Season Summary: 1974

Another new President in Welsh-born, Bill Dey, a master of the pool cue, as well as the saxophone, violin and clarinet and a meat industry executive with Borthwicks, greeted the 1974 season, while recruits included future premiership players Peter Kerr from South Melbourne, Glenn Townsend from Bacchus Marsh and Greg Tweedly. The year loomed as one which would provide minimum success yet again due, in part, to injuries to recruits and more seasoned players, including captain-coach, Barry Gill, and six of the team's better players at the start of the season, but despite this the Club was never in doubt of falling into a relegation battle and ended the season on nine wins and nine losses, which was one more victory than was achieved in 1973. Les Stillman was made vice-captain and Bob Percy was deputy vice-captain.

The season began disastrously with a 12-goal defeat at Dandenong, where former Williamstown star full-forward, Dallas Patterson, played against the Seagulls and booted two goals, a 9-goal loss at home to Prahran and a 15-goal annihilation at Geelong West, to leave the Seagulls on the bottom of the ladder with a percentage of 42.5. A victory over Sunshine at home in round 4 lifted the team off the foot of the table, but further defeats by Preston and then away at Port Melbourne made things look grim, with only one victory from the first six matches. Consecutive wins in round 7 and 8 lifted the spirits, but further losses followed with an occasional victory, but only five games were won out of the first 14 rounds which left the team third last with a percentage of 79. The last four home-and-away rounds saw a 27-point win at home against eventual premier Port Melbourne in round 15 followed by three further wins against Caulfield (22 points), Sandringham (11 points) and eventual runner-up, Oakleigh (6 points), to round out the season and give some hope for the future. The team had won six out of their last nine encounters, including victories over three of the eventual four teams that made the finals. On seven occassions, the senior team consisted of no less than nine junior players.

Les Stillman again stood out and finished just one vote behind JJ Liston Trophy winner, Ray Goold of Sunshine, but John Fanning won the Andy Taylor Memorial Trophy for the Club best and fairest award with first-year player, Peter Kerr, runner-up and Stillman third. Stillman was also selected to represent Victoria in the Sheffield Shield in late 1974. Leading goalkicker was Glenn Townsend with a total of 48 from just 11 games. Former Footscray player Richard Radziminski won the Reserves best and fairest and Terry Maloney and Joe Rouse were again team managers of the Seconds, while former senior player, Ian Hucky' Johnson, was captain-coach.

Gary O'Donovan won the Thirds best and fairest award while Ken Barnes was again coach.

Robert Percy played his 100th senior game for the Club late in the season.

A daunting look upon the future of the club could have been summed up by the performances of the Seconds and Thirds sides, both both finishing dead last in their respective competitions, although quite a number of players from the Thirds made the grade in senior football during the season. The Fourths, however, won their third premiership in a row under coach, former senior player and life member, John Raffle, in the Western Suburbs Football League under 17's competiti

on. The team had played in four grand finals in five years. Eddie Messina won the best and fairest trophy for the Fourths, while best players in the grand final victory were Andrew Nash, Gurkin and Jamieson.

At the annual meeting held at the Town Hall in December in respect of the 1974 season, life memberships were awarded to Frank Lee (committeeman from 1965-1973 and a vice-president in 1974), Doug Nicholson (Thirds president 1965-1971 and a committeeman in 1970 and 1972), Rex Swann (Club secretary 1970-71, a committeeman in 1972 and a vice-president 1973-74) and former player from 1967-73, John Whittington (61 games, 3 goals, 1969 premiership, Thirds best and fairest 1966 and senior runner).

Former player of 1939, Marty Phelan, passed away on December 29, 1974, aged 58. He came to Williamstown from Kyneton after earlier playing 3 games with Footscray in 1935. Phelan played 6 games for 'Town before being badly injured in the Seconds and forced into retirement on his doctor's advice.

Captain-coach Barry Gill led the team for his second and final season, which was plagued by injury.

Results from the round 6 game at Port Melbourne.

Final score v. Caulfield at Williamstown, round 16 1974, scoreboard manned by Peter Nash (left) and Geoff Van Wyngaarden.

Peter Nash (left) and Geoff Van Wyngaarden manning the scoreboard during the round 18 game against Oakleigh, won by the Seagulls 15.19.109 to 14.19.103.

Ian "Hucky" Johnson

Results from the round 10 game against Dandenong at Williamstown.

Captain-coach Barry Gill leads the team out at Pt. Gellibrand Oval during the 1974 season.

Team lists for the 1974 First Division lightning premiership elimination final.

Inside Football, 1974.

1974 JJ Liston Medal count

Inside Football, 1974.

Williamstown Fourths (under 17's) won three consecutive premierships in 1972-74 in the Western Suburbs Football League. From left Brian Muldowney (captain), Adrian Sims (best & fairest), John Raffle (coach).