The 2024 season will be remembered as a defining chapter in the history of the Williamstown VFLW program. While the journey didn’t end with a premiership, the Seagulls laid an incredibly strong foundation for future success.
The season began with a bang as Williamstown recorded their highest-ever score and greatest winning margin in VFLW history during Round 1 against Darebin. The Seagulls won by 76 points and kept Darebin goalless. Remarkably, this record was surpassed in Round 10 when Williamstown beat Geelong by 86 points, with the final score reading 89 to 3 and marking the highest-ever recorded in a Williamstown VFLW home-and-away match. This win was a part of an incredible 11-game winning streak that extended from Round 4 to the Qualifying Final.
The team’s success throughout the season culminated in Williamstown securing their first-ever VFLW minor premiership which earned them a spot in the finals, where they continued to make history and claimed their first VFLW finals win in the Qualifying Final. The Seagulls walked away from the Western Bulldogs with an 18-point lead, the final score being 45 to 27, which secured their place in the semi-final.
While the Seagulls’ season was filled with highs, it also had its fair share of hurdles. Williamstown was thrilled when standout defender Gabby Biedenweg-Webster was drafted to Fremantle AFLW in June, but her absence during the finals campaign meant quite a significant adjustment for the team. Additionally, Skipper Eliza Straford sustained an ACL injury in the last quarter of the Qualifying Final. Straford had been a stalwart throughout the home-and-away season, and her absence on the field was deeply felt throughout the remainder of the final’s series.
Despite these challenges, the Seagulls fought valiantly in the semi-final against North Melbourne. Though they controlled the first quarter, the game slipped away in the second. Sharnie Whiting’s three goal performance and the determined efforts of Emily Eaves and Ash Thorneycroft kept the Seagulls in it, but North Melbourne ultimately snatched their place in the Grand Final with an 18-point win, leaving Williamstown with another battle ahead.
The Seagulls’ season came to a heartbreaking end in the Preliminary Final against the Western Bulldogs. After two convincing wins against the Bulldogs during the home-and-away season, Williamstown was outmatched in wet conditions at ETU Stadium, falling by 44 points. It was a tough pill to swallow for a young team that had shown so much promise throughout the year.
Despite the disappointment of falling short of the Grand Final, the 2024 season was a special journey for Williamstown. The players built strong bonds, not only with each other but with the club and its history. While they couldn’t translate their camaraderie into consistent finals performances, the Seagulls laid a strong foundation for the future.
As the final siren has sounded on the Seagulls’ VFLW season, the focus now shifts to the year ahead. The top priority for 2025 is clear: returning to the finals and building on the progress made this year. With continued dedication to growth, the Williamstown VFLW side is set for further success in the seasons to come.
While the 2024 season may not have ended with the ultimate prize, the Seagulls take pride in their achievements and connections they have built in Williamstown’s 160th year. They have shown that they are a force to be reckoned with, and with the lessons learned from 2024, they are ready to soar even higher in the years ahead.
