January 22, 2008
From the Hoppers Crossing Star
Reported by Mark Murray
Reported by Mark Murray
WILLIAMSTOWN Football Club veteran Andrew Williams has departed Burbank Oval to join Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League Casey-Cardinia league club Beaconsfield.
Williams, who played his first game for the Seagulls in their 2003 grand final win, lives locally in Beaconsfield and has decided to step away from Victorian Football League (VFL) competition.
The former Collingwood forward was named vice-captain of Williamstown in 2007 and enjoyed another consistent season as a goal-kicking half forward/midfielder.
Williams went on to notch up 70 games for the Seagulls, booting 99 goals.
He has been a popular figure at the club since being de-listed by the Magpies at the end of the 2003 season.
Easing the loss of Williams is the signing of talented West Adelaide defender Jackson Barling.
Barling, 21, finished third in West Adelaide’s best and fairest last season and consistently featured high among the team’s best players as a key defender.
Strongly built Barling is a product of the Williamstown Junior Football Club, which helped his progress to under 18 TAC Cup level.
He was a member of the Calder Cannons’ 2003 and 2004 premiership-winning teams.
Two of his Cannons team-mates, Ben Jolley and Matthew Little, have also joined the Seagulls in 2008.
Barling was flying playing senior footy for Williamstown in the 2005 and 2006 seasons, winning the Fothergill/Round Medal for the most promising VFL player along the way.
