By Lauren Wood, Williamstown Media
Polson comes back into the line-up for his tenth game of the season after an injury-interrupted year that’s recently kept him out of Rounds 18 and 21.
He takes the place of Nick Ebinger, who pulled up with calf tightness during the training week and will not be risked on the park.
Sunday will be the skipper’s second consecutive Wildcard Final appearance, adding valuable finals experience to Justin Plapp’s side.
The clash will also be the second time in four weeks that Williamstown and Collingwood meet, with the Magpies having taken the points at DSV Stadium earlier this month.
On that occasion, Brodie McLaughlin booted 5.3 on his way to a season tally of 67 goals, securing his second Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal as the league’s leading goalkicker.
Club stalwart Jake Greiser also starred despite the loss, recording 38 disposals and seven intercepts.
Greiser carried that form into last weekend, playing a pivotal role alongside defenders Luke Parks and Joel Fitzgerald in the Seagulls’ upset win over Richmond.
The Richmond encounter was effectively an early elimination final for the Seagulls, who responded with the resilience that has carried them to semi-finals in each of the past two years.
Notably, the 2023 finals run included a 55-point elimination final win over Collingwood at DSV Stadium.
While the Magpies will enter favourites on their home deck, recent history shows this contest is far from one-sided.
Williamstown has won six of the eight clashes between the two clubs, including an unbeaten run at Victoria Park dating all the way back to Round 14, 1895.
With the league’s leading goalkicker and finals pedigree across the squad, Plapp’s program takes confidence into another finals campaign.
All VFL finals including the Wildcard are fully ticketed, with supporters encouraged to pre-purchase their tickets here.
Match Details:
Sunday, August 24th at 2.05pm
Victoria Park, Abbotsford
Can’t make the game? Watch live at afl.com.au or stay updated with live match scores via Williamstown Football Club’s Instagram, Facebook, and X.
Team Selection:
