Williamstown Seagulls

[Presti35]

What is our feeling towards this team?

After having a seven year alignment with them, do you have a soft spot for them? Or do you have a dislike for them now that they are not linked to Collingwood?

Back in they day, they took players away from the 'Pies, Ron Todd in particuler.

We played against them when both clubs were in the VFA, but after Collingwood joined the VFL that was it until 2000, when Collingwood's VFL team played against them before the alignment started in 2001.

During the seven years between 2001 and 2007, there were some memorable moments including;

*The 2003 VFL Grand Final victory. (A team with a young D Swan and N Maxwell).

*Nathan Buckley's return to football after terible hamstring problems. This was in 2007 againt Port.

*Making a Preliminary final in 2007, the last game of the alignment.

*Making a Preliminary final in 2006.

*Making an Elimination final in 2002.

*Seeing so many club greats play there; Licca, Presti & Bux to name a few.

*Winning the reserves flag in 2005 and 2002. (No Pies, but future AFL players playing). And making the '04 reserves grand final.

*And looking at the 2010 Premiership team, 16 of them had played at some stage for Williamstown.

After the alingnment, we have played them 7 times for 6 losses and 1 win. That one win, however, was in a semi final in 2009.

Who's the best player that ever played for Williamstown? Nathan Buckley.

[3rd degree]

CARN TOWNERS!

[robfyffe]

I lived in Willy, so barracked for the Gulls in the VFA. My Nan barracked for Collingwood so barracked for the Pies in the VFL.

Still remember Sunday afternoons behind the Willy Grandstands - all the Dad's holding open the hole in the fence to let their kids in to the game!

[Presti35]

How about this idea?

Williamstown home games against Collingwood are played for the Ron Todd Trophy.

Collingwood home games against Williamstown are played for the Des Fothergill Trophy.

Someone mentiond playing for the Ron Todd Trophy on here once before.

Anyway I think it'd be cool to play for these trophies and honour two former greats that played for both clubs.

What do you think?

[MagpieBat]

What a great idea, Presti!

I was actually thinking about something similar on the weekend, while watching the Port v Sandy game on TV. I knew that Des Fothergill played for us before going to Willy, but not Ron Todd. Didn't both of them have their names among former club champions around the grandstands at Victoria Park in the 1990s?

Playing for said trophies would add a bit of occasion to matches between two of the most popular teams in the VFL... make it happen, Eddie!

[Presti35]

Fothergill:
Brownlow Medallist.
Recorder Cup winner. (Now known as the JJ Liston Trophy).
VFL Leading Goal Kicking medal. (Now known as the Coleman Medal).
3-Time Collingwood best and fairest. (Going back to back in his first two seasons).
3-Time Collingwood leading goalkicker.
Collingwood Team of the Century.
AFL Hall of Fame
2-Time Victorian representative.

Unfortunatly in his first three seasons, Collingwood lost three Grand Finals (37-39). In 1941 he went to Williamstown before he served in WW2 . After the war, he was forced to play for Collingwood again from 1945 until his retirement in 1947. (His clearance wasnt passed for him to play for Willy).


Todd:
Collingwood Premiership Player.
Back to back Leading Goal Kicker Medals. (Now the Coleman Medal).
2-Time Williamstown Premiership Player.
Williamstown Team of the Century.

Todd and Fothergill both left for Williamstown at the same time. In 1942, Todd joined the air force and returned to Williamstown not long after WW2 ended in 1945. There was talk that he wanted to return to Collingwood in 1945, but unlike Fothergill, was banned from the VFL for leaving without proper clearance.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Des_Fothergill
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/D/Des_Fothergill.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Todd_(footballer)
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/players/R/Ron_Todd.html


Its a shame about Todd not being able to return to Collingwood. He kicked almost 700 goals in 141 games for Williamstown after kicking 327 goals in 76 games for Collingwood. He's up there with the Coventry's, Lee's, Ablett's and Lockett's of this world. Earlier in the year Todd was inducted into Collingwoods hall of fame.

[MagpieBat]

For those of us here who still have a soft spot for the Gulls, or who just like state league footy, Williamstown are facing off against Claremont in the Grand Final of the Foxtel Cup this Saturday.

Claremont vs Williamstown at Paterson's Stadium - 5:05pm(Melb Time)(SEN2-Aussie Digital coverage from 4:30pm, Fox Sports 1 and 1HD live from 4:30pm)

Carn the 'Towners!