A day at the footy

Quarter time at North Port Oval

Reigning premiers Port Melbourne have earned the chance to defend their title following a hard fought 34-point victory over local rivals Williamstown.

In front of a large and vocal home crowd at North Port Oval, the Borough kept the Seagulls to a solitary behind in the final term to record a 12.15 (87) to 7.15 (53) victory.

Port went into the game heavily favoured, having not lost at the ground since the start of the 2011 season, and got off to a great start courtesy of goals from forward Josh Scipione and VFL team of the year midfielder Shane Valenti.

Despite the ideal conditions, both teams struggled to provide quality ball delivery to their forwards in the first quarter, and the Seagulls had to rely on a booming goal from veteran Brett Goodes to stay in touch at quarter time.

Fletcher Roberts kicked three for Williamstown

Williamstown noticeably lifted their attack on the ball, and at times the man, in the second quarter in an attempt to wrest control of the game from Port Melbourne. Young AFL-listed forward Fletcher Roberts provided a focal point up forward for the Seagulls who were able to close to within a goal of the Borough. But Port steadied with a goal from former Seagull Wayde Skipper following a small melee in front of the Port terraces, to take a two-goal lead into the main break.

The game opened up in the second half as both teams tried to provide more opportunities to their forwards. Roberts took another strong mark before slotting his third from the boundary, while Port’s Dean Galea, the VFL’s leading goal kicker, was able to generate shots at goal from more one-on-one opportunities.

Towards the end of the third quarter, Port Melbourne was able to create a spare man in defence, which arguably was the turning point in the game. Ably executed by defender Sam Pleming, Port were able to nullify the threat of Roberts, while using Pleming as a launching pad for attacking moves.

Adrian Bonaddio kicks the sealer for Port

Down by sixteen points at three-quarter time, Williamstown needed a quick start in the final term to be any chance of causing an upset. The final quarter however, was to be the most lopsided of the game. The Port midfield, led by captain John Baird, Hugh Sandilands and Matt Dillon, assumed total control in the centre of the ground, and repeatedly forced the ball forward to the key forward Galea and Adrian Bonaddio.

Bonaddio, playing his one hundredth VFL game, took a number of contested marks and finished with two goals for the quarter.

In the end it was only Port’s inaccuracy which kept the margin close, although that is in no way to discredit the effort of the Seagulls who tried hard all day without ever really threatening to win the game.

Port Melbourne now advances next week’s final, to be played at Etihad Stadium, against the winner of Sunday’s preliminary final between Geelong and Weribee.