1970's
The 1970's saw the Williamstown Football Club return to the top flight of the VFA after its grand final success in Division Two in the previous year. With high hopes of retaining their place in the league for the following season, no one would have believed how it eventually panned out. Williamstown became the first club to come from the second division and compete in the following years Division One grand final where they unfortunately fell to Prahran. The following year the club was dealt a major blow as Max Papley called time on his playing career due to a recurring injury, although he would still continue on as coach. Without Papley's presence on-field the club was left languishing down the bottom of the table
The following year was turned on its head with Papley returning to the field from retirement, as the Seagulls soared up the ladder only to eventually fall in the preliminary final. The following two seasons (1973 & 1974) saw the club battle away in Division One under new leadership finishing mid-table and never looking in contention for finals. A severe blow was dealt in 1975 as once again Williamstown were sent down to Division Two after a disappointing season that resulted in just four wins.
In an attempt to look at the relegation in a positive light, the club looked towards the season as one for the club to regroup and regain confidence by being a force in Division Two. Such was the case that the club came into the finals in a respectable third place but severe underdogs to take out the cup. Through prevailing in some tough, grueling and tightly contested first two finals, the last day of the year was one to remember as Williamstown triumphed over Mordialloc by 57 points.
A disappointing contrast occurred as the club re-entered the top flight of VFA football with the rise coming as quick as the fall, with fans only able to celebrate two wins for the whole year and would therefore be following their team around in Division Two the next year. 1978 & 1979 followed, with the club finishing a disappointing 9th and 4th in the two seasons respectively.
In July 2018, at an event held at the Club's Seaview Function Centre, a Team of the Decade from the 1970's was announced. The team and the individual records of the members selected can be seen below. A report on the night can be viewed at this link: http://www.williamstownfc.com.au/news/10-latest-news/1145-1970-s-team-of-the-decade-announced
Season by Season Summaries
| 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 |
| Year | President | Coach | Captain | Best & Fairest | Leading Goalkicker |
| 1970 | Arthur Johnson | Max Papley | Max Papley | Kevin Jackman | Dallas Patterson (72) |
| 1971 | Arthur Johnson | Max Papley | Ken Barnes | Brian Harvey | Bob Svoronich (44) |
| 1972 | Arthur Johnson | Max Papley | Max Papley | Les Stillman | Mick Mulligan (75) |
| 1973 | Norman Bernard | Barry Gill | Barry Gill | Les Stillman | Les Stillman (37) |
| 1974 | Bill Dey | Barry Gill | Barry Gill | John Fanning | Glenn Townsend (48) |
| 1975 | Tony Arceri | Ted Whitten |
Les Stillman/Bill Thompson |
Michael Kelly | Robert Fox (40) |
| 1976 | Rex Swann | Mal Allen | Mal Allen | Bob Percy | Michael Brown (67) |
| 1977 | Des Luckhurst | Mal Allen | Mal Allen | Frank Pocervina | Peter Gardner/Brian Lowe (41) |
| 1978 | Sid Wookey | John Fanning | John Fanning | Laurie Taylor | Greg Boxall (32) |
| 1979 | Sid Wookey | Merv Hobbs | Mark Cross | Neil Courtot | Paul John (59) |
| Year | Reserves B&F | Thirds B&F | Fourths B&F |
Best Clubman |
Secretary | Treasurer |
| 1970 | Garry Fitch | Phil Humphries | Jim Hynes | Rex Swann | Alec Bell | |
| 1971 | John James/Graham Salter | Ron Gordon | Graham Dean | J. James | Rex Swann | Alec Bell |
| 1972 | Tad Joniec | Keith Robson | Neville Kerss | John Grieve | Bob Cairncross | |
| 1973 | Robert Scott | Rodney Walker | John Dean | John Grieve | Bob Cairncross | |
| 1974 | Richard Radziminski | Gary O'Donovan | Eddie Messina | Les Dooley | Bob Cairncross | |
| 1975 | Peter Gardner | Neville Kerss | Graham Dean | Ron Page | Bill Pride | Leo Schultz |
| 1976 | Bruce Wookey | Laurie Taylor | N/A | Bill Pride | George Smith | |
| 1977 | Tony McVeigh | Craig Eldridge | N/A | Bill Pride | George Smith | |
| 1978 | Johnny Coyne | Kelvin Lavelle | N/A | Damien Martin | 'Junior' Jackson | Rob Harding |
| 1979 | Jeff Dean | Phil Chapman | N/A | 'Junior' Jackson | Rob Harding |
| Year | Reserves Coach | Thirds Coach | Fourths Coach |
| 1970 | Jocka Mellis | Harry Dern | John Raffle |
| 1971 | Norm Alvin | Alex Merrill | John Raffle |
| 1972 | Norm Alvin | Alex Merrill | John Raffle |
| 1973 | Lester Gladman | Ken Barnes | John Raffle |
| 1974 | Ian Johnson | Ken Barnes | John Raffle |
| 1975 | Merv Williams | John Raffle | John Wright |
| 1976 | Tom Russell | Gary Ward | N/A |
| 1977 | Tom Russell | Garry Ward | N/A |
| 1978 | Keith Webster | Gary Ward | N/A |
| 1979 | Phil McTaggart | Gary Ward | N/A |
Competition Award Winners
1970 Western Suburbs League Under 16's (Fourth's) Best & Fairest - Jim Hynes
1972 Western Suburbs League Under 16's (Fourth's) Best & Fairest - Glenn Hancock
1974 JJ Liston Medal runner-up - Les Stillman
1976 Division Two Best & Fairest - J. Field Medal - Colin Boyd
1978 VFA Thirds Competition Best & Fairest runner-up - Kelvin Lavelle
1978 VFA Thirds Competition goalkicking award - Sol Alexander Trophy - Phil Chapman (129)
1979 VFA Thirds Competition Best & Fairest - F. Gomez Medal - Phil Chapman
1979 VFA Thirds Competition goalkicking award - Sol Alexander Trophy - Phil Chapman (132)
Photos
1976 Premiership team
Back row: Peter Kerr, Brian Lowe, Michael Brown, John Fanning, Greg Boxall, Peter Gardner, Rocky Burgess
Centre row: Mick Mahoney, Mal Allen (captain-coach), Robert Percy, Colin Boyd
Front row: Frank Briner, Greg Harley, Mark Cross, Frank Pocervina, Greg Tweedly
Absent: Peter Mildenhall, Bruce Alexander
Action from the Grand Final at Toorak Park
1976 Premiership team
Back row: Peter Kerr, Brian Lowe, Michael Brown, John Fanning, Greg Boxall, Peter Gardner, Rocky Burgess
Centre row: Mick Mahoney, Mal Allen (captain-coach), Robert Percy, Colin Boyd
Front row: Frank Briner, Greg Harley, Mark Cross, Frank Pocervina, Greg Tweedly
Absent: Peter Mildenhall, Bruce Alexander
For more stories on the 1970's from some of the Club identities of the era please click on the following link to one of Bruce Davis' productions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho-hy2BV_Oo
For more stories on bookmakers involved at Williamstown in the 1970's from some of the Club identities of the era please click on the following link to one of Bruce Davis' productions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtO08Tv0f_M
BACKS
Brian Harvey - 1969-1972
Games: 59 Goals: 1
1971 Best & Fairest
1970 Best & Fairest runner-up
Ron Fenton - 1971-1975
Games: 77 Goals: 37
Alan Kennedy - 1976-1982
Games: 82 Goals: 11
Colin Boyd - 1975-1976
Games: 37 Goals: 3
1976 Premiership Player
1976 Field Medallist, Second Division B&F
1975 Best & Fairest runner-up
1976 Best & Fairest runner-up
Bill Thompson - 1972-1975
Games: 70 Goals: 4
1972 Best & Fairest runner-up
Peter Kerr - 1974-1980
Games: 111 Goals: 36
1976 Premiership Player
1974 Best & Fairest runner-up
1976 Best & Fairest third place
1979 Best & Fairest third place
MIDFIELDERS
John Fanning - 1970-1980
Games: 132 Goals: 94
1976 Premiership Player
1974 Best & Fairest
Kevin Jackman - 1969-1975
Games 87: Goals 153
1970 Best & Fairest
Robert Percy - 1969-1977
Games: 135 Goals: 67
1976 Premiership Player
1976 Best & Fairest
Greg Tweedly - 1974-1982
Games: 105 Goals: 99
1976 Premiership Player
FORWARDS
Les Stillman - 1971-1975
Games: 69 Goals: 113
1972 & 1973 Best & Fairest
1971 Best & Fairest third place
1974 Best & Fairest third place
1973 Leading Goalkicker (37)
Robert Lane - 1967-1975
Games: 84 Goals: 46
Robert Svorinich - 1971-1973
Games: 35 Goals: 100
1971 Best & Fairest runner-up
1971 Leading Goalkicker (54)
Ron Page - 1968-1976
Games: 78 Goals: 34
Greg Boxall - 1971-1978
Games: 88 Goals: 170
1976 Premiership Player
1978 Leading Goalkicker (32)
Mark Cross - 1975-1979
Games: 74 Goals: 125
1976 Premiership Player
1979 Best & Fairest runner-up
RESERVES & COACH
Laurie Taylor - 1977-1989
Games: 127 Goals: 83
1978 Best & Fairest
John Whittington - 1967-1973
Games: 61 Goals: 3
Max Papley (Coach) 1968-1972
Games: 54 Goals: 108
Back row: Greg Boxall, Robert Svorinich, John Fanning, Greg Tweedly, Les Stillman