Belmont Lions have overcome the absence of experienced forward Ben Evans to hold off East Geelong by seven points to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
The Lions retained the Mark Lomas Shield, despite the Eagles kicking the final two goals of the contest, to claim a 12.10 (82) to 11.9 (75) victory.
“Without Ben Evans, we’re probably challenged to move the ball and be brave,” Walsgott said.
“I thought we did that; we took on the corridor when we needed to, and we switched the ball when we needed to.
“Without having that key pillar that we’ve had for the last 20-odd weeks for the get out down the line, yeah, I thought our ball movement was brave.”
Walsgott was also quick to pay tribute to a trio of recruits following the win.
The link with Barwon Heads was strengthened in the off-season with the arrival of former Seagulls Lachie Slorach and Billy Pelham, while James Beasley arrived from Colac and District club Western Eagles.
Slorach was named the Lions’ best, and Beasley also impressed with three goals.
“Some said we had light recruiting, which is certainly fair,” Walsgott said.
“But, Billy Pelham, Lachie Slorach, James Beasley; three very good people and three very handy players to top up what we had.”
East Geelong is the third finalist the Lions have taken care of in the season’s opening month, also beating Werribee Centrals and Thomson, and the improving Bell Post Hill.
The first thing I said on night one of pre-season, ‘We’ve got the toughest first month coming up’,” Walsgott said.
“I know the results haven’t gone their way, but they’re still the three best teams in it, I reckon.
“I think we’re lucky we got a Jack Yates-less Bell Post Hill, and that win, I reckon, is going to look pretty good in about a month’s time; they’re a good side, and we got them without Yatesy.
I’m rapt to go four and zip. It gives us a springboard into the season after last year.
“It just shows a lot about the boys and their attitude towards this year.”
Zach Smith finished with three goals for East, while Ben Crombie and Noah Charman each kicked two.
In other games;
A captain’s performance from Jack Yates has inspired Bell Post Hill to a 37-point win over Thomson at Myers Reserve, 14.12 (96) to 9.5 (59).
Yates kicked four goals as the Panthers secured consecutive victories.
Lachie Wilson also kicked four goals for the winners.
Dan Freeman kicked four goals for the Tigers, who have dropped to eighth spot.
Young forward Noah Sneskov arguably produced the performance of his career with a five-goal haul as Inverleigh outlasted the winless Werribee Centrals at Galvin Park.
The Hawks claimed consecutive victories after overcoming a 13-point deficit at the main break.
They kicked 8.8 to 2.6 to run out 10.16 (76) to 6.15 (51) winners.
Mason Dickson was also critical with four goals.
With three goals, Cam Saliba was the lone multiple-goalkicker for the Centurions.
North Geelong made light work of the clash with northern suburbs rival Corio at Shell Reserve, picking up a percentage-boosting 101-point win.
The unbeaten Magpies were held to a lone goal in the opening quarter, but kicked 15 goals to two after the first change to storm to a 16.19 (115) to 2.2 (14) result.
Jon Fazio kicked four goals and best-on-ground Tom Schwennesen contributed three majors.
Already missing key trio Herschelle Carr, Nathan Kenyon, and Jarrod Bayliss, injury to playing coach Joel Bennett further hampered the Devils’ efforts.
Bannockburn bounced back from its Anzac Day loss to overcome Geelong West by 28 points at Victoria Park.
The Tigers won 9.15 (69) to 5.11 (41), with Sam Giles and Brodie Harding each kicking two goals.
Brayden Mitchell and Alex Blair contributed two apiece for the Giants.
Andrew Boseley has again starred as Anakie climbed into the top five thanks to a 29-point victory over Winchelsea under lights at Eastern Reserve.
Boseley kicked six goals in the 13.15 (93) to 9.10 (64) to take his season tally to 21.
Indi Parish finished with three goals for the Blues, who sit third despite the loss.
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