By Lance Jenkinson
It is the perfect number combination in amateur football – 20-0.
Williamstown CYMS achieved the rare feat in the Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier C, going through the season undefeated.
The CYs overcame one of their toughest tests of the year in the grand final, beating a stubborn Ajax by 18 points at the Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday.
CYs coach Mathew Montebello was still letting it sink in that his side had won all 20 games en route to the promotion and premiership double.
“It’s really surreal,” he said.
“Someone said to me part way through the year, you probably need to lose one, it’s good for you, but you never coach thinking you’ve got to drop one soon, but you just don’t expect it to happen that you go through a season undefeated.
“The boys are in really good spirits because they put a lot of pressure on themselves to do it, they had high expectations and wanted to get the job done.”
Williamstown CYMS had redemption on the mind from day one of pre-season.
The CYs could not exactly sweep what happened in last year’s finals under the carpet when they lost a semi-final by three points and a preliminary final by a point, which cost the minor premiers their shot at promotion.
“The boys took a lot from last year,” Montebello said.
“We didn’t talk about it too much, but we always knew last year’s disappointment was driving us.
“The pressure in the first final to get through the promotion, it was like ‘phew, we got through the stumbling block from last year’.
“Then there’s still the added pressure of you’re 19-0 now and how do you make sure you finish it off properly.
“I’m really proud of the boys.”
With the grand final close, Williamstown CYMS was looking for a match-winner in the dying minutes.
The CYs needed to look no further than co-captain Tommy Johnstone, who produced two game-saving acts for his side.
The first was a big smother that halted an Ajax forward thrust and the second was a spectacular goal bursting through a pack.
“We always talk about captain’s leadership and what a moment that was for him,” Montebello said. “He was inspirational.”
Williamstown CYMS ruckman Dylan Jones was the most influential player on the ground.
The CYs are heading to Premier B – the second tier of amateur football in the state –and Montebello is excited by what lies ahead.
Williamstown CYMS also won premierships in the reserves, fourths and under 19 colts, while the women’s team came runners-up.
