Barring absolute calamity over the last fortnight of the GDFNL season, Belmont Lions will start their finals campaign from a qualifying final after overcoming a resurgent Inverleigh at Winter Reserve by 38 points.
Spearheaded by a season-high seven goals from Ben Evans, the Lions used a 6.3 to 1.3 to third quarter to turn a four-point half-time deficit into a 26-point lead at the final change, before banging on eight goals to six in the last term for a 20.15 (135) to 14.13 (97) victory.
Co-coach Andy Walsgott was pleased with his team’s response after half-time.
Twenty minutes into the second, I think they skipped four goals clear, and we were saying to each other on the bench that it felt like and looked like a Belmont game, and we were playing like a Belmont game,” he said.
“We were playing the type of footy we wanted to, but they just kept on kicking goals, and we weren’t probably clean enough or slick enough when we had our chances.
“And then we kicked a couple late in ‘red time in the second, and we just continued the way we’ve been playing, and added a little bit of polish on the end.”
The Lions welcomed back Nick Sherriff, Dave van Allitt and Shaun McNamara for yesterday’s win.
But, they’ll be without Shaun Dell, who suffered a hamstring injury, for next week’s meeting with Corio.
However, the Lions are likely to see the return of big man Noah Houtsma, James Beasley, Harry Thompson, Jake Steel, and Ollie Mayman, which will provide a selection headache for Walsgott, co-coach Brent Vermeulen, and their match committee.
“I’ve had to tell the wife to clear the decks on Tuesday night – it might be a bit of a long night,” Walsgott said.
“Good problem to have, and a problem I’ve been wanting to have for a while.
“I haven’t been wanting to talk about it (injuries) and complain about it, but it’s going to be nice come Tuesday night to have a pretty close to full whack at it.”
Evans’ seven goals were supported by four majors from Ben McPherson, while Mick Murdoch and Bradley Michell also impressed.
Despite the loss, Inverleigh returned to fifth spot as a result of the significance of Thomson’s loss to Winchelsea.
However, if the Hawks are to return to finals action, they will likely need to beat at least one of the finals-bound Bell Post Hill or East Geelong across the final two weeks of the home-and-away season.
Youngster Sam Cations and the experienced Josh Viney each kicked three goals for Inverleigh, with Dalton Grundell and Jarrod Love among the best.
Ladder leader East Geelong maintained a percentage break on North Geelong and Belmont Lions after holding off Bell Post Hill by 24 points at Myers Reserve.
The Eagles claimed the inaugural Geoff McLue Shield, named in memory of the local football identity, 13.15 (93) to 10.9 (69).
Andrew Steele kicked four goals for East, with Lara recruit Galen Munari and captain John McIntyre also impressing.
Sam Quinn and skipper Jack Yates were best for the Panthers. Veteran Nick Costello kicked three goals.
North Geelong couldn’t quite shake Geelong West, but made a first finals appearance in seven years a certainty in claiming a 19-point win at Keith Barclay Oval, 15.10 (100) to 12.9 (81).
Despite the Giants’ lowly position on the ladder, North became only the second team in 2025 to reach triple-figures against the men in orange.
Tom Schwennesen dominated in the Magpies’ midfield, with Osca Riccardi also a standout as he finished with four goals.
Jacson Collins and Tannar Stone did all they could to help West over the line.
Winchelsea has taken advantage of an injury-ravaged Thomson, registering its third win in four matches in claiming a 19.7 (121) to 12.5 (77) victory.
Cam Primmer continued his impressive form in front of goal, kicking a season-high six majors to take his season tally to 35.
He was the beneficiary of the good work up the ground from Cassidy Parish and mid-season addition David Isbister.
Jordy Camm was again a standout for the Tigers, finishing with three goals. Trav McGuire and Zach Plant also battled hard.
Anakie has fallen just short of sneaking back into the top five despite a 26-point win over Bannockburn at Victoria Pak.
The Roos’ 13.14 (92) to 10.6 (66) result has drawn them level on points with fifth-placed Inverleigh and seventh-placed Thomson.
But they remain 1.09% adrift of the Hawks and 0.41% behind the Tigers.
Luke Dahlhaus kicked three goals for Anakie, with midfield partner Brad Gerrard also a standout.
Veteran Aaron Seller was named best for the Tigers, whose only multiple goalkicker was Fletcher Wilson (two).
An inaccurate Werribee Centrals has overcome Corio by 32 points, 14.24 (108) to 12.4 (76), to keep its very slim finals hopes alive.
The Centurions need to win their remaining two matches, against Geelong West and Anakie, and have the Roos lose to North Geelong next week, and Thomson and Inverleigh also go winless over the next fortnight, to snatch fifth spot.
In a battle of GDFNL interleague teammates, Cam Saliba kicked four goals for Centrals, while Herschelle Carr backed up his ten majors against the Centurions in Round 5 with a six-goal haul.
X: @krockfootball
