After securing a third consecutive finals berth for the first time under the competition’s single division structure, Belmont Lions co-coach Andy Walsgott hopes beating Bell Post Hill to round out the home-and-away season is “the start of a really big month for us”.
In another thriller between the two clubs at Winter Reserve, in what was a virtual elimination final, the Lions overcame a 10-point three-quarter time deficit to claim a 15.14 (104) to 14.13 (97) victory.
The win booked the Lions a meeting with North Geelong in next Sunday’s elimination final.
“We have huge, huge respect for Bell Post,” Walsgott said.
“They got the jump on us – I think it was five goals to none or four goals to none to start.
“We had to try and settle the game and get some control on it and then when the time was right, get our speed into the game and I think we did that well.
“They just kept coming and coming and got their noses in front, and then we ended up having to respond.”
Walsgott was full of praise for captain Jak Evans’ performance against Whitley medallist Jack Yates, despite a brain fade in the closing stages.
“He gave away a reversal with a minute to go after he’d got Yatesy holding the ball,” Walsgott said.
“And he said it was the longest minute of his life as Nick Costello was having a shot with about 30 seconds to go.
“But I thought Jack was super all day. I reckon he would have tackled Yatesy 15 times and he just went and followed him around.
“I thought he was awesome.”’
Big man Will McLean, who, along with Chase Anderson and James Beasley, kicked three goals, was also important up forward.
“He’s had a pretty rough run with injury this year, but he was super last week and just provided an awesome option for us,” Walsgott said.
However, injuries to talisman Ben McPherson (knee) and Ollie Mayman (hamstring) took some of the gloss off the Lions win, with both unlikely to take on the Magpies next week.
For Bell Post Hill, Nick Costello kicked four goals to take his tally to 53 for the season – the fifth time he’s passed 50 in his GDFNL career.
Former Lion Daniel Banister, Sam Quinn and Zane Jones did all they could to lift the Panthers over the line.
East Geelong (3rd, 12-6) snatched third spot on the ladder and the double chance heading into the finals after holding off a fast-finishing Werribee Centrals by four points, 12.17 (89) to 14.9 (93) at Symal Oval.
The Eagles burst out of the blocks to take a 34-point lead at quarter time and still led by 37 points at the final change after an even middle two terms.
However, the Centurions, who needed a win to claim the minor premiership, threw caution to the wind in the final term, kicking 6.9 to 2.0, but ultimately fell short of finishing on top for the first time in 16 years.
Eagles spearhead Caleb Ezard kicked seven goals to take his season tally to 63, of which 41 have come in the second half of the season.
Centrals had 11 individual goalkickers, with Brandon Houlihan the only one to kick two majors.
Werribee Centrals’ loss gifted Winchelsea (1st, 14-4) its first GDFNL minor premiership after the Blues handed Geelong West (18th, 0-18) a 216-point flogging, 36.19 (235) to 2.7 (19) at Eastern Reserve.
It’s the Blues’ second-highest score and second-greatest margin of victory since entering the competition in 2002.
The other highlight of the day for Winchelsea, which will play finals for the first time since 2014, was Cam Primmer kicking 12 goals to take his season tally to 80, becoming the club’s third Wayne Tyquin medallist as GDFNL leading goalkicker.
It equals Anthony Kitchen’s return in 2004.
Bannockburn (6th, 11-7) made up the percentage gap on the Belmont Lions in beating Corio (10th, 3-15), but ultimately the Lions’ win over Bell Post Hill denied the Tigers a return to finals action.
In scenes eerily reminiscent of 2024 when they snuck into the top five on the last day of the home-and-away season, the Tigers slammed on eight goals in the final term to win by 74 points, 20.23 (143) to 10.9 (69).
Tristan Battaglia and Luke Bowdern each kicked four goals for Bannockburn, as did Hershcelle Carr for the Devils, to finish his season on 34 goals.
Inverleigh (8th, 10-8) might not be playing finals, but the Hawks played a role in shaping the top five on the final day of the home-and-away season in beating an inaccurate North Geelong (5th, 11-7) by three points in a thriller at Fortis Foundations Oval.
Trailing by eight points entering time on, late goals from Dalton Grundell and Scott Condy saw Inverleigh sneak home 10.10 (70) to 8.19 (67).
Grundell finished with three goals, while Mason Dickson and Jarvis Miles each contributed two.
Luke Parker and Cooper Vaughan each kicked two goals for the Magpies, who coughed up the double chance as a result of the loss.
A seven-goal haul from Luke Dahlhaus was the key to Anakie (9th, 6-12) getting past Thomson (10th, 4-14) by nine points, 14.11 (95) to 13.8 (86), at Godfrey Street.
Trailing by 10 points at three-quarter time, last year’s elimination finalists stormed home to finish Jayke Mawson’s third season in charge on a high.
Dahlhaus’ seven goals were well supported by Anthony Harding, who kicked three goals in what was his first senior appearance since late 2024.
Thomson captain Jordy Camm capped an outstanding individual season with three goals, finishing with 58 majors for the season.
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