A flag for Willy

by AJ BRADY

IN the VFL grand final for season 2003, Williamstown defeated Box Hill by 29 points at Princes Park yesterday.

In windy but sunny conditions, and before a modest crowd of around 10,000, Williamstown were able to negate Box Hill's running game early on and put their mark on the match, seeing them run out winners 13.14 (92) to 9.9 (63).

Williamstown won the toss and elected to kick with the wind in the first quarter, and utilised it to their full advantage, winning centre hit-outs and clearances around the ground, and disallowing Box Hill even an attempt to mount some momentum.

Williamstown's efficient and direct play through the corridor saw them move seamlessly from the centre square into attack on numerous occasions, with star forward Marcus Baldwin out to prove a point, on fire early leading stronly, taking good marks and kicking some early goals.

The Williamstown side went into the first change a whopping 34 points ahead, and Box Hill seemed stunned almost into a stand-still.

The second quarter was much of the same, with again Williamstown winning first usage through the dominance of Guy Richards in the ruck, and the tough in-and-under work done by co-captain Brad Lloyd and veteran Adrian Fletcher was just too much for the Box Hill side to handle, who despite having the wind in the second quarter, went into the half-time break a massive 47 points adrift and we in the 3SER commentary box were suddenly wondering how far Williamstown.

After an uncharacteristic verbal bashing from rookie coach Tony Liberatore during the break, the Box Hill side came out a much more fluent unit, finally beginning to win the contests and taking the ball from the stoppages. Their inefficient and indirect ball use along the flanks was hurting them, though a six goals to three third quarter breathed new life into the game, reducing the margin to just 27 points in favor of the Seagulls.

The atmosphere around the ground at the final change was tense and it appeared as though the Hawks were ready to do to Williamstown what they'd done to Werribee and Sandringham in previous weeks, run over the top of them after poor first halves.

After another impassioned plea at three quarter-time by coach Tony Liberatore, the cool and experienced heads of Williamstown rose to the fore to really bottle up play in the final term, the first goal not coming until the 22-minute mark.

In the end, it was a combination of Williamstown's direct and efficient usage of the football, coupled with their ability to man-up so well and bottle up Box Hill's running game, which saw them run out the 29-point victors.

They continually forced Box Hill into making rudimentary errors, or attempting goals from impossible angles, and the tagging work of such players as Rupert Betheras, Dane Swan and Glenn Freeborn was a big factor in the Seagulls getting over the line yesterday.

The Williamstown defence was superb all day in shutting out the two big dangers, David Loats and Stephen Kenna, the only ball Kenna getting being late in the match and wide on the flanks, forcing him into making numerous impossible attempts at goals.

Among the midfield and at the stoppages, the work of young ruckman Guy Richards again worked a treat, winning first possession for the Williamstown and getting it down to guys like Mark McGough, Lloyd and Fletcher to propel the Seagulls into attack.

With co-captain Troy West patrolling the wings, the Seagulls had the Hawks midfield covered all day, choked for space and disallowed any opportunity to build momentum.

Better players for the losing side included rugged centreman Brad Sewell, the only four-quarter contributor for the Hawks, working hard in-and-under the packs and winning hardball gets for his side; Tom Bayford who used his time on the ground very efficiently as a pinch-hitting utility around the ground, collecting many meaningful possessions and chiming in with 2 goals; Steven Greene who was the only real player from Box Hill's midfield brigade to break the shackles of the Williamstown taggers, at times finding a small amount of space to carry the ball through and propel the Hawks into attack; Anthony Marguccio, a player with not a whole lot of senior experience this season, came off the bench and played well as a utility, using the ball well when he got it and chiming in with a nice goal; and Matthew Ball, another rugged in-and-under type who was under pressure down in defence all day, but worked hard and was very accountable.

Williamstown now march off with their 13th VFA-VFL premiership, making it a double celebration down at Point Gellibrand oval after the Seagulls reserves ran out big victors over the highly-fancied Northern Bullants in the reserves.

It's Williamstown's first flag since 1990, its AFL partner Collingwood is looking to emulate the feat this coming weekend.

australianrules.com.au

Disclaimer