Belmont Lions co-coach Andy Walsgott has put Saturday’s win over Bannockburn in the same class as the club’s preliminary final victory last year after coming from 10 points down at three-quarter time to claim a nine-point victory.
Forced into six changes at selection, the Lions found themselves further undermanned when co-coach Brent Vermeulen and ruckman Shaun Dell failed to see out the first term.
Braeden Eddy also battled through a knee issue and contributed an important goal.
“Considering we lost Brent halfway through the first, then a ruckman five minutes in, I would probably say it’d be probably the best, if not top two or three,” Walsgott said.
“I said to the boys after that, I didn’t want to dramatise it, being in the moment.
“But after talking to a few of us, yeah, it’s certainly up there.”
The 13.11 (89) to 11.14 (80) victory kept the Lions equal on points with ladder-leader North Geelong, who they battle next week, as well as maintaining a three-game buffer on fourth place with eight rounds to play.
“When they skipped nearly three goals up in the third, I was thinking, ‘Where are our four or five wins going to come from on the run home?’,” he said.
“But that’s a huge one for us to get to nine wins in 10 rounds.
“It certainly takes a little bit of pressure off and gives us a little bit of breathing room for now.
“But we’ve got a monumental month coming up. So we’ll try to manage that and see where we’re at. In a few weeks’ time.”
Key forward Ben Evans continued his recent impressive run of form.
Since returning from overseas in the Round 8 loss to Anakie, Evans has kicked 14 goals, including five crucial majors against the Tigers.
Walsgott was also impressed by the performance of former Barwon Heads teammate Brad Michell.
“He probably played his best game for the year, I thought,” Walsgott said.
“He kicked a couple of really clutch goals.”
Rob Maibaum’s impressive season continued for Bannockburn, with three goals giving him 17 for the season.
Youngsters Ryan Perkins and Darcy Giddings also battled hard for the Tigers, who have now fallen two games outside of the top five ahead of a massive clash with Bell Post Hill at Myers Reserve next week.
North Geelong produced arguably the best quarter of the season so far – an 11-goal blitz in the opening term that laid the foundation for a 102-point hiding of Werribee Centrals at Keith Barclay Oval, 26.15 (171) to 10.9 (69).
The Magpies opened up a 63-point lead at the first change, with the Centurions powerless to stop the hosts’ rampant midfield, led by former Geelong rookie Osca Riccardi, who kicked six goals.
John Fazio and Mitch Habib also got in on the fun, kicking five goals apiece.
Josh McDonald kicked three goals for the Centurions, who join Bannockburn in sitting eight points outside the top five with eight rounds to play.
Inverleigh has kept its finals hopes alive with a thrilling six-point win over Geelong West, 11.16 (82) to 11.10 (76).
The Hawks led by 22 points early in the third quarter before the Giants, wearing the old Blue West strip, produced a stirring fightback in front of a vocal crowd of past players.
However, Inverleigh had the final say when Josh Viney marked on the goal line and sent the Sherrin towards the old saleyards.
The former Giants’ captain finished with three goals, along with Anglesea recruit Jarod Bacon.
The only sour note for Inverleigh was a calf injury suffered by veteran midfielder Guy O’Keefe.
Nick Butters finished with four goals for West, while Mick Leamer kicked three goals in his first senior appearance since mid-2023.
East Geelong has further consolidated third spot on the ladder after overcoming a plucky Anakie by 28 points at Anakie Reserve, 13.10 (88) to 8.12 (60).
The Eagles led a first-half arm wrestle by two points at the main break, before breaking the contest open with a 7.2 to 3.0 third term.
Vice-captain Jack Beardsell kicked three goals for the first time since arriving at Richmond Crescent in 2023, along with Newcomb recruit Andrew Steele.
However, the much-hyped battle of the leading goalkickers didn’t eventuate.
Eagle Zac Smith managed just one goal, with Roo Andrew Boseley finishing with four to extend his lead over Smith to that amount.
Bell Post Hill has maintained its spot inside the top five with a 16-point win over Winchelsea at Eastern Reserve.
A 4.7 to 0.4 third quarter proved the difference as the Panthers registered a 12.13 (85) and 9.15 (69) victory.
Nick Costello continues to close in on 500 GDFNL goals, kicking three majors to take his tally to 478 across his time at Bell Post Hill, Anakie, and the Belmont Lions.
Assistant coach Andrew Casey and best-on-ground Dyl Witney each kicked two goals.
Luke Henry was named best for the Blues, whose leading goalkicker was Reuben James with three.
Lucas Boyd, Jordy Camm, and Darcy Troop each kicked four goals as Thomson had the better of the struggling Corio by 56 points at Godfrey Street, 16.13 (109) to 8.5 (53).
The Tigers effectively ended the match as a contest before quarter time, kicking 7.2 to 1.2 to open up a 36-point buffer.
The Devils were more competitive from that point on, but couldn’t eat into the margin despite the best efforts of playing coach Joel Bennett (three goals), Russell Cowan and Hayden Burns.
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