TIME will tell if Williamstown can shake the ‘chokers’ tag attributed to the side after its recent finals campaigns.

The Seagulls took the first step towards shedding the wobbles with a commanding win against danger side Port Melbourne in the qualifying final, and will be playing for a grand final berth against Northern Bullants on Saturday.

It was a far more assured performance than the equivalent game last year, when Williamstown, which finished the 2009 home-and-away season in second, crumbled against the Bullants, and then was knocked out the week after against Collingwood.

This year the Seagulls are a leaner, meaner machine, with new coach Peter German and his coaching staff largely responsible.

Captain Brett Johnson said the main difference with the Seagulls of 2010 is its defensive game. The raw statistics certainly point to an improvement in that area.

Williamstown, as it has in the past three years, finished the minor round as the best offensive team in the competition, but also finished as the second most frugal defensive team behind North Ballarat. Last year, Williamstown was the fifth best defensive team.

“I think throughout the year we’ve shown we’re a different team than last year,” Johnson said. “We’ve really improved our defence. Our full ground pressure’s a lot better so I think we’re able to withstand a lot more pressure from the opposition. From that point of view I think we’re a different side. We’ve got a different group and obviously a whole new coaching staff as well.”

Johnson said the coaching staff has instilled a game plan that works in high-pressure games such as finals. It’s a plan that tries to minimise the opposition’s output when it has the momentum.

That was precisely what happened in the qualifying final. When Port Melbourne had the run of play, Williamstown’s defensive pressure kept the Boroughs’ scoring to a minimum. When the momentum swung back in the Seagulls’ favour, they were able to kick goals almost on a whim.

“We’ve got confidence in each other, in our preparation and the work we’ve done to date. We think we’ve done the work and laid a good foundation to launch into the finals series,” Johnson said.“But we know we’re just as vulnerable as anyone else if we don’t come prepared and switched on on the day. Anything can happen so we’ve just got to take control of that.”

Of course it helps when half the team is made up of ultra-talented AFL-listed players who have played most of the year for Williamstown, such as forward dynamos Patrick Rose and Andrew Hooper, hard-working tall Andrejs Everitt, the strong-marking Liam Jones, and attacking defender Jarred Boumann to name a few.

But it has been the VFL-listed players who have been the heart and soul of the side. JJ Liston Trophy fancy Johnson and Ben Davies have been the lynchpins in Williamstown’s midfield, Peter Faulks has rarely been beaten at full-back, and of course Matthew Little has been incredibly consistent in his sensational year up forward. “I think the Bulldogs guys who’ve played with us for most of the year, they’re attitude has been fantastic. They’ve really played good team football. And then we’ve got great depth at Williamstown as well.”