Inspirational Williamstown captain Ben Jolley was scarcely aware that it was his 10th year in the VFL until he stepped up on the stage at last week’s Liston Trophy count to accept life membership.
“I remember when I was an 18-year-old, starting out in the business in the VFL, and now I’m 28 with Williamstown,” Jolley said ahead of Sunday’s preliminary final clash with the Box Hill Hawks.
“How quickly it’s gone is quite amazing.’’
Relationships take time to build and loyalty is one of the keys to keep one going.
The football club that Jolley plays for is a pillar of the local community and celebrating its 150th anniversary for a reason.
Jolley has become recognised as the face of the club, as both its captain and the no-nonsense midfielder willing to put his body on the line.
Jolley might have grown up in the north-western suburbs, played his under-age football at the Calder Cannons and gone on to play for Essendon in the AFL, but that didn’t keep him from being embraced by Williamstown from the day he walked into the Morris Street club.
Jolley embodies what it means to be a Seagulls player.
“I try to impart to my teammates that you’ve just got to get absolutely everything out of both your body and your mind when you’re playing football,” Jolley said.
“That’s pretty much what I’ve built my entire career out of, just trying to get every ounce of ability out of myself through playing hard.’’
The Ascot Vale resident belongs in this community even if, as he joked, he can’t move into the area because house prices remain out of reach. He makes up for it by working as a teacher at Williamstown High School.
Captaining the Seagulls in their 150th anniversary season is a position that Jolley doesn’t take lightly.
“It’s a proud club, so to be in the position at the helm for the last three years has been a pretty humbling experience.’’
You wonder how smooth Williamstown’s transition from an AFL-aligned club to standalone might have been without a strong on-field leader.
The Seagulls went from being everyone’s yo-yo team to a bona fide premiership contender.
With new coach in Andy Collins at the helm and a massive turnover of players, the side needed a strong leadership team and Jolley has offered stability in his role.
The Seagulls had five players, including Jolley, and coach Collins named in the VFL’s team of the year.
They reached the VFL finals without a single player on an AFL list and took out the nationwide Foxtel Cup.
Irrespective of how the rest of the season pans out, Jolley is immensely proud of what the players have achieved in a special year for the Seagulls.
“I think our performances to date have proved that we can most certainly stand on our own two feet and take the club forward.’’
