Australian Football

Match Report

Williamstown has become the first standalone team since Port Melbourne in 2011 to win a VFL premiership after defeating a slightly disappointing Box Hill at Docklands in front of just under 13,000 fans on Sunday afternoon. The Seagulls led from go to whoa and were able to comfortably see off any challenges the Hawks threw at them to eventually win by 54 points. Midfielder Michael Gibbons was dominant for the victors, collecting 28 touches and he was a worthy winner of the Norm Goss Medal for his efforts. The Hawthorn-aligned Box Hill Hawks have now lost two Grand Finals in a row. While that will be disappointing to Box Hill stalwarts, it will be of secondary concern to Hawthorn, which went on to claim a third consecutive AFL premiership the following week. Such are the quirks of a competition that boasts both non-AFL-aligned and AFL-aligned teams.

After an early behind Sean Tighe, the Seagulls made the first major breakthrough of the match with a goal to Leigh Masters at the five-minute mark. The Hawks responded with a rushed behind and a goal to James Sicily, but when Anthony Anastasio booted the next major for Williamstown at the 11-minute mark, he gave the Seagulls a lead that they would not give up for the remainder of the match. Conway and Lockwood followed up with majors to make the lead 18 points, but Jonathan Simpkin cut that back to 12 with his first as the first term entered time-on. The Seagulls then squandered opportunities to create a big lead with Conway, Jolley and Sam Dunnell all missing shots, but a late goal to Gallic saw Williamstown lead 5.5 to 2.3 at quarter time.

Box Hill attacked heavily in the early stages of the second quarter but, after a goal to Jed Anderson, missed chances of its own with Tatupu missing twice and Will Langford once as the Hawks cut the margin back to 11 points. After a behind to Williamstown's Wheeler, a major to Sam Grimley saw Box Hill back within a goal at the 12-minute mark. The two sides went goal-for-goal after that and by the time the siren sounded for the long break, Box Hill was only five points adrift of the Seagulls.

The third term has long been referred to as the 'premiership quarter', and it proved to be so this time around for Williamstown. Tighe's first goal put the Seagulls 11 points clear and after a behind to the Hawks' Howe, Lockwood and Clouston goaled to give the Seagulls as decisive 22-point break at the eight-minute mark. Each side added a behind before Conway and Lockwood goaled again for Williamstown at the 15 and 17-minute marks and the Seagulls were nigh on six goals clear. Box Hill had another brief period of control after that but could glean only 1.4 in that time and it was the Seagulls by 26 at the last change of ends.

Needing the first goal of the last quarter to give themselves a chance, the Hawks got just that when Anderson kicked his second inside the first two minutes. But it proved to be a false dawn and goals to Master, Banner, Conway, and Goss Medal winner Gibbons over the next 10 minutes took Williamstown's lead to 44 and ensured the last 20 minutes of the Grand Final would be an on-field premiership party for the Seagulls. Galluci and Carr added further majors, and the 'Towners were nine goals clear when the siren sounded to commence official celebrations.

Gibbons was outstanding for the winners, with Meese and Carr also fine players, while Simpkin, Langford and Whitecross were good for the Hawks. It was Williamstown's 14th VFA/VFL flag, the Seagulls' last coming in 2003 when they were aligned with Collingwood in the AFL. Box Hill's premiership total remains at two, the Hawks having won in 2001 and 2013. 

GOALS
Williamstown: Lockwood, Conway, Gallucci 3; Anastasio, Masters 2; Tighe, Clouston, Banner, Gibbons, Carr
Box Hill: Sicily, Anderson 2; Simpkin, Grimley, Collins, Miles

BEST
Williamstown: Gibbons , Meese, Carr, Anastasio, Masters
Box Hill: Simpkin, Langford, Whitecross, O’Rourke

Norm Goss Memorial Medal: Michael Gibbons (Williamstown)

FULL REPLAY: