A focus on contested football over the bye has paid off for Bell Post Hill, which overcame East Geelong and tough conditions at Richmond Crescent to claim its sixth win of the season.
The Panthers outlasted the Eagles in a low-scoring affair, 10.7 (67) to 7.6 (48).
The victory leaves last year’s beaten preliminary finalists fourth on the ladder, bang in the middle of five teams with 6-3 win-loss records, entering the second half of the season.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on contested footy, and I put it on the boys a little bit during the week that we’ve probably been lacking in that area this year,” coach Ash Witney said.
“I think we’ve won three games when it comes to contested footy and lost the other ones.
“We had a pretty high focus on that during the week.”
Witney admits a conscious decision to play a more free-flowing brand of football in the first half of the season has had its drawbacks.
“We’ve freed them up a little bit just with our ball movement, and then that probably hurts you a little bit sometimes on transition,” he said.
“So it’s probably something that we’ve really been focused on a fair bit is our transition out of the contest if we don’t win it.
“Our ball movement has been a lot better; we’re scoring a lot more. But with that comes the transition stuff defensively.
“So we’ve been trying to tighten that up and a little bit of stuff around contest.
“It’s just one of those years where if you’re off your game, you can get punished by anyone, so today was pleasing.”
After biding his time in the reserves following his move from GDFNL rivals Geelong West in the off-season, Tom Jenkins made his Bell Post Hill debut before the interleague break against Thomson.
Despite carrying four points, Jenkins maintained his spot for the clash with the Eagles and repaid Witney’s faith.
“He was huge today, and he was huge last week as well,” Witney said.
“We’ve only just got him in the side, obviously, with the points. With those Lara boys coming over as threes when we thought they were going to be ones, we’ve had a bit of a squeeze on, and they got their chance with a few injuries against Thomson, and he held his spot.
“He plays inside and outside. He’s tough and hard at the footy. He wins his own footy, and he’s got a little bit of pace on the outside as well.
“He hunts the opposition once the ball leaves the contest.”
Also paying off was the decision to play big men Brock Carter and Renn Lovitt together.
Lovitt, who last played a senior match with the Panthers in 2023, came into the team in Round 8 as a replacement for Carter, who returned to take on the Eagles.
“I was a little bit worried when I saw the weather forecast, and it said it was going to pour down,” Witney said
“But those two boys made it work.”
Witney also paid tribute to defender Daniel Banister, who kept talented East forward Caleb Ezard goalless.
“He was someone that we circled on the board early on in the week that we need to negate, and Dan was huge on him today,” he said.
Star off-season signing David Handley and captain Jack Yates also stood out for Bell Post Hill, while Jed Saunders and Lachie Verschuren joined Handley in kicking three goals.
The Panthers return home to face the struggling Inverleigh to start the second half of the season.
Bailey Payne and Jake McLean were named East Geelong’s best. Andrew Steele finished with two goals, making him the Eagles’ only multiple goalkicker.
The Eagles face archrivals Thomson next Saturday in the lone meeting between the two clubs this season.
Belmont Lions have outlasted Inverleigh to record a 40-point victory at Fortis Foundations Oval.
The Lions’ 13.12 (90) to 7.8 (50) victory wasn’t enough for them to return to the top five; however, they are only percentage behind second-placed North Geelong.
Leading by 19 points at half-time, the visitors kicked six goals to the Hawks’ two.
Sam Jones was impressive with three goals, as were Jake Wood and the returning Josh Wilson.
GDFNL representative Will Stoney and undersized ruck Brayden Warren battled hard for Inverleigh.
A fast start proved the difference as Werribee Centrals maintained its three-game buffer at the top of the ladder following a 64-point win against Corio at All In One Service Oval, 21.11 (137) to 11.7 (73).
The Centurions led by the final margin at half-time, outscoring the Devils 13 goals to 2.
Centrals, who welcomed back Tyler Crennan for his first game of the season and debuted former Lara player Jake Marshall, had 12 individual goalkickers.
Josh MacDonald was best with four majors, while Josh Stone kicked three.
Cooper Shoebridge was the standout for Corio, finishing with five goals.
Winchelea has boosted its finals hopes and percentage after blowing Thomson away in the second half at Godfrey Street, recording a 74-point win.
Leading by just seven points after a tight first half, the Blues outscored the Tigers 11 goals to two from that point on to claim an 18.20 (128) to 8.6 (54) victory.
Cam Primmer’s rich vein of form continued, with his five goals taking him to 38 for the season, now within one of Wayne Tyquin Medal leader, East Geelong’s Zac Smith.
Captain Jordan Camm continued his fine season for the Tigers, with his three goals giving him 24 for the season.
Boston Riccardi’s eight goals were the highlight as North Geelong made light work of Geelong West at Scaada Stadium.
The Magpies showed no mercy to the winless Giants, recording a percentage-boosting 109-point victory, 23.12 (150) to 6.5 (41).
North raced to a 26-point lead at quarter time, and grew that margin at every break to climb to second spot.
Jordan Bertucci provided impressive support to Riccardi, finishing with four majors.
Veteran Mick Leamer kicked two goals for the Giants.
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