VFL: Port Melbourne finishes hard to defeat its great rival Williamstown

MACK Rivett is judged best-afield as Port Melbourne gains an important victory over Williamstown in the Round 14 VFL match at North Port Oval.

GARY Ayres knew how important the match was for his Port Melbourne team.

He highlighted it on the whiteboard before his players ran on to the ground for Saturday’s match against the Borough’s enduring and fierce rival, Williamstown, at North Port Oval.

It was a “crossroads game’’, he declared.

Port entered the 252nd meeting of the iconic VFA/VFL clubs having dropped its past three home games, the most recent a 55-point defeat to Sandringham in the previous round.

But in this crossroads encounter the Borough’s form took a turn for the better, with a 33-point win over their old adversary.

They had led by one point at three-quarter time. But in the final quarter they kicked with a breeze to the Williamstown Rd end of the ground. And they kicked away from Willy with five goals to none, bettering the Towners’ effort to slot four goals to one in the third term.

Mack Rivett was best afield for Port Melbourne in the VFL against Williamstown. Picture: Jenny Tserkezidis.

Port dedicated the day to the late and great Frank Johnson, wearing heritage jumpers that looked like the old Waverley VFA strip.

Mack Rivett received the Frank Johnson Tribute Medal as the Borough’s best player, with the midfielder gathering 27 disposals. He also kicked a crucial and classy goal early in the last quarter to get Port rolling.

Shannen Lange followed up and then Eli Templeton and Dylan Conway capitalised on free kicks to push the lead out to almost five goals.

Mitch Wooffindin, all power and poise around the ball, had a superb final term and presumably gave the medal a shake.

He finished with 34 disposals. Tom O’Sullivan had 24 and used them craftily.

Port had put down a marker of its intent by kicking four goals into the breeze in the first quarter, and slipped away with two goals late in the second term.

One came from defender Luke Tynan, who drifted forward and profited from a 50m penalty.

Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres called it a “crossroads game’’.

The Borough were stronger for the return from injury of key defender Lucas Cook, who with Tynan and Dylan Van Unen lent experience to a backline bearing a new look with impressive youngster Daniel Beddison, Alex Spencer, Callum Searle and newcomer Ryan Pendlebury.

Willy named three defenders — Jack Charleston, Joel Tippett and Leigh Masters — in their best six, reflecting the fact that coach Andy Collins thought his onball brigade was badly beaten, despite the efforts of Michael Gibbons and Jason Pongracic, who kept clamps on star Port midfielder Izzy Conway.

“Credit to Port’s midfield,’’ Collins said. “I thought they were outstanding. They shared their load and had some big numbers, Wooffindin, Rivett, two of their unsung players through there. Pongracic did a great job nullifying Conway but the rest of our midfield gave them way too much possession.

“That area is a concern for us at the moment. It was disappointing, that lack of fight in the midfield. We knew the game was going to be won and lost there, and we lost the battle.’’

Collins said the margin was exaggerated when “our boys waved the white flag a little bit towards the last 10 minutes’’.

Willy gave a debut to mid-season addition Tyson Young, a tall forward who shaped well and kicked a goal, and also selected former North Ballarat defender Lane Buckwell for his first game for the Seagulls.

Ayres said Williamstown was a strong side and traditional foe, and it was “always a very good day when you defeat them.’’

He hopes it can set off a run of form.

“We feel our systems are working; it’s about being efficient when we apply them,’’ he said.

Port Melbourne players belt out the song. Picture: Getty Images.

Port Melbourne 4.2, 7.5, 8.8, 13.12 (90)

Williamstown 4.1, 4.2, 8.7, 8.9 (57)

Port Melbourne goals: J. Lisle 2, B. Pearson, M. Wooffindin, L. Tynan, E. Templeton, T. Hobbs, T. O’Sullivan, K. Haretuku, S. Lange, D. Conway, H. Hooper, M. Rivett

Best: M. Rivett, M. Wooffindin, D. Van Unen, T. O’’Sullivan, K. Haretuku, L. Cook

Williamstown goals: L. Schultz, L. George, N. Rodda, M. Gibbons, A. Marcon, N. Ebinger, J. Greiser, T. Young

Best: J. Charleston, J. Pongracic, J. Tippett, L. Masters, B. Bewley, M. Gibbons