By Lauren Wood, Williamstown Media
It was Wildcard footy at Victoria Park, and the stage was set under sunshine with a big crowd gathering early.
Two teams that were once allies through seven seasons of alignment stood as enemies on Sunday, facing off in a sudden-death clash.
Williamstown entered the match with just one change — co-skipper Cameron Polson returning to the side.
The Gulls had faced Collingwood only weeks earlier in Round 19, where despite winning the disposal count and other major stat categories, they fell by 11 points.
This time, with their unbeaten run at Victoria Park stretching all the way back to 1895, the Seagulls were determined to flip the script.
Collingwood struck first, with the opening two goals of the game coming from the same Magpie, as the ball lived in their forward half early.
But it was Jack Toner, season 2024’s Players’ Player recipient, who steadied Williamstown’s nerves.
Awarded a free kick for a high tackle, Toner slotted the Seagulls’ first major as the crowd clapped it home.
The Pies’ defence was loose at times, gifting Williamstown’s forwards set shots, though inaccuracy kept the Gulls to minor scores.
Collingwood answered in kind, before co-skipper Finn O’Dwyer’s intercept mark over Mason Cox launched a clean chain of play, finished off by Lachlan Gollant to level the scoreboard.
From there, it was goal-for-goal until the first break, with Williamstown trailing by just a single point.
The second term slowed as both sides locked down defensively.
Williamstown went 22 minutes without a score before Damon Hollow broke the drought with a much-needed goal.
Thankfully, Collingwood’s wastefulness (1.4 for the quarter) kept the contest tight, with the Seagulls grateful to head into half-time just six points down, 40–34.
The pace lifted dramatically after the break, and Williamstown lifted with it.
A blistering passage of play saw Jake Greiser gather and dish to Brodie McLaughlin, who passed to Gollant running into an open goal.
Hollow added his second, and Polson marked his return with a captain’s goal, snapping truly after reading Toby Triffett’s clearance perfectly.
Still, the Pies landed a long-range response to edge seven points clear at three-quarter time.
But Williamstown had saved their best for last. Gollant set the tone with his fourth, capitalising after Nathan Colenso’s effort rolled across the line and back into his path.
Colenso soon earned his reward with a set shot after being pushed in the back, before McLaughlin — the league’s leading goalkicker — finally found his moment.
After a near miss from 50, he steadied with back-to-back marks inside 50, slotting the goal that put the game beyond Collingwood’s reach.
When the final siren blew, Williamstown had secured a brave 12-point victory, extending their unbeaten run at Victoria Park and booking their ticket to the elimination finals.
The Seagulls will now take on the 5th-placed Casey Demons at Casey Fields on Saturday, with September football looking alive and well for the blue and gold.
Final Score:
WILLIAMSTOWN: 4.2 | 5.4 | 8.11 | 11.15 (81)
COLLINGWOOD: 4.3 | 5.10 | 9.12 | 9.15 (69)
Goal Kickers: Gollant (4), Hollow (2), Toner (1), Polson (1), McLaughlin (1), McHale (1)
