Williamstown survived a late scare to hold off Sandringham by seven points on Sunday to book a spot in the VFL preliminary final.
The Seagulls led by 48 points at three-quarter-time of the qualifying final, but the Zebras made a late comeback with a strong breeze and a partisan home crowd behind them at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.
Six unanswered Zebras goals made for a heart-stopping finish, but the Seagulls ramped up their defensive pressure late to deny the local side’s bold bid for a direct passage to the penultimate weekend of finals.
“It was pretty nerve-racking at the end,” Seagulls football manager Chris Dixon told Star Weekly.
“We knew they’d come. They’re the best last-quarter team in the competition and with the home crowd and gale wind behind them, it was all set up for a barnstorming finish. For us to hold on like we did, we’re rapt.”
It was a day for the more workman-like performers.
There were opportunities for a bit of individual brilliance going with the wind, but Dixon was more impressed with his players’ efforts against it.
The Seagulls kept the Zebras scoreless in the opening term, so for them to get two goals against the run of play into the wind in the second term went some way to securing the victory.
Those chances came through relentless team defence.
“The two goals we scored into the wind in that quarter were pretty important,” Dixon said. “Not just the fact that you score but the psychological factor of scoring into the wind gives everyone a big boost.
“It’s was also a letdown to the opposition when there were only three goals kicked to that end all day. It was just smothers, chase down tackles and everyone was defending like everything was on the line.”
Jack Charleston produced a lionhearted performance for the Seagulls.
The small defender kept livewire Zebras forward Trent Dennis-Lane to just one goal and did all the one-percenters asked of him by coach Andy Collins.
“I thought he played one of his better games for the club and that’s a huge wrap for him because he’s played a lot of good games for us,” Dixon said. “His efforts, particularly late in the game, were just phenomenal.
“Smothers, desperation tackles, just little things like knocking the ball to the boundary at critical times.
“The backline held up exceptionally today when you consider the onslaught they had in the last quarter.”
Willie Wheeler’s burst from the stoppages was a feature of the Seagulls’ midfield.
Adam Marcon and Ben Jolley had plenty of the ball, thanks largely to the work of ruckman Nick Meese, who fought one-out against Zebras bigs Tom Hickey and Lewis Pierce.
“Nick had 18 disposals, 56 hit outs, eight clearances and nine tackles,” Dixon said. “That’s a fair day out in anyone’s language.”
Dylan Conway, Sam Dunell and Cameron Lockwood booted two goals each.
The Seagulls have welcomed the week’s rest and will go on a scouting mission to the Footscray and Essendon semi-final, as they face the winner a week later.
Their development league side will also be in action after they cashed in their double chance after a 20-point loss to Box Hill Hawks in the second semi-final on Saturday.
“I think the bye helps,” Dixon said. “It was a physical game today and it allows us to rest up. To get a week off now is the perfect time.
“It’s such an even competition, the last thing we needed was to go to an elimination final with Collingwood, who will have a pretty strong team next week.
“To know we’re one win away from a grand final is a pretty good position to be in.”
