.
Sexton said the initial signs for next year’s squad were encouraging and that he was expecting the Jets to feature in finals and at the national draft.
“We are excited about what is coming up in 2016,” Sexton said.
“We think we will have a really solid squad together.
“The top-age group we have got at the moment, there is quite a bit of talent involved in it and we are pretty excited about it.
“We will be hoping to replicate something like we did in 2014 – we had six kids drafted and a heap of kids that have gone on to play successful VFL football.”
The Jets have begun their summer training program and will select their squad in the new year.
Williamstown football manager Chris Dixon casts his eye over Williamstown’s newest recruits:
Lachlan Knight
Midfielder
Junior Club: Yarraville/Seddon
“It’s great to get the Jets best and fairest winner on board with us in 2016. Lachie played some development football with us this year and showed his talent as a dynamic midfielder.”
Liam Carter
Defender
Junior Club: Melton
“We really rate Liam as a footballer and see him as a quality key defender at VFL level. His performances this year in the development finals series were incredible competing against opposition forwards who had played some VFL football. He’s an exciting prospect.”
Mitch Norton
Midfielder/forward
Junior Club: Altona
“Mitch is a highly skilled footballer that is capable of playing on-ball, on a wing or up forward. He won’t remember much of his senior debut with us this year as he was knocked out with concussion in a really courageous act. He is extremely talented and we’re delighted he is in our program.”
Brayden Monk
Midfielder
Junior Club: Werribee Districts
“Monky had a great impact this year playing two senior games and playing in the development premiership. He is extremely sharp around goals and extremely courageous for someone his size.”
