Inverleigh has kept alive its flickering finals hopes with what coach Chris Moore has described as the club’s best win since the 2023 grand final after beating Bell Post Hill by 45 points at Myers Reserve.
Leading by four points at three-quarter time, the Hawks, sparked by teenage star Sam Cations, slammed on nine goals to two in a final term that dreams are made of to claim a 19.12 (126) to 11.15 (81).
“We weren’t playing good footy, we weren’t travelling well, we had some honest conversations with each other during the week, and it was good to finally put it all together,” Moore said.
“We thought that we were playing a brand of footy that probably didn’t suit us.
“So we just stripped it all back today; just went one-on-one across the ground, and it was about beating your opponent, and we did.”
Playing his first senior game since Round 2, and just the eighth of his fledgling career, Cations was recalled from the under-18s on Thursday night.”
“We think Sammy will be a big part of Inverleigh’s future in years to come,” Moore said.
“We’re aware that it’s his last year of under-18 footy, so we wanted to let him play with his mates.”
“However, we just thought conditions today would suit him.”
“I didn’t expect him to kick six, but it wasn’t just that. It was also his pressure and overall effort.
Moore also praised the efforts of vice-captain Jarrod Love, fellow midfielder Boe Collins against his former club, and stand-in ruck Brayden Warren against Panthers duo Brock Carter and Renn Lovitt.
“For Brayden to take on the ruck duties against two really experienced and big ruckmen on that ground, he was fantastic,” Moore said.
“He got a chop out for a couple of minutes a quarter.
“Unfortunately, Dan Grozdanovski is just too undersized to be able to go up against two monsters, so Braden had to do the majority of the day.”
Inverleigh remains in eighth spot following the win, but only a game behind fifth-placed East Geelong, who the Hawks face in a crucial clash next week.
“One of the conversations we had during the week was that it’s our job to go out there and win games of footy and put the best performance that we can,” Moore said.
“And I thought that last week against Belmont, we didn’t do that, and I think a few of us were embarrassed by not the score, but the effort that we put in.
“If we can continue to put today’s effort in, we’ll keep pushing and, hopefully, if we can, pinch a spot in the five.”
In a further boost for Inverleigh, the talented Casey Meehan got through his second appearance in the reserves since returning from injury and will come under consideration for a spot in the seniors against the Eagles.”
“We’ll monitor him during the week, and we’ll see what happens,” Moore said.
For Bell Post Hill, which is now outside the top five on percentage, Josh Norman kicked three goals, while reigning Whitley medallist Jack Yates again led from the front.
The Panthers should return to the winners’ list when they travel down the hill to take on Corio next week.
Winchelsea has improved its win return from 2025 and, at the same time, taken a massive step toward its first finals appearance in 12 years after overcoming Bannockburn by 25 points at Victoria Park.
Basketball convert Jack Terill was a standout as the Blues climbed to third on the ladder with a 12.10 (82) to 8.9 (57) result.
Cam Primmer kicked four goals to take his season tally to 42, three behind East Geelong’s Zac Smith in the race for the Wayne Tyquin Medal.
Willson Mack (three goals) and Sam Giles (two) were among the best for the Tigers, who fell out of the top five with the loss.
North Geelong overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat Anakie by 48 points at Keith Barclay Oval, maintaining second spot on the ladder.
The Roos looked well placed to spoil the Magpies’ 150th anniversary celebrations before the reigning premier flicked the switch in the second half, kicking ten goals to one to claim a 14.13 (97 )to 7.7 (49) result.
Jordy Bertucci kicked four goals for North, with co-captain Tom Schwennesen and Charlie Farrell among the best.
Jackson Francese-Fulton kicked two goals for Anakie.
Belmont Lions made light work of Corio after halftime to post a 23.16 (154) to 8.8 (56) result at Winter Reserve.
The Lions were made to work by the Devils, leading by 16 points at halftime.
However, they outscored the visitors 16 goals to three from that point on, including a nine-goal-to-nil final term.
Ben McPherson was the standout in front of goals, finishing with six majors.
Jay Blackney and Herschelle Carr contributed two apiece for Corio.
East Geelong bounced back quickly from the previous week’s loss to Bell Post Hill, handing undermanned rivals Thomson an 83-point hiding, 16.16 (112) to 4.5 (29), at Richmond Crescent.
Six goals from Zac Smith took his season tally to 45 and a three-goal lead in the Wayne Tyquin Medal Race.
Captain Jordan Camm kicked three goals for the Tigers and was again their best.
Werribee Centrals has taken another step towards securing the minor premiership, posting its tenth consecutive win in beating Geelong West by 141 points, 26.16 (172) to 4.7 (31), in a night clash at Galvin Park.
The Centurions, who last won ten in a row to open a season in 2010 – the year of their most recent grand final appearance – started in style, kicking ten goals and keeping the Giants to four behinds.
Livewire forward Cam Saliba was a standout, finishing with a career-high eight goals, while Bryce Linehan-Cunningham contributed five majors.
Billy Greaves kicked two goals for West, which remains anchored to the bottom of the ladder.
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