Co-coach Andy Walsgott has paid tribute to several unsung heroes as Belmont Lions snatched top spot off North Geelong with a thrilling 13-point win at Winter Reserve.
Hit hard by injury and unavailability, the Lions’ depth has been tested during the middle part of the season.
However, Walsgott and coaching partner Brent Vermeulen, who was among those sidelined, have found they have plenty in reserve if required in the run to September and when action moves to St Albans Reserve.
“Paddy Lindsay has been in the twos the first eight or nine weeks,” Walsgott said.
“Brooklyn Johnston, who played in the twos at Colac, then came over, was really good. Daniel Brockett was awesome in terms of his roll-up and work.
“Finn Guiney-White coming in as well, playing a role was awesome.
“And we had a bit of a point squeeze this week, so we rushed Stephen Phillips back in after six weeks off, and he took a heap of good clunks down the line as well.”
Walsgott was also full of praise for reigning reserves best-and-fairest Ollie Mayman, who played a crucial role in the ruck.
“I think we’ve lost four ruckmen, including Jed (Evans), who left the club, in four weeks,” Walsgott said.
“Ollie rucked 95% of the game today and was awesome.”
However, the win has come at a cost, with Western Eagles recruit James Beasley reinjuring his hamstring, for which Walsgott has accepted responsibility.
“That’s on me. I had the rule in my head that hamstrings are always 21 days,” he said.
“But I’ll put my hand up and say that I probably got excited at the thought of him training fully and passing the fitness test and letting him go.
“He did that early. So that one’s on me, and we’ll miss him for probably three or four (weeks) now.”
Despite taking the Magpies’ position on the ladder, Walsgott knows they’re likely to cross paths with Peter Riccardi’s men in September.
“They’re a serious side,” he said. “They’re well-coached. They’ve got so many good players.”
“I’m really rapt at how far they’ve come in a couple of years. They’re a serious side, that’ll add a few out that were out today as well.
“When it’s crunch time, we’ll be playing them.”
Star Lion Ben Evans has 18 goals in the past four matches since returning from overseas after kicking four goals.
John Fazio also kicked four for the Magpies, with key defender Ben O’Brien their best.
A six-goal haul from Jed Hanneysee, including three in the final quarter, has helped Thomson to a 24-point victory over Werribee Centrals at Galvin Park.
Trailing by nine points when Centurion Blake Taylor goaled early in the final term, the Tigers kicked four goals in five minutes, including two to Hanneysee, to turn the game in their favour and run out 17.16 (118) to 15.4 (94) winners.
Darcy Troop and the returning Ben Kamaric each kicked three goals for Thomson.
Cam Saliba finished with three majors for Centrals, who are now three games outside the top five with seven rounds to play.
Bell Post Hill has maintained its spot inside the top five, and, at the same time, made life difficult for Bannockburn to feature at St Albans Reserve in 2025 following a 21-point win at Myers Reserve.
A four-goal-to-nil second quarter proved the difference as the Panthers came out on top 11.9 (75) to 8.6 (54).
Nick Costello, Zane Jones, and Josh Norman each kicked three goals for the Hill, with Dyl Witney and Dylan Godwin standouts.
Fletcher Wilson (four goals) and Bailey Kelly (three) did the heavy lifting up forward for the Tigers, with youngster Darcy Giddings again impressing.
Andrew Boseley has proven the difference, kicking six goals as Anakie defeated Inverleigh at Inverleigh Reserve for the first time in 18 years.
The Roos won by 21 points, 15.12 (102) to 11.15 (81), as Boseley took his season tally to a league-high 49 goals.
Jarod Bacon followed up his three goals last week with five majors for the Hawks, who are in danger of losing touch with the top five.
East Geelong produced a strong start and a solid finish in beating Winchelsea by 62 points at Eastern Reserve.
The Eagles outscored the Blues by 28 points in the first and last quarters on their way to a 16.13 (109) to 7.5 (47) victory to further consolidate a spot inside the top three.
Zac Smith again starred in East’s forward line, finishing with five goals, while noted defender Jack Beardsell kicked three goals for the second straight week.
Captain Jordan Huff kicked four goals for Winchelsea, who lost playing coach Ben Moloney to a fractured larynx in the second quarter.
Geelong West snapped an eight-match losing streak after holding off a final-quarter charge from Corio to win The Shaka Project Cup at Shell Reserve.
The Giants claimed their second victory of the season by 15 points, 10.11 (71) to 8.8 (56).
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