Season Summary: 1993

Williamstown went into 1993 without key forward Jack Aziz, who had crossed to Werribee and where he was destined to head the VFA goalkicking with 97 majors and lead his new club to the premiership that year, in a spiteful clash with Port Melbourne. Also missing from 1992 were dual best & fairest winner, Troy Mitchell (Yarrawonga), ex-North Melbourne trio David Ackerley, David Dwyer, Darren Harris (all retired), Scott Perry (travelling) and Grant Smith (Heywood). Barry Round, in his eighth year with the club, coached the team for the fifth consecutive season. General manager, Mark Fotheringham, again coached the Seconds as well as acting as assistant to Round while Brian Carrick was in charge of the under 19's for the third successive season. Terry Maloney was again team manager of the Firsts and Seconds while John Burgess managed the Thirds. 

New players included Troy Moloney (36 games with Footscray), Jason Shields and Robert Bloom (both Footscray Seconds), Chris Smith (Richmond Seconds), Ritchie Hore (Norwood), Ricky Knight (Werribee), future 2003 premiership co-captain Brad Lloyd (Avondale Heights), future 1996 Liston Medallist Paul Dooley (St. Bede's) and Martin Vonier (Keilor). Tom McGowan returned to the Club after a season at Casterton. Jason Williams was drafted by Collingwood at the end of 1992 but was back at Williamstown by round 9 without playing a senior AFL game. 

Things started badly with an 85-point thrashing at Sandringham in the opening round in the grand final rematch, including a season-ending knee injury to star wingman Ashley Koenig in the first five minutes of the game, but three wins were scored in the first five rounds to have Williamstown in equal fourth place, including a come-from-behind win by two goals over Prahran, a nine-point victory over the previously unbeaten Preston and a last-gasp five-point win over Frankston in the Seagull's 14th consecutive victory at Pt. Gellibrand. Four successive losses in rounds 6-9 followed, including a one-point defeat at Springvale with the last kick of the day. Remarkably, two other games in this round were also decided by just a single point. The six goals kicked by Ian Rickman in the round 6 loss at Port Melbourne took him past 500 senior VFA goals. Marcus O'Connor played his 50th senior game for Williamstown in this encounter. Three successive wins in rounds 10-12, including a six-goal victory over Coburg (Tony Pastore 9 goals) and the year's biggest win by 44 points at Oakleigh, revived hopes of a finals spot, but four losses in rounds 15-18, including a one-point loss to ladder-leader Port Melbourne at home and a three-point defeat at Box Hill in the last home-and-away round, ended the season. In the round 17 loss to Port, former Burra Bill Swan played his 301st senior VFA game to overtake the competition games record held by former teammate Fred Cook. In finishing ninth of the 12 clubs with seven wins and eleven losses, three wins and percentage out of the final five, the Seagulls had dropped seven rungs on the ladder from 1992. Two of the defeats were by one point and another by three points. The team kicked a total of 215 goals and 207 behinds (1497 points). The highest score for the season was 17.19.121 against Coburg in round 10 and the lowest was 8.2.50 against Frankston in round 16. 33 players were used in the seniors over the course of the year, with Steve Venner, Saade Ghazi, Brett Gould and Steven Zamakyl appearing in all 18 encounters. 

Only the Thirds ended up competing in the finals after winning 14 of the 22 home-and-away rounds and finishing runners-up to Port Melbourne in the grand final, 12.11 to 6.8, after defeating Werribee in the elimination final (113-99, Craig Sheedy 6 goals), Box Hill by 92 points in the first-semi (151-59, Doug Hart 6 goals) and Sandringham in the preliminary final (130-110). The Thirds kicked a total of 349 goals and 332 behinds (2426 points) in the 18 home-and-away games and four finals, with Zell Urselja the leading goalscorer with 38, closely followed by Doug Hart with 37. The highest score for the season was 24.24.168 against Preston in round 15 while the lowest was 4.12.36 against Frankston the following week. 38 players were used over the course of the season with Troy Carrick and Mark Illich appearing in all 22 encounters. 

Some footage of the round 2 Senior game against Prahran can be seen by clicking on this link:

https://www.facebook.com/vfafootythehalcyondays/videos/2461908277431746/

Andrew Howlett won the Andy Taylor Memorial Trophy for senior best and fairest from Tony Pastore, while Ghazi with 38, including 8 in the round 7 clash with Box Hill, was the Seagulls leading goalscorer and winner of the Bert Hodge Memorial Trophy as well as the most consistent player award. Howlett also took home the Ron James Memorial MVP trophy. Ron Stent was awarded the Bill 'Darkie' Raffle Memorial Trophy for best clubman. 

Under the coaching of former Senior goalkicking star, Mark Fotheringham, the Seconds won just 5 games and lost 13 from the 18 played and finished in 10th position, kicking 223 goals and 187 behinds (1525 points), with a highest score of 21.18.144 against Springvale in round 9 and a lowest of 6.2.38 against Prahran in round 13. A total of 60 players were used in the Seconds over the course of the season. First-year player, Martin Vonier, was awarded the Bill Sheahan Memorial Trophy for best and fairest in the Reserves with Ricky Knight runner-up, while Jason Barry was leading goalkicker with a total of 27. Paul Campbell was awarded the most consistent player trophy in the Seconds. Playing just 12 Seconds games and 5 in the Seniors, Ricky Knight was awarded the A. Todd Medal as the best and fairest player in the VFA Reserves, the first Williamstown player to take out the award since Lou Barker in 1955, when it was then known as the Angus McDonnell Trophy. Knight backed up this award by winning it again in 1994. 

Troy Carrick, son of coach Brian, took home the Harold Hosking Memorial Trophy for best in the Under 19's from Simon Parsons. Tony Sucic was awarded the most consistent player trophy, while Chris Karakiozakis was adjudged best player in the finals. John Burgess was best clubman in the Thirds. 

Season 1993 marked the end of the playing days at Williamstown of Ian Rickman, Brett McTaggart (184 games) and Billy Swan, while Round announced that he would be stepping down as coach. Mark Fotheringham also resigned as coach of the Reserves, as did Brian Carrick in the Thirds. Rickman had kicked 516 goals in his 146 senior games, placing him third on Williamstown's list of all-time aggregate goalkickers, behind only Ron Todd (672) and Mark Fotheringham (571). Swan played 83 games with the Seagulls from 1989 and ended on a VFA total of 302. 

During the year, the Club lost one of its most loyal and dedicated workers in Keith 'Bootnose' McKay, who passed away in May, aged 69. His wife, Vera, also a life member of the Club, passed away in February 1995, aged 75. Another life member, Phyllis Howell, former president of the ladies committee from 1973-77, completed 40 years of voluntary service in this season.   

At the annual meeting held in December, life memberships were awarded to former players Glenn Murphy (1983-90, 122 games 40 goals, 1986 premiership, Seconds captain-coach 1991, Club director 1992/94), Tony Dullard (1983-86, 41 games 48 goals, Seconds premiership 1986, Seconds captain-coach 1987-90, Seniors assistant coach 1991), Brett McTaggart (1982-84 & 1986-93, 184 games 66 goals, premierships 1986/90, Liston Trophy 1988, captain 1992/93) and long-time volunteer and producer of the Seagull Sportsheet, Alan Crocker. 

Former rover from the 1976 premiership team, Mark Cross, was appointed senior coach for 1994, Bill Swan as Reserves coach, Marc Aceri assistant coach and Tony Pastore as captain, replacing McTaggart.  Allison Barrett (fund raising manager) and John Sell (football manager) replaced Sharon Walsh and Mark Fotheringham, respectively.

Former Williamstown player of 1972-75 (41 games, 8 goals) and president from 1983-92, Tony Hannebery, was elected the sixteenth and last VFA president in late 1992. Originally from St Bernards Old Collegians, he was runner-up in the best and fairest award in 1973 to Les Stillman. He was the fourth Williamstown person to preside over the Association, following on from James Hall (1901-02), JJ Liston (1929-44) and John Grieve (1989-92). He returned to the Club as a board member from 1995-99 and received life membership in 1985 and is a member of the Club's Hall of Fame.

Former champion goalkicker, Mark Fotheringham, returned to the Club in 1992 as general manager and was replaced in 1994 by John Sell

Troy Moloney was recruited to Williamstown in 1993 from Footscray

1993 team list

Barry Round entered his fifth and final year as senior coach in 1993.

Bill Swan applies a tackle in the round 4 match v. Preston at Williamstown 

Ian 'Chops' Rickman, in his final season with Williamstown, gathers the ball near goal in the round 4 match v. Preston at Williamstown 

Action from the round 4 match v. Preston at Williamstown, from left Andrew Howlett, Ritchie Hore, Steven Long (#21) and Brett Gould (#32).

Dual premiership star, Liston Medal winner and captain, Brett McTaggart, was another to bow out after the 1993 season. 

training staff 1993

back row Ron 'Hambone' Johnson, Rod Evans, Elpi (Alby) Mimilas, Stephen Potter

 front row unknown, Kelly Brent, Ross Templeton, Ian Slater 

                                                              Trainer Elpi (Alby) Mimilas, pictured here in 1993 

Chilean-born Marcos Fuentes in action v. Port Melbourne in round 6 

 Steve Zamykal (#24) flies for a mark in the game v. Port Melbourne at Port in round 6 

Ian Rickman, kicked his 500th VFA goal against Port in round 6

 

Tony Pastore marks strongly in the game v. Port Melbourne at Port in round 6 

                 Simon Lloyd in action against Box Hill at Williamstown in round 7

Saade Ghazi, 8 goals v. Box Hill in the 17-point round 7 loss, the Seagulls first defeat at Pt Gellibrand in 15 games

Steve Zamykal flies high in the round 8 clash against Dandenong at Williamstown 

Jason 'Square' Williams, drafted by Collingwood in 1992, was back at Willi by round 9 

Full back Simon Lloyd takes a one-handed mark against Springvale in round 9

                                                                                       Bill Swan during 1993

37yo Bill Swan played his 300th senior VFA game in the round 16 fixture at Frankston

 

Thirds Elimination final side, featuring future Liston Medallist Paul Dooley, and senior players Troy Carrick, Mark Illich, Robbie Penna and Chris Karakalakis.       

Williamstown's Under 19 coach, Brian Carrick, retired at the end of 1993 after 3 seasons in the job.   

               

   Troy Carrick, son of coach Brian, Williamstown Under 19's best & fairest winner in 1993      

      

Troy Carrick, pictured here in the 1993 VFA under 19 representative squad

                                                   1993 Senior Best & Fairest winner Andy 'Ghost' Howlett

Dr Manu Gilani finished up as Club medical officer at the end of 1993 after 11 seasons in the role, having commenced in 1983

VFA executive director, Aidan Twomey (left), and president, Tony Hannebery, former Williamstown player and president, at Sandringham during the 1993 season. 

Mark Illich was captain of Williamstown Thirds in 1993 and would go on to play 19 senior games from 1994-96. He was recruited from Williamstown Juniors FC.

 1993 presentation night, from left Simon Lloyd, Saade Ghazi, Tony Pastore and Andrew Howlett

Keith & Vera McKay, pictured here in 1991. Keith passed away in May 1993 followed by his wife in February 1995. 

To hear more about Keith 'Bootnose' McKay 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=7GorE3C3DYY