1990's

Consistent form in 1990 enabled Williamstown to have a good season, particularly in the middle stages when they won seven consecutive games. In Round 16 the Seagulls defeated Coburg 22.19 to 12.12 to wrest top spot from the Lions. However, Williamstown dropped to fourth place, despite winning 12 of the 18 games, they still had by far the best percentage (138.4) of any of the clubs. To take the flag Williamstown had to win four finals, starting with the elimination final against fifth-placed Werribee. The 'Town progressed their way through the finals and booked a spot in the Grand Final for the fifth time in six seasons. The Seagulls faced off against Springvale in the decider, a miracle comeback saw Williamstown's claim a two-point win, 16.11 to 15.15, and securing its 14th premiership.

In 1991, two struggling clubs in Camberwell and Brunswick both quit the VFA, bringing the total of teams to just 12. For the first time in seven seasons Williamstown failed to reach the finals. Rover Ghazi was the club's leading goal-kicker and veteran Bill Swan added another club best and fairest award.

The Seagulls bounced back in 1992 as they played in their sixth Grand Final in only eight years. For the first time since 1958 the VFA played with 18-man teams by reinstating the two wingers. The early stages of the Grand Final against Sandringham at Princes Park indicated an even game, however, Sandy triumphed 19.16 to 13.8, which by coincidence was a margin of 44 points - the difference between the two sides in the opening game of the season.

The 1993 season was coached by Barry Round, coaching the team for the fifth consecutive season. Williamstown finished ninth of the 12 clubs with seven wins and eleven losses. Season 1993 marked the end of the playing days at Williamstown of Ian Rickman, Brett McTaggart and Billy Swan, while Round announced after the last game that he would be stepping down. After losing the opening three games in 1993, the Seagulls won eight of the 18 games for the year to finish in eighth place. 

The 1995 season, under new coach, ex-Geelong player Damien Christensen, were dashed, largely because of lack of funds, and in what turned out to be the last season played by the VFA, its oldest constituent club had the ignominy of losing all sixteen games to finish dead-last. After season 1995 the 118-year old Association was scrapped and a new body called the Victorian Football League (VFL) was formed. As a way of trimming the existing clubs from nine to eight, the VFL recommended that Williamstown merge with Werribee to form the Western Seagulls. This was not to be, as 1200 signatures against the merger meant Williamstown survived the troubling year of 1995.

1996 marked the start of the new VFL, whose ranks included country clubs Traralgon and North Ballarat. A 26-point win at Traralgon followed and, before long, it was evident that the 'Town had reversed its dismal form of the previous year. Good performances in the second half of the season enabled the club to finish fourth on the ladder with 11 wins, 6 losses and a draw. Williamstown and Port met in the elimination final with the 'Town triumphing by 12 points. This brought the Seagulls and Werribee together in the first semi-final, but this time the 'Bees won 13.19 to 9.5.

Williamstown began season 1997 with a draw at Traralgon. A loss at Frankston and a two-point win against North Ballarat completed the season. Tony Pastore, who had captained the side for four years and had given great service as both a defender and forward, played the last of his 189 games with the club. Veteran rover, Saade Ghazi, won the club's best and fairest award, which was a fitting reward for his consistent efforts. Phil O'Keefe again scored the most goals for Williamstown with 46. 

Traralgon was replaced by Bendigo in 1998 as Williamstown missed out on the chance of playing in the finals. With only two wins in the first eight games, the Seagulls then played consistently to win the next five. A victory over Bendigo in the last round gave Williamstown eight wins from 18 home-and-away fixtures.

The Seagulls again won eight and lost 10 games in 1999, but in far different circumstances. This time they made a cracking start by winning the opening four games under new coach, former Geelong and Brisbane star, Andrew Bews. The undoubted highlight of the year was the form of David Round, who won the club best and fairest only ten years after his father, Barry, had last won the award.  

 

Season by Season Summaries

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

 

Year	President	Coach	Captain	Best &      Fairest	Leading Goalkicker
1990	Tony Hannebery	Barry Round	Barry Round	Troy Mitchell	Ian Rickman (53)
1991	Tony Hannebery	Barry Round	Barry Round	Bill Swan	Saade Ghazi (31)
1992	Tony Hannebery/ Graham Oborne	Barry Round	Brett McTaggart	Troy Mitchell	Ian Rickman (82)
1993	Graham Oborne	Barry Round	Brett McTaggart	Andrew Howlett	Saade Ghazi (38)
1994	Graham Oborne/ Kim Walsh	Mark Cross	Tony Pastore	Troy Mitchell	Phil O'Keefe (24)
1995	Kim Walsh/          Greg Swann	Damien Christensen	Tony Pastore	Julian Shanks	Steve Johansen (16)
1996	Greg Swann	Merv Keane	Tony Pastore	Paul Dooley	Phil O'Keefe (53)
1997	Greg Swann	Merv Keane	Tony Pastore	Saade Ghazi	Phil O'Keefe (46)
1998	Greg Swann	Merv Keane	Saade Ghazi	Danny Del Re	Danny Del Re (60)
1999	Greg Swann/ Trevor Monti	Andrew Bews	Saade Ghazi	David Round	Danny Del Re (49)

 

Year	General Manager /CEO	Ron James Most Valuable	Seconds  Coach	Thirds Coach
1990	Ray Maloney	Brett McTaggart	Tony Dullard	Bruce Leighton
1991	Gavin Keane/Sharon Walsh	David Ackerley	Glenn Murphy	Brian Carrick
1992	Mark Fotheringham	Troy Mitchell	Mark Fotheringham	Brian Carrick
1993	Mark Fotheringham	Andrew Howlett	Mark Fotheringham	Brian Carrick
1994	John Sell/Mark Dunphy	Troy West	Bill Swan	Trevor Davies
1995	Sharon Walsh	Julian Shanks	Brendan Christensen	N/A
1996	Brendan Curry	Paul Dooley		N/A
1997	Brendan Curry	Saade Ghazi	Michael Boyd	N/A
1998	Brendan Curry	Troy West	Mick Baker	N/A
1999	Brendan Curry	Troy West	Mick Baker	N/A

  

Year	Reserves B&F	Thirds B&F	Best Clubman	Most Consistent	Coach's Trophy
1990	Nick Dimartino	Bill Dooley	Bob 'Bumper' Jones	Brett McTaggart	TBA
1991	Rick Slevison	Adam Hough	Graeme Crocker	David Ackerley	Scott Perry
1992	Bill Dooley	Brad Spurling	Ron Johnson	Tony Pastore	Steven Long
1993	Martin Vonier	Troy Carrick	Ron Stent	Saade Ghazi	Simon Lloyd
1994	Ricky Knight	Robert Penna	Graham Oborne	Brad Lloyd	Troy West
1995	Corey Tranter	N/A	Paul Brown
1996	Adam Murone	N/A	Brian Hamment
1997	Leigh Dooley	N/A	Ron Johnson
1998	Cameron Beazley	N/A	Kevin Johnson
1999	Luke Phipps	N/A	Lorraine Davies

 

 Competition Award Winners

1990 Norm Goss Memorial Medallist - Barry Round

1992 VFA leading goal scorer - Ian Rickman 82

1992 Fothergill-Round Medal - Julian Shanks

1993 A. Todd Medal, VFA Seconds best and fairest - Ricky Knight

1994 A. Todd Medal, VFA Seconds best and fairest - Ricky Knight

1996 JJ Liston Trophy - Paul Dooley

1996 Fothergill-Round Medal - Paul Dooley 

 

The Williamstown Football Club 1990's Team of the Decade was announced at a function held at the Seaview Events Centre on July 9, 2022. Pictured below are the fourteen selected players who were present on the night. 

From left: Simon Lloyd, Troy West, Adam Hough, Bill Swan, Marcus O'Connor, Andrew Howlett, Saade Ghazi, Troy Carrick, Steve Johansen, Danny Del-Re, Greg Minett, Paul Dooley, Tom McGowan, Phil O'Keeffe.