BELMONT LIONS (1st – 11-2 – 44 points, 118.96%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Bell Post Hill, Winter Reserve (W)
R15: East Geelong, Richmond Crescent (L)
R16: Inverleigh, Winter Reserve (W)
R17: Corio, Shell Reserve (W)
R18: Geelong West, Winter Reserve (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: The Lions have been able to ride out a tough period, which has included injuries to several key players, to retain top spot on the ladder. However, with an inferior percentage to East Geelong – who the Lions face in a blockbuster Round 15 match-up – and North Geelong, any slip-up over the next five weeks could see their finals campaign start from a qualifying final. That’s unlikely to worry the Lions faithful, who will see their team play in consecutive finals campaigns for the first time in 30 years.
PREDICTED FINISH: 2nd -15-3
EAST GEELONG (2nd – 10-3 – 40 points, 163.47%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Werribee Centrals, Galvin Park (W)
R15: Belmont Lions, Richmond Crescent (W)
R16: Bell Post Hill, Myers Reserve (W)
R17: Thomson, Godfrey Street (L)
R18: Inverleigh, Richmond Crescent (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: The Eagles missed a chance to take top spot from the Belmont Lions after falling to North Geelong last week. A trip to Galvin Park to take on the enigmatic Werribee Centrals starts a challenging run to round out the home-and-away season. East then faces three current members of the top five before hosting Inverleigh, which could still be vying for the fifth spot. The return of Geelong VFL development list member Ben Crombie from a lower leg injury in the coming weeks will be crucial.
PREDICTED FINISH: 3rd – 14-4
NORTH GEELONG (3rd – 10-3 – 40 points, 140.80%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Inverleigh, Keith Barclay Oval (W)
R15: Corio, Shell Reserve (W)
R16: Geelong West, Keith Barclay Oval (W)
R17: Anakie, Anakie Reserve (W)
R18: Winchelsea, Keith Barclay Oval (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: After starting the season 8-0, the Magpies got the wobbles between their two byes, posting a 1-3 win-loss record. However, Peter Riccardi’s men proved they are still contenders with a 17-point win over East Geelong last week. This week against Inverleigh and the trip to Anakie in Round 17 loom as North’s most challenging tasks in the final month of the season. Win all five, and the Magpies could snatch their first minor premiership since 2002.
PREDICTED FINISH: 1st – 15-3
THOMSON (4th – 9-4 – 36 points, 114.59%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Anakie, Godfrey Street (W)
R15: Bell Post Hill, Godfrey Street (W)
R16: Winchelsea, Eastern Reserve (W)
R17: East Geelong, Godfrey Street (W)
R18: Bannockburn, Victoria Park (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: After starting the season 4-4, and with injuries to key players, Thomson’s premiership defence was struggling to gather momentum. However, the Tigers are arguably the form team of the competition, having posted five consecutive wins, including victories over North Geelong and the Belmont Lions. The absence of Darcy Troop will hurt in the short term. Paul Lynch’s men could enter finals action with ten consecutive wins. However, percentage means it’s likely to be another elimination final.
PREDICTED FINISH: 4th – 14-4
BELL POST HILL (5th – 8-5 – 32 points, 102.56%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Belmont Lions, Winter Reserve (L)
R15: Thomson, Godfrey Street (L)
R16: East Geelong, Myers Reserve (L)
R17: Inverleigh, Inverleigh Reserve (L)
R18: Corio, Myers Reserve (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Just when it appeared the Panthers had a mortgage on fifth spot, a surprise loss to Werribee Centrals, and the emergence of Inverleigh from the bottom half of the ladder, means that is no longer the case. A tough three weeks lie ahead for Bell Post Hill, with the clash against the Hawks in Round 17 potentially deciding who faces Thomson in the elimination final. The Panthers will have no shortage of motivation against the Belmont Lions this week, with Caleb Bacely to make his 250th appearance for the club.
PREDICTED FINISH: 6th – 9-9
INVERLEIGH (6th – 7-6 – 28 points, 109.98%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: North Geelong, Keith Barclay Oval (L)
R15: Werribee Centrals, Inverleigh Reserve (W)
R16: Belmont Lions, Winter Reserve (L)
R17: Bell Post Hill, Inverleigh Reserve (W)
R18: East Geelong, Richmond Crescent (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Five wins from their past six starts after opening the season 2-5 has breathed life into the campaign of the 2023 premiers. However, if the Hawks are to play finals, they will have earned it, with four of the top five teams to come. Even the clash with Werribee Centrals in Round 15 will provide a challenge. If Inverleigh can knock over the Centurions, and Bell Post Hill struggles to find wins over the next three weeks, the Round 17 battle with the Panthers is likely to determine who fills an elimination final spot.
PREDICTED FINISH: 5th – 9-9
ANAKIE (7th – 6-7 – 24 points, 100.77%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Thomson, Anakie Reserve (L)
R15: Winchelsea, Eastern Reserve (W)
R16: Bannockburn, Victoria Park (W)
R17: North Geelong, Anakie Reserve (L)
R18: Werribee Centrals, Galvin Park (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Three losses from their last four starts, including a second defeat for the season by wooden spoon-bound Corio, have nearly put paid to the Roos’ hopes of ending a 26-year finals drought. Four wins in the run home are what’s required for Anakie to have any chance of making a rare appearance at St Albans Reserve. However, Thomson and North Geelong are part of that schedule, along with a trip to Galvin Park to take on Werribee Centrals.
PREDICTED FINISH: 9th – 8-10
WERRIBEE CENTRALS (8th – 5-8 – 20 points, 103.05%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: East Geelong, Galvin Park (L)
R15: Inverleigh, Inverleigh Reserve (L)
R16: Corio, Galvin Park (W)
R17: Geelong West, West Oval (W)
R18: Anakie, Galvin Park (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: The most unpredictable side in the competition. Centrals remain a mathematical chance of playing finals, but would need to win out to have any chance. If the Centurions can upset East Geelong and Inverleigh in the next fortnight, they will stay alive. However, their wriggle room is narrowing.
PREDICTED FINISH: 7th – 8-10
BANNOCKBURN (9th – 4-9 – 20 points, 100.31%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Corio, Victoria Park (W)
R15: Geelong West, West Oval (W)
R16: Anakie, Victoria Park (W)
R17: Winchelsea, Eastern Reserve (W)
R18: Thomson, Victoria Park (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: The ‘nearly’ team of 2025. None of the Tigers’ nine defeats have been greater than 22 points. Four of those losses have been under 10 points – three of them by three points or less, including to Thomson and East Geelong. Like Werribee Centrals, Bannockburn will need to win its five remaining matches – and have results go their way – to make a return to St Albans Reserve.
PREDICTED FINISH: 8th – 8-10
WINCHELSEA (10th – 3-10 – 12 points, 77.18%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Geelong West, Eastern Reserve (W)
R15: Anakie, Anakie Reserve (L)
R16: Thomson, Eastern Reserve (L)
R17: Bannockburn, Eastern Reserve (L)
R18: North Geelong, Keith Barclay Oval (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: The crystal ball sees only one more win for the injury-impacted Blues in Ben Moloney’s first campaign as coach. Winchelsea will also fancy itself against Anakie and Bannockburn. Five wins would be a good return from the current situation.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10th – 4-14
GEELONG WEST (11th – 3-10 – 12 points, 72.20%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Winchelsea, Eastern Reserve (L)
R15: Bannockburn, West Oval (L)
R16: North Geelong, Keith Barclay Oval (L)
R17: Werribee Centrals, West Oval (L)
R18: Belmont Lions, Winter Reserve (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Did you know Geelong West has conceded only 20 points more than ladder leader Belmont Lions for the season? However, the Giants possess the weakest offence in the competition, averaging only 54 points a game. The absence of Alex Blair has been telling. The Tasmanian kicked 22 goals in the opening eight games, but has been sidelined since.
PREDICTED FINISH: 11th – 3-15
CORIO (12th – 2-11 – 12 points, 52.87%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Bannockburn, Victoria Park (L)
R15: North Geelong, Shell Reserve (L)
R16: Werribee Centrals, Galvin Park (L)
R17: Belmont Lions, Shell Reserve (L)
R18: Bell Post Hill, Myers Reserve (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: It started so well, beating Anakie in Round 1. However, it’s been another challenging year for the Devils. Injuries, especially the lingering back issue that has hampered playing coach Joel Bennett, haven’t helped. Can Corio find one more win for Bennett, who will pull up stumps after five seasons in the role following the final round clash with Bell Post Hill?
PREDICTED FINISH: 12th – 2-16
