North Geelong has overcome injuries to a key trio of players to overcome Bell Post Hill by 13 points and all but lock in a qualifying final berth.
The Magpies, who were down to one rotation on the bench for much of the second half following injuries to Patrick Cleary, Jacsen Jewell and Damian Fazio, withstood a third-quarter fightback from the Panthers to post a 10.16 (76) to 9.9 (63) victory.
The win, the reigning premier’s fifth consecutive, puts it eight points clear of next week’s opponent East Geelong, Bell Post Hill, and the Belmont Lions with two rounds to play.
“We’ve said probably the last month, really, that everything that we want to get every season is in our control,” North co-coach Keegan Carr said.
“Credit to the players that we’ve managed to keep winning and keep our destiny in our own hands and not have to look at everyone else’s results at five o’clock on a Saturday afternoon.”
Despite the injuries, which compounded the late withdrawals of Rory Desnoy (back) and Jack Cambridge (illness), North was able to adapt at both ends of the ground.
“Resilience was probably the biggest thing,” Carr said.
“We lost a couple between Thursday and Saturday and lost a couple of soldiers on the day as well, and it was a warmish day for early August.
“So, we just asked the boys to dig in at three-quarter time.
“They came hard in the third quarter… we knew they would because that’s the way they play.
“But the players were fantastic in that last quarter to just manage to hold the fort.
“We were down to one rotation, so we kind of had to flick things around a little bit to keep players on the ground.”
Defender Ben O’Brien and midfielder Charlie Farrell were standouts for North Geelong, with Luke Parker and Jorden Bertucci, who kicked three goals apiece, the most effective forwards on the Magpies.
Big man Brock Carter and Whitley medallist Dylan Witney did all they could to keep Bell Post Hill in the contest.
Despite the loss, the Panthers remain inside the top five but face a challenging fortnight if they are to feature in an elimination final.
They host ladder leader Werribee Centrals next week before facing the Belmont Lions at Winter Reserve in Round 18 in what has the potential to be a playoff for fifth spot.
North Geelong faces two away games before venturing to St Albans Reserve for the finals, with matchups against East Geelong and Inverleigh.
Werribee Centrals (1st, 13-3) have narrowly maintained top spot on the ladder after having the better of finals hopefuls Belmont Lions (6th, 10-6) by 41 points, 17.17 (119) to 12.6 (78) at Symal Oval.
The Centurions appeared set for a comfortable win when they stormed to a 46-point lead at quarter time thanks to an eight-goal-to-one term.
However, the Lions fought their way back into the contest, outscoring the home team 10 goals to three over the next two quarters to cut the margin to eight points at the final change.
Centrals dominated the final term, kicking six goals to one to maintain their percentage break on second-placed Winchelsea.
Brandon Houlihan kicked four goals for the winners, with Josh MacDonald and Cam Saliba contributing three apiece.
Ben Evans’ five goals were best for the Lions, who need at least one win in the final two rounds to book a third consecutive finals berth.
Winchelsea (2nd, 13-3) remains in contention for its first GDFNL minor premiership after beating Inverleigh (7th, 9-7) by 31 points at Eastern Reserve.
The Blues claimed their 10th consecutive win, 13.16 (94) to 8.15 (63), to sit less than one per cent behind Werribee Centrals with two rounds to play.
Winchelsea face the struggling Corio and Geelong West in the final two rounds,
Cam Primmer and Fin Parish both kicked three goals for the Blues, while Mason Dickson contributed four for the Hawks.
Primmer and Dickson now share the lead in the race for the Wayne Tyquin Medal, with 65 apiece.
Bannockburn (8th, 9-7) has kept alive its slim finals hopes for at least another week following a nine-point win over East Geelong (4th, 10-6) at Victoria Park.
In a low-scoring contest, the Tigers, after trailing by seven points at halftime, claimed a 9.14 (68) to 8.11 (59) victory to stay within a win of the top six.
Bannockburn spearhead Henry Hawker returned after missing the loss to Bell Post Hill to kick four goals.
Caleb Ezard kicked three majors for the Eagles to take his season tally to 50.
Anakie (10th, 4-12) can be thankful for a barnstorming start to its clash with Corio (11th, 2-14) after holding on for a 13-point win, 16.11 (107) to 13.16 (94) at AA Semi-Trailers Oval.
The Roos kicked nine goals in the opening quarter to lead by 50 points at quarter time.
However, the Devils declined to roll over, but eventually ran out of time to reel in the deficit.
Jackson Francese-Fulton kicked six goals for Anakie, with star duo Luke Dahlhaus and Josh Mawson both contributing four majors.
Tom McMahon’s impressive first season with Corio continued with a five-goal haul.
Seven goals apiece for captain Jordan Camm and deputy Jed Hanneysee was the highlight as Thomson (9th, 4-12) hammered Geelong West (12th, 0-16) at Godfrey Street.
The Tigers kicked ten goals to one in the opening quarter and never let up on their way to a 29.12 (186) to 8.10 (58)result.
In his first match since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, Dylan Jose kicked four goals.
Jarrod Jans and Stuart Goddard kicked two goals for the Giants, who are without a win since
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