An undermanned North Geelong has overcome an injury-stricken Inverleigh to claim its fourth win of the season, pulling away from the visitors after half-time to record a 37-point win at Keith Barclay Oval.
After starting the season 3-0, the Magpies entered the meeting with the Hawks off three consecutive losses.
However, an eight-goal-to-three second half was enough for a 13.8 (86) to 6.13 (49) victory.
The game was barely three minutes old when a collision that concussed Inverleigh vice-captain Jarrod Love forced a stoppage of nearly half an hour after an ambulance was called.
Footage of the incident shows Love move towards Magpies Jacsen Jewell as he gets his kick away following a boundary throw-in on the Melbourne Road side of the ground.
“It was very weird,” North co-coach Peter Riccardi said.
“We started really well – first goal within 30 seconds – and then a couple of minutes later, unfortunately, ‘Lovey’ was concussed.
“Medical staff didn’t want to move him, so we had to wait for an ambulance.
“We all went back in the change rooms and waited for the ambulance to come out, had to re-warm up and hoping our focus didn’t change, and, to the boys’ credit, it was pretty good.”
With key defender Ben O’Brien sidelined, North Geelong turned to Jack Cambridge to play a role on dangerous Inverleigh forward Mason Dickson.
In a win for the Magpies, Dickson kicked an equal-season low two goals.
“He did an amazing job, too,” Riccardi said of Cambridge’s performance.
“I did say to Keegan (Carr, co-coach) when he was doing the best players, I said, ‘I don’t care who you put in, just make sure Jack’s number one.’
“He was that important to us without Benny O’Brien being there.
“He kept him to two, and I reckon one of them, he wasn’t even on him.
“It was a ripping game… his best game for the club.”
The win improved the Pies’ record to 4-3 before a meeting with Corio next week, ahead of the King’s Birthday bye.
In positive signs for the Hawks, Love was discharged from hospital last night. However, veteran ruck Luke Wilson remains in hospital after copping a knock to the groin.
Werribee Centrals have continued their stunning start to the season, walking away from Richmond Crescent with a 19-point win over East Geelong.
The 14.9 (93) to 11.8 (74) victory – Centrals first on East’s home turf since 2019 – maintained their perfect record and their two-game buffer on second spot.
After the Eagles kicked the first goal of the last quarter to cut the deficit to two points, the Centurions kicked five consecutive goals to ensure their seventh win of the season.
Kur Kur was the standout for Centrals, finishing with six goals, while Brodie Taylor kept league-leading goalkicker Zac Smith goalless.
“It’s hard to single blokes out; just a really good team effort,” coach Rhyce Prismall said on the club’s social media.
Caleb Ezard finished with four majors for the Eagles, while Jack Beardsell contributed two.
An inaccurate Belmont Lions have moved a game clear in second spot after securing its second tough away win in as many weeks, holding off Bell Post Hill by nine points at Myers Reserve, 9.16 (70) to 9.7 (61).
After trailing by 20 points at quarter time, the Lions slammed on six goals to one in the second term to take a lead they would never relinquish.
Chase Anderson, Brock Mahoney, Ben McPherson, and Michael Murdoch each kicked two goals for the Lions, as did Nick Costello and Banjo Hickey for the Panthers.
A career-high 11 goals from forward Cam Primmer was the highlight as Winchelsea proved roo good for Geelong West, posting a 65-point win at Scaada Stadium (West Oval).
The 22.11 (143) to 12.6 (78) result improved the eighth-placed Blues record to 4-3, just percentage out of third spot.
Nick Butters kicked six goals for the Giants as they posted their highest score of the season.
Seven goals from Lara recruit Jackson Francese-Fulton has spearheaded Anakie to 29-point win against Thomson at AA Semi Trailers Oval.
The Roos raced to a 23-point at quarter time and were able to keep the Tigers at bay for the remainder of the afternoon, claiming a third victory of the season, 15.5 (95) to 10.6 (66).
Thomson captain Jordan Camm followed up his nine goals last week with another four majors, taking his season tally to 21.
Bannockburn was made to work for its win over Corio at All In On Services Oval, never fully shaking the Devils on its way to a 22-point result.
Leopold recruit Henry Hawker returned from missing last week’s loss to the Belmont Lions to kick a season-best six goals, while Tristan Battaglia managed three majors in the 15.16 (106) to 12.12 (84) victory.
Cooper Shoebridge finished with three goals for Corio, with fellow West Preston-Lakeside recruit Tom McMahon the Devils’ best.
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