Williamstown

Some of you may be aware that Williamstown has a rival ticket for a spill of the board and election. 

I believe this may have revolved around a few issues, but stale bread and cold showers have been circulating on Facebook. 

Today the President put out a press statement in response....

Board Statement: Formal Response to Member Notice

September 3, 2026

Thursday 3rd September 2026

Formal Response to Member Notice

Dear Williamstown Football Club (WFC) members and extended community.

On 25 August 2026 the WFC received a notice requesting the Board to convene a general meeting of the Club (Member Notice).

As a Member, you may now have also received an email from a group of members called the Action Group.

Having reviewed the Member Notice, the Board has no option but on legal grounds to reject the Member Notice as invalid and not to call or hold a General Meeting as requested.

The Member Notice has numerous irregularities and fails to meet the rules of the WFC Constitution. It was with great disappointment that the individuals behind the Member Notice declined an earlier written invitation from the Board to meet and discuss any and all concerns they have with the Board prior to issuing the Member Notice.

We are further disappointed that they then chose to continue the process during the men’s and women’s football finals programs – particularly given the VFLW were playing for second Minor Premiership which they won.

The Board rejects the mostly operational assertions made in the email and remains unaware of any specific and substantial grievances.

A letter containing a detailed explanation for the rejection has been sent to representatives of the Member Notice. The rejection was the only proper and legal way the Club is able to respond given the nature of the Notice. For transparency, a copy of that letter is available here.

Any Club members wishing to seek election to the Board should do so by the procedure set out in clause 12.5 of the Constitution.

This is the same procedure followed prior to each AGM, where positions on the Board must become vacant. A copy of the Constitution is available on the Club’s website, and any direct enquiries regarding applications or the procedure may be made to the CEO/Secretary of the Club.

The Club anticipates that the next AGM will be held in the latter part of February 2027 (following similar timing to the AGM held earlier this year). Formal nominations must be received 35 days prior to the date set for the AGM, which will be duly notified by the Club well in advance.

Should any members have any queries, please do contact me by email at: admin@williamstownfc.com.au

Yours sincerely,

Merryl Dooley

President, Williamstown Football Club

A very strong selection as Plapp has experience at this level and above since playing at the Devil's well over a decade ago and had had a good range of coaching since his playing days.

After 245 games with Williamstown coach Andy Collins has quit as coach after accepting a full time teaching role. He says he can't give the time to the role anymore.

From the Star Weekly websitehttp://www.starweekly.com.au/sports/williamstown-with-work-fresh-faces/

NICK EBINGER. PICTURE DAMJAN JANEVSKI.

A changing of the guard has led to some uncertainty at the selection table for Williamstown ahead of the Victorian Football League season.

The Seagulls lost a number of well-known names over the summer and will be turning to youth to pick up the baton.

Seagulls coach Andrew Collins admits there will be a little bit more of the unknown than usual entering this season.

“I’m learning a lot about the new group,” Collins said.

“We’re a vastly different team to what we were last year.

“Now we start all over again and build our synergy together.”

This has been one of the most important practice match periods for Williamstown because of the uncertainty surrounding selection for round one.

In years past, you could have had a fair idea what most of the Seagulls’ team would look like for their season opener, but this year there are plenty of spots up for grabs and players to be auditioned.

Leaders Ben Jolley and Peter Faulks departed Williamstown in the off season.

Jolley will come face-to-face with his former Seagulls teammates when his new side Port Melbourne ventures to the newly named Downer Oval in Williamstown for the season opener under new lights on April 6.

Faulks has moved to the country to play with Echuca.

Four Williamstown players hit the big time, making it on to AFL lists.

Michael Gibbons (Carlton) and Lachie Schultz (Fremantle) made their AFL debuts at the weekend, while Brett Bewley (Fremantle) and Ben Cavarra (Western Bulldogs) could get their opportunities soon.

Other senior players to depart the Seagulls were Lachlan George, Daylan Kempster, Jordan Jones and Ben Bese.

Collins praised the outgoing players, in particular Jolley and Faulks, for playing a huge role in sending the Seagulls into the right direction.

“We thank them for setting a platform of what the culture is today,” he said.

This pre-season is all about the future for Williamstown.

The Seagulls have lost two of their three practice matches so far, including a 22-point defeat away to Sandringham on Saturday, but it has allowed Collins to compile notes on his new players and assess the readiness of individuals in the system to take over.

Collins will get his final look at the candidates when Williamstown makes the short trip to play against Footscray in a practice match at the Whitten Oval on Saturday at 1pm.

“We’ll still take a fairly large squad into the Footscray game because we’re open-minded about what that round one team will look like,” Collins said.

“We’ll keep Port Melbourne guessing for round one, but we’re keeping ourselves guessing as well because there’s a lot of talent in our group, but we’re still unsure what our best line-up is.”

Williamstown will hold its annual family day and jumper presentation this Sunday at Bayside College from 11am.

“We’re doing our family day in conjunction with the registration and family day of Williamstown CYMS footy club,” Collins said.

From the Willy and Hobby website

Reported by David Llewellyn

Full artcle - Click here 

Seagulls scored several cabinet collectables for the Williamstown Football Club at this year’s VFL and VFLW Best and Fairest, recognising the achievements of some of its top players and reaping rewards for a team at the top of its league.

Star midfielder Michael Gibbons was awarded his second J.J. Liston Trophy in a dramatic count tying with AFL Listed Tiger Anthony Miles on 19 votes after an outstanding season averaging 28.6 disposals, 12 contested possessions and seven clearances.

Gibbons became the eighth multiple winner of the J.J. Liston Trophy in its history, and the third this decade, emulating the feats of Shane Valenti in 2010 and 2011, and Steve Clifton in 2010 and 2013.

He polled in eight games this season, as he did when winning the award back in 2016. He collected five best on grounds, won more than he did as runner up last year, with one set of two votes and two sets of one votes.

Gibbons also lead the VFL in kicks and inside 50s this year and, remarkably, from 18 games he was name Williamstown’s best players on 14 occasions. After being runner up in last year’s count, Gibbons said taking out the J.J. Liston Trophy again is a huge honour.

“It’s very humbling to win this award for the second time, I can’t thank my teammates and the club enough for all they’ve done for me in my five years down at Williamstown,” Gibbons said.

“I didn’t come here for individual awards but it’s very exciting to win this with a guy I’ve looked up to in Anthony Miles. Hopefully I can add to this medal in two weeks time with another premiership medal.”

It was a medal already added to VFL Team of the Year honours on the night, with those honours also enjoyed by Seagulls VFLW superstar Jess Duffin who took home the Lambert-Pearce medal for being the VFLW Best and Fairest for 2018.

The midfielder starred in the Seagulls inaugural season amassing over 25 disposals a game, leading the club in goal kicking and leading the competition in marks, disposals, inside 50s and uncontested possessions.

Duffin described her year at the Williamstown Football Club as both challenging and rewarding, and credited the culture of the newly formed Seagulls with helping her push her game to another level this season.

“I was able to help some of the younger girls out and that helped me with my game also. It is a huge credit to the work that Amy Caterall, Jason Reddick and Michelle Redfern have put in to get this team together and to finish the season with this is an incredible honour.”