FINALS are often defined by a team's 'stickability', not their attacking flair.

Williamstown Seagulls' win over western suburbs challengers Footscray Bulldogs in a tense Lacrosse Victoria men's state league second semi-final at Angliss Reserve on Saturday was built on its rock-solid foundations.

The battle-hardened, big-game experience of the Seagulls' defensive unit came to the fore to claim an 11-5 victory.

The Seagulls made it known they are still the team to beat, moving into the grand final with their sights fixed on a premiership three-peat.

Seagulls coach Darren Gibson praised the defensive team of goalkeeper Evan Willis, co-captain Sam Marquard, Huw Wilson, Cameron Martin, Chris Welsh and Nathan Barrett.

"We've had a settled defence line all year, which is good," Gibson said.

"If they can stop the opposition to only throw in five goals, it makes it easier to win. A normal lacrosse score is 10-to-15 and if we can keep a side to five it makes it hard to win. They were real tight and focused on the job."

The Seagulls hit the field in the knowledge they could be beaten.

Their wake-up call came two weeks earlier when the Bulldogs upset them for the first time in a home-and-away match in their head-to-head history.

The Gulls' mission was to bounce back.

"There's no doubt that's what it was all about," Gibson said.

"We brought our A-game, everyone played their role and we didn't have a passenger this week."

The Seagulls' big-game experience in recent times shone out.

The back-to-back premiers are accustomed to the pressure of finals.

Gibson forecast a toss-of-the-coin preliminary final between Footscray and Surrey Park this weekend and a similar grand final.

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All four teams in the finals series are very balanced and by no means are we a runaway favourite. There's hard work to be done and plenty of it."

The Seagulls had their noses in front by three goals at three quarter-time.

A stellar three-goal-to-nil last quarter sealed the win. Wes Green, the Seagulls' leading scorer, was lethal on attack with a hat-trick. Josh Ardossi, a late inclusion into the starting line-up for Ashley Wilkinson, also bagged three goals.

The Bulldogs struggled to penetrate with no multiple scorers.