Elimination Final Match Report Vs. Collingwood

21-07-23

By Cooper Watkins

 

Williamstown hosted the Magpies in a win or go home elimination final on Saturday afternoon. 

 

The‘Gulls who solidified fifth spot on the VFL ladder in an impressive home and away season looked to continue their season for another week. Williamstown had previously defeated the Pies earlier in the year by four-goals and hoped to continue in the same vein on Saturday.

 

The home side began in electric fashion kicking the only three goals of the first quarter. Whilst also maintaining a defensive first mindset that has been a theme for the ‘Gulls all season conceding only

two minor scores for the term. Joel Ottavi continued his strong second half of the season popping up to kick two of the first three majors for Williamstown.

 

The second term was much of the same with Williamstown continuing to stretch their advantage with a five-goal to one quarter. Josh Pickess and Nick Ebinger each had a strong quarter kicking four-goals between them, with Ebinger’s second coming on the stroke of halftime, and meant the home side took a seven-goal lead into the main break.

 

The visitors brought an intensity in and around the contest in the third term that had not been seen often in the first half. As a result the Pies were able to kick the first goal of the half and seemingly

take a stranglehold of the momentum. However, Williamstown were able to slow down the tempo of the game, Collingwood’s ball movement and limit the pies to just the one goal for the term. Tom

Downie had an influential quarter and took a number of intercept marks in defensive 50 to stem Collingwood entries inside forward 50. The ‘Gulls maintained a six-goal lead heading into the final break.

 

The early moments were stagnant in the final term with both teams sustaining a finals intensity in the contest which led to errors by hand and foot. Jack Noonan however was able to take advantage

of a turnover on the near side wing and ran into an open goal to seal the victory for Williamstown.

 

The goal was immediately followed by a brilliant team goal coming from clearance through a chain handballs and finished with a Corey Ellison right foot snap. Mitch Cox put the cherry on top for

Williamstown with a soaring mark over a pack of four or five and moments later kicked truly with a tidy finish from the boundary line.

 

 

Williamstown finished with a 55-point margin and now head to Brisbane next weekend to face the Lions in another win or go home contest.

 

Williamstown 12.10 (82)

Collingwood 3.9 (27)