By Nathan Schmook at www.afl.com.au
WILLIAMSTOWN is the inaugural Foxtel Cup champion, kicking away from Claremont to win Saturday's Grand Final by 21 points in a high quality clash at Patersons Stadium.
The Seagulls kicked three unanswered goals in the final term to win 9.5 (59) to 5.8 (38), with respected midfielder Ben Jolley winning the Coles Medal as best afield for his game-high 30 possessions and eight clearances.
Williamstown - which entered the clash with 15 Western Bulldogs players, including three rookies - was also well served by Mitch Wallis (19 disposals), Jordan Roughead (19 and two goals), Christian Howard (18 and two) and Nathan Djerrkura (two goals).
Coach Peter German's team withstood a third-quarter rally from Claremont, which came to life after half-time and drew within five points of the visitors at the final break.
The Tigers, who sit second on the WAFL ladder, were led superbly by mature-age draft hopeful Kane Mitchell, who won 13 of his 25 possessions in contests and was his team's best midfielder.
Onballer Tom Swift, who battled with Wallis for most of the afternoon to finish with 21 possessions, and forward Andrew Foster (13) were also prominent, while West Coast forward Gerrick Weedon sparked the Tigers' fightback when he was switched to half-back in the second half.
Former Eagle Beau Wilkes was the team's leading goalkicker with two, while West Coast defender Brett Jones had the better of Williamstown's Patrick Veszpremi.
The Seagulls wasted opportunities in the first half, failing to capitalise on the inside midfield work of Jolley and Wallis.
Claremont's pressure around stoppages was a highlight early, but Jason Tutt and Roughead broke the shackles for Williamstown and kicked goals in the opening term, while Weedon got the Tigers on the board.
In a dominant second quarter the visiting Seagulls had 10 inside 50s to three, but added just two goals, to Ed Barlow and Howard.
Swift and Fremantle's Byron Schammer had been well held early by the visitors, but they played a hand in their side's only goal of the second term, to Wilkes.
The game turned on its head in the third term, with Claremont gaining the midfield ascendency, but they couldn't maintain that momentum through the final quarter.
Claremont 1.2 2.2 5.5 5.8 (38)
Williamstown 2.1 4.3 6.4 9.5 (59)
GOALS
Claremont: Wilkes 2, Weedon, Bradshaw, C Jones
Williamstown: Howard 2, Roughead 2, Djerrkura 2, Hooper, Barlow, Tutt
BEST
Claremont: Mitchell, Foster, Weedon, B Jones, Stevenson, Swift
Williamstown: Jolley, Roughead, Wallis, Howard, Djerrkura, Panos
INJURIES
Claremont: Nil
Williamstown: Nil
