By Lance Jenkinson
Look up the word tough in a dictionary and it seems there’s every chance you’ll find the Williamstown Football Club logo.
The Seagulls have marched nearly unblemished through the most gruelling months of the VFL season – and it all comes down to their mental toughness.
The Andrew Collins-coached team has not lost a game since June 1, a span of almost two cold winter months. In that time, it has won eight and drawn one.
They are the best no-excuses football team in the league.
If Williamstown was ever going to drop a game based on being out of its comfort zone, last Sunday’s game would have been the one.
The Seagulls home ground was waterlogged, causing disruption to their training schedule and forcing a tough game against Geelong to be relocated to Werribee.
The players, coaches and staff from the Seagulls soldiered on, preparing as best as they could on the half ground kindly loaned by the Newport juniors.
Brushing off the inconveniences, Williamstown arrived ready for a stern challenge from a Geelong side featuring upwards of 10 players who could walk into most AFL sides, including the likes of Sam Menagola, Rhys Stanley, Zac Smith, Scott Selwood and Charlie Constable.
The Seagulls found a way – as they so often do.
Their nine-point victory was full of guts and determination.
Collins admitted his side was “a bit lucky” at times, with the statistics all favouring Geelong.
But what did not register on the stats sheet was his team’s immense will to win.
“As a coach, I was rapt with their performance,” he said. “Their effort was just tremendous.
“There were a lot of numbers that favoured Geelong and they really came home strongly over us, but we just held on in the end.”
The Seagulls produced one of their most even team performances of the season.
Fifteen players had 10 or more disposals, with 20 notched up by both Billy Myers and Liam Hunt.
Ten different players kicked a goal, with Nick Rodda the only multiple with two.
“It was a real even performance,” Collins said. “No one had massive numbers.”
Myers, on the wing, and Nick Sing, running off half-back, were the most effective.
Nick Meese produced a herculean performance in the ruck, finishing with 33 hit-outs, 10 disposals, four tackles and a
goal – all while playing on four different opponents.
Not for the first time, Collins pondered aloud how Meese had never played a game of AFL football.
“There were rucks coming at him from everywhere today,” Collins said.
“He’s a terrific warrior. I’m sure that people watch him against AFL ruckmen and go: ‘Why didn’t you get a game of AFL footy?’
“He really is competitive and combative against them all.”
Third-placed Williamstown will face finals contender Werribee in the last home-and-away round at Downer Oval on Saturday night.
“It’s just a classic battle of the west,” Collins said. “Hopefully, it will be at our ground, with Saturday night expected to be really nice weather at this stage.
“It would be a lovely way to finish the home-and-away season – with a big home crowd.”
