Williamstown has overcome a hellish preparation to shock East Perth by 24 points in the Foxtel Cup semi-final at Patersons Stadium on Tuesday night.
If coming off a short four-day turnaround following their win over Casey Scorpions in the Victorian Football League on Saturday wasn’t enough, the Seagulls had to endure nearly a full day journey just to land in Perth.
The Seagulls’ initial plan to leave around tea time on Monday night was scuppered by a four-hour delay.
When the team finally boarded, the plane barely made it 100km before it had to be turned around and returned to Tullamarine Airport due to a mechanical fault.
This morning, the Seagulls’ travel nightmare continued, with a second plane delayed by a further three hours.
The Seagulls eventually arrived in Perth to confront the WAFL ladder leaders – a major task in itself.
They must have been running on adrenalin because the Seagulls showed no signs of fatigue and even ran out the game better than East Perth.
Seagulls coach Andy Collins said the travel chaos and semi final win would add another chapter to club’s history books in its 150th year.
“It’s going to be a great story and one that will be in the history of our footy club going forward,” he told Fox Footy after the game.
“It was really an outstanding effort by our boys to persevere.
“It’s a great day for us as a footy club.”
The game hanged in the balance until a breathtaking sealing goal on the run from Anton Woods with five minutes remaining moved the Seagulls out to an unassailable 16-point lead and into the July 22 grand final, where they will meet West Perth, likely in Melbourne.
“To have a chance in a grand final is an outstanding effort from the boys,” Collins said.
“Williamstown is the original winners of the Foxtel Cup and it would be great to get another.”
The tireless Kane Lambert pocketed best-on-ground honours with a brilliant display in the midfield for the Seagulls.
So often it was Lambert bursting clear of the stoppages and launching his side into attack.
Adam Marcon and Michael Gibbons also won their fair share of clearances and linked up well with Lambert, who was the leading possession getter on the ground with 26 touches.
Jack Johnstone’s hardness had the East Perth players thinking twice about getting in his way.
He set up a lot of the Seagulls play bounding off the half back flank.
The height and strength of the forwards Jake Owen and Sam Critchley stretched the East Perth defence.
Owen finished with two goals from the half forward line.
With a busy four days behind them, the Seagulls get a chance to rest up with a football-free weekend, and you can bet they will relish every minute of it after the hoops they’ve had to jump through in the past four days.
Foxtel Cup
Semi final
Williamstown 10.11 (71) d East Perth 7.5 (47)
