Asked before training at Alberton Oval on Monday whether there was a feeling of unfinished business among his playing group, Williams said: “No doubt. I suppose if you were looking for someone to play, you’d be looking for Collingwood, and it’s all turned out perfectly for us.
“There’s no other team we would rather play this week.”
Collingwood denied Port a home preliminary final last September by winning the first semi-final at AAMI Stadium by 24 points, and the Power, the minor premier, as it was again this season, then lost to the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba by 56 points.
Port defeated Collingwood by 25 points under lights at AAMI Stadium in round 10 this season – the Power’s sixth win in nine matches against the Magpies.
Seven of the nine matches have been played at AAMI Stadium. Collingwood’s three wins were at the MCG in the opening round of 1997 (79 points), at AAMI Stadium in round eight of 2001 (nine points) and in last year’s first semi-final at AAMI Stadium.
Apart from the teams’ first clash in 1997 – Port’s first AFL match for premiership points – their only other meeting at the MCG was in round 14 of 1999 when Port won by one point.
When asked what was the key to beating Collingwood, Williams said: “We just have to play our style of footy and do it better than what they do theirs.”
But would Port be allowed to play its style of game?
“People say that but does that mean when we played them in round whatever-it-was this year … we beat them that week, as well,” Williams said. “We’ve played pretty well against Collingwood and we’re confident we can do it again.”
Williams described getting the opportunity to play a final at the MCG as ‘extra special’,
“We’re really looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s something all young footballers dream of and it’s so exciting.”
Williams was bemused by Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse’s comment that someone from Port had said the Power had ‘nothing to lose’.
“I’m not sure where it came from but we certainly have something to lose,” he said. “Our ambition is to play a great game and play a tough, hard game against Collingwood this week to earn the right to play in the grand final. That’s what we’re about.
“We know Collingwood are going to be out, prepared and ready, with a fantastic crowd of fanatical supporters there to try to get them over the line.”
Of Port’s supporters, Williams said: “I know they’re excited about the opportunity to get over and watch us play on the big ground so I’m sure they’re going to turn up.”
Asked whether he expected all of South Australia to get behind Port, he said: “If someone’s asking me as a one-eyed supporter, I’d be thinking no.”
Pressed to elaborate, he said: “I wouldn’t (be expecting all of SA to support Port). (But) I’d imagine the Crows are very, very disappointed they’ve already finished. There are all those young kids who are looking for a side to barrack for in the finals, and I’m sure they’ll be jumping on board, and that’s fantastic for us.
“We continually place ourselves ahead of the Crows. That’s great for us and our support in South Australia.”
On the thought of calling for ‘a Kevin Sheedy-style invasion’ of the MCG, Williams said: “I know there’ll be a lot of supporters in Victoria who don’t like Collingwood. There is a hell of a lot of those there, so I’m sure we’re going to get great support from them.
“They’ve watched us come as the last team into the AFL so there’ll be a bit of a Cinderella story there … hopefully we get that result.”
Reminded that Port had a Victorian influence in its team, Williams said. “And (some of) Carlton’s and Collingwood’s players come from Port Adelaide, don’t they?
“We’ve got probably 15 players who come from Victoria. There are going to be a thousand of their friends there at the game so 15 times that, that’s 15,000 of our supporters already there, so we’re really looking forward to them.”
