By Ben Ford
The previous week had already been a memorable one for the club, with former Seagull Hugo Hall-Kahan making a successful AFL debut for Adelaide in its upset victory over Geelong.
Hall-Kahan and Joel Fitzgerald’s promotions also opened the door for new faces at Williamstown, with Lachlan Wilson (#36) and Ryan Jacobs (#37) making their club debuts.
Winning the battle through the middle was crucial early, and Diesel Moloney continued his excellent form by kicking the opening goal of the game.
The Seagulls controlled territory in the opening stages, although possession remained relatively even in a tightly contested first quarter.
Josh D’Intinosante nearly added another highlight to his growing reel with a brilliant snap around the corner, only to see the ball brush the post.
As the game moved into the second term, Williamstown’s forward entries were repeatedly intercepted by the Borough’s strong marking ability.
With nine goals already kicked between the two sides, it became increasingly clear that this was going to be a showdown. The question wasn’t whether goals would come, but whose key forwards would stand tallest in the biggest moments.
Despite dominating territory, the Borough wasted several opportunities and failed to kick a goal during a five-minute stretch. However, they still managed to establish a handy halftime lead thanks to another goal, which came after the halftime siren.
At the main break, the battle lines had been drawn. The key forward duel between Port Melbourne’s Kaine Baldwin and Kallan Dawson was shaping as one of the game’s defining storylines.
While the Seagulls had started the third quarter strongly, momentum had firmly swung back to the home side. The margin could have been even greater had Port not kicked three consecutive behinds late in the quarter.
Williamstown needed a response heading into the final term, and it came immediately when debutant Lachlan Wilson kicked a crucial goal to open the quarter.
Wilson’s major proved to be a galvanising moment. The Seagulls began winning multiple contested possessions and repeatedly forced the ball inside 50.
Jack McHale soon found himself with a golden opportunity directly in front of goal, only to see the chance go begging from close range. To their credit, Williamstown refused to be discouraged.
Nathan Colenso responded with one of the goals of the afternoon from a tight angle, reducing the margin to just six points. Unfortunately, Port Melbourne answered at exactly the right moment to restore the Borough’s advantage to three goals.
Centre clearances became a major factor late in the contest, and Williamstown won two in a row to reduce the margin back to a single point.
The rivalry was delivering another unforgettable chapter, with the result hanging in the balance until the final siren.
As it turned out, neither side would kick another goal wih Port Melbourne defending strongly in the final five minutes.
Williamstown still managed one final opportunity, moving the ball inside 50 with seconds remaining. Diesel Moloney found himself lining up from the boundary with 40 seconds left on the clock, but his shot drifted narrowly to the right.
In a contest that could have gone either way, the Seagulls fell just short despite an outstanding final-quarter effort. Their ability to fight back and challenge right until the final moments showcased the resilience that has been a feature of the group throughout the season.
There were still plenty of positives for the Blue and Gold faithful.
Nathan Colenso’s booming 50-metre goal to begin the third quarter was among the highlights of the afternoon, while debutant Lachlan Wilson impressed in his first outing and capped it off with a crucial fourth-quarter goal.
Ryan Jacobs also showed promising signs in his first appearance in Seagulls colours.
Williamstown now returns home next week for a showdown with GWS, who are coming off the bye. The Seagulls will be looking to build on another competitive performance as they continue their push through the second half of the season.
Full Time Score
Williamstown: 15.9 (99)
Port Melbourne: 14.16 (100)
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