Belmont Lions co-coach Brent Vermeulen is the first to admit even he was surprised by his team’s shock Round 1 win over Inverleigh.
In a result that had local football followers refreshing their phones to check the score wasn’t a mistake, the Lions stormed home in front of a big crowd at Winter Reserve to claim a 15.20 (110) to 10.11 (71) victory over the reigning premier.
Trailing by three points at half-time, the Lions kicked 12 goals to five after the main break to snap the Hawks’ 12-game winning streak, which took them to last year’s drought-breaking flag.
“It was a team effort more than anything,” Vermeulen said.
“A lot of the new recruits did really, really well.
“The young kid, (Nick) Sherriff, came out of nowhere and was great.”
Kicking with a slight breeze to the Kidman Avenue end, the Lions wasted some opening-quarter opportunities in posting 2.8.
“We had a lot of opportunities to kick goals and didn’t convert,” Vermuelen said.
“We knew they were going to come back in the second quarter as well, which is what they did.
“The more experienced guys took the bull by the horns and dug back in.”
St Albans recruits Michael Murdoch and Josh Wilson showed they would be handy additions.
However, Wilson may spend some time on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury.
“We’re not 100 per cent sure; it might be an MCL,” Vermeulen said.
“We can’t really say too much about it until we get the scans”.
Brock Mahoney and Ben McPherson kicked three goals each for the Lions and were named among their best, along with Noah Houtsma and Jak Evans.
Paddy Bourke was Inverleigh’s most effective forward, finishing with four goals.
Jake Crawley and Casey Meehan were named the best for the Hawks, who were missing several premiership players, including Adam Donohue and Nathan Mayes.
Belmont Lions didn’t provide the only shock result on opening day.
Despite the off-season departure of some of the greatest players in the club’s history, Bell Post Hill has overcome a 14-point half-time deficit to defeat premiership contender East Geelong by 11 points, 12.12 (84) to 11.7 (73).
The Panthers used the easterly breeze at Richmond Crescent to their advantage in the third quarter, kicking seven goals to one to open up a 26-point buffer at the final change.
The Eagles kicked four goals to one in the last quarter but couldn’t reel in the visitors.
After being limited to just four games in 2023, Harry McIntyre showed what he’s capable of with four goals for Bell Post Hill.
At the other end, Austin Mulvahil kicked five for East Geelong.
Despite an injection of talent over the off-season, Anakie has been no match for Bannockburn at Anakie Reserve.
The Tigers held the Roos goalless to half time in registering a 12.13 (85) to 5.6 (36) victory in big man Kieran Fulton’s 150th appearance.
Fulton was a standout with four goals for Bannockburn.
Grovedale recruit Steve Topouzakis was the only multiple goalkicker for Anakie, as he finished with two goals.
Former AFL first-round draft pick Billie Smedts kicked three goals, but an inaccurate Thomson didn’t have it all its own way in beating Winchelsea by 10 points at Godfrey Street.
The Tigers, again widely tipped to challenge for the flag, snuck home 10.21 (81) to 11.5 (71).
Jed Hanneysee also kicked three for Thomson.
Jordan Huff, Jordan Gould and Tavae Sauni each kicked two goals for the Blues.
Werribee Centrals have outlasted Corio to claim a 16-point win at Shell Oval.
The Centurions trailed by two points at half-time but did enough in the second half to run out winners, 15.9 (99) to 13.5 (83).
Josh McDonald kicked four goals, and newcomer Kur Kur scored three for Centrals, who were without coach Rhyce Prismall (finger).
Reigning Whitley medallist, Corio co-coach Joel Bennett was likely among the votes with a three-goal performance in the midfield.
Matt Jelenic, who kicked 32 goals last year, also started the season brightly with three goals of his own.
Geelong West gave new coach Scott Frangos a start to remember with a thrilling 12.10 (82) to 12.5 (77) result against North Geelong at Shell Oval.
Former co-coach Matt Ianelli kicked five goals, and Aaron Hutchison stood out in the five-point victory.
With a five-goal effort, the experienced key forward Blake Miller almost lifted the Magpies over the line.
X: @krockfootball
