Belmont Lions have ticked off another two milestones as it continued its unbeaten start to the season with a gritty 10-point win over Bannockburn at Victoria Park.
A seventh-straight victory not only extended their best start to a season since the return to a single GDFNL division in 1996, but the 11.13 (79) to 9.15 (69) result marked their first seven-match winning streak in that time.
The Lions also won at Bannockburn for the first time since the final round of 2015.
Co-coach Brent Vermeulen put the win down – despite missing reigning best-and-fairest Harry Thompson, young gun Brock Mahoney, midfielder Mikali Harrison, and defender Shaun Jubber – to “a lot of hard work”.
“The boys have been putting in a ton of work during training and making sure we’ve got our standards set high,” he said.
“It’s why we won on the weekend.”
After a first-half arm wrestle, where the Lions took a two-point lead into the main break, a five-goals to one third quarter proved crucial.
“Jed (Evans) and Noah (Houtsma) in the ruck really helped us start that there,” Vermeulen said.
“A couple of times, Jed grabbed it out (of the ruck), and we were able to kick away a little bit.
“I don’t know what happened in the fourth quarter. We thought it was all going to happen and just let things slip.
“But, we were able to hold on.”
After 20 goals in five games in the reserves, Sam Jones kicked four majors to lead the Lions’ forward effort.
Ben Evans and Jak Evans managed three majors apiece, with Nick Sherriff and Steve Phillips crucial to the final result.
The Lions escaped the clash injury-free. However, Vermeulen revealed that Jubber will be sidelined with a broken hand for several weeks.
Captain Kieran Fulton kicked two goals for the Tigers, who find themselves two games adrift of third-placed Werribee Centrals.
Elsewhere, Thomson overcame a slow start to defeat the Joel Bennett-less Corio at Godfrey Street to climb into the top five with a 41-point win.
Staring down a 32-point deficit at quarter time, the Tigers held the visitors to just one goal for the remainder of the contest while kicking 12 to register a 13.12 (90) to 7.7 (49) victory.
Lucas Boyd kicked a season-best five goals, with captain Travis McGuire, fellow defender Steve Salajan, and Billie Smedts Thomson’s standouts.
Devil Herschelle Carr kicked three goals to take his season tally to 22.
A fast start by an accurate Werribee Centrals proved the difference in its 29-point win over North Geelong at Keith Barclay Oval.
The third-placed Centurions kicked five goals to one in the opening quarter before claiming a 16.4 (100) to 10.11 (71) victory.
After five in the previous week’s win over Bannockburn, Carmelo Saliba backed up with four majors, with Jack Stephenson and Tyler Crennan important contributors.
Inverleigh kicked the final five goals of the contest to beat Geelong West by 28 points at West Oval to record the second victory of its premiership defence, 14.8 (92) to 9.10 (64).
The Hawks were in the box seat when they led by 21 points at half-time.
However, the Giants kicked five of the first seven goals of the third quarter to level the scores at 60 apiece.
Inverleigh responded with the last two goals of the term and kicked the only three majors of the final quarter to ensure an important win.
Adam Donohue took the lead on the goalkicking ladder with five, while co-coach Dalton Grundell managed four.
Jackson Dunlop and Josh Viney kicked three goals apiece for West, who will be without Gus Fraatz until following the King’s Birthday bye after he suffered a concussion.
Jacsen Jewell was best for the Magpies with a four-goal effort.
Winchelsea climbed off the bottom of the ladder and boosted its percentage by 21 points with its highest score and biggest win against Bell Post Hill.
After an even first quarter, the Blues kicked 19 goals to three from that point on to record a 22.18 (150) to 5.11 (41) victory at Eastern Reserve.
One-time GFNL Rookie of the Year Jack Symmons led the charge with five goals, while Leigh Ellis and acting coach Jordan Huff kicked four goals apiece.
Tyler Edwards managed two goals for the undermanned Panthers.
A six-goal haul from Zac Smith was the highlight as East Geelong made light work of Anakie, recording a 97-point win at Anakie Reserve.
The Eagles’ defence was again on song, limiting the Roos to just one goal per quarter in the 19.12 (126) to 4.5 (29) victory.
Oscar Barter kicked two goals for Anakie.
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