At the Swinburne Centre, under lights, for the most part, Williamstown won through to a preliminary final by 25 points, while Richmond VFL will have to cash-in its double chance.
The lights went out with 4:47 left to go in the third quarter, as the Seagulls held sway by 19 points.
After a substantial break in play, the lights fired back up and play resumed at the start of the final term.
Following the bizarre turn of events, Williamstown held-off a spirited Tiger fightback, eventually prevailing, 11.14 (80) to 8.7 (55).
In their previous two meetings in 2018, Williamstown has had Richmond’s measure and in their most recent encounter, the Seagulls toppled the Tigers by 44 points.
Richmond was determined to not let history repeat itself and it started the game in fine fashion.
The Tigers hunted the opposition from the get-go and brought its trademark pressure and set about stifling the Seagulls and grinding them into submission.
Returning from injury, Dan Butler suited up at VFL level for the first time since 2016 and made his presence felt instantly.
Butler ignited the Tiger Army with a classy goal to open proceedings.
The premiership Tiger played most of the opening half, before being managed after halftime with an eye to Thursday night’s AFL qualifying final.
Williamstown has an uncanny knack of answering back with a goal, and halting momentum, and it did just that.
The opening term was an arm-wrestle with both sides having their fair share of momentum, without capitalising.
Richmond was able to repeatedly pump the ball inside-50, but simply struggled to capitalise.
Corey Ellis got the Tigers’ second major on the board after chopping off an errant Seagulls’ kick-in and slotting the set-shot from beyond the arc.
The Seagulls would hit back, and the Tigers held a slender lead of two points at quarter-time.
Noah Balta has enjoyed a promising debut season at Tigerland and showed that he may be a finals wildcard judging by his sterling second quarter performance.
Balta’s as versatile as a Swiss army knife, and it was his work up forward and through the midfield that really impressed in the second term.
After out-pointing his opponent at the top of the goal-square, Balta went back and slotted a very important goal, handing the Tigers a seven-point lead.
Jake Aarts was the happy recipient of a free-kick before the restart, and suddenly Richmond’s lead was pushed out to 13 points.
Unfortunately, Williamstown kicked in gear and slotted back-to-back goals to bring the margin back to a point before Tyson Stengle provided the highlight of the night.
Stengle soared from three deep and dragged down a hanger.
He coolly went back and slotted the goal, before the Lachy Schultz’s duo of majors handed the visitors a seven-point halftime lead.
Williamstown burst of the blocks in the second half, skating to a 19-point lead.
Callum Moore gave the Tiger faithful something to cheer about after he arrested the ball from congestion, snapping truly.
However, as it did all night, Williamstown hit back and then—the lights went out.
Play was halted, players, coaches and officials looked bewildered and eventually three-quarter time was called.
The time lost was added to the final term, where Richmond fought valiantly and got back into the contest.
Jacob Ballard dragged the margin back to within three goals and injected some hope into the hosts.
It was all to no avail, as Williamstown held firm and sealed a preliminary final spot and with it a week off to rest, recuperate and study its pending opponent.
Oleg Markov also returned from injury, playing three quarters before sitting out the final term.
Markov and Butler got through the game unscathed and will be good to go next week at either level.
Luckless Tiger defender, Dan Coffield injured his knee in the first five minutes of the game and took no further part.
RICHMOND 2.4 5.5 6.5 8.7 (55)
W’STOWN 2.2 6.6 9.6 11.14 (80)
