Co-coach Andy Walsgott has lauded his team’s pressure after the Belmont Lions booked a spot in its first GDFNL grand final since 2007 with a 20-point win over East Geelong.
At a windswept St Albans Reserve, the Lions conceded four goals in the opening quarter to trail by 22 points at quarter time.
However, they managed to keep the Eagles to just one goal for the rest of the contest, with a five-goal to none final term putting an exclamation mark on the 8.9 (57) to 5.7 (37) result.
“We had 55 tackles in the second half, which is massive numbers,” Walsgott said.
“We were outclassed in the first quarter… it was what it was like in Round 11 when we played them when they were too slick and too good for us.
“But, we really wrestled it back. We got numbers to the ball.
“Then, when the ball got out to open space, we worked hard to get out there.
“I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
GDFNL: SCOREBOARD – SEMI-FINALS
Walsgott conceded that the Lions didn’t adapt well to the conditions when kicking into the wind in the first quarter.
“They would have had nine or ten shots (at goal), with a couple out on the full,” he said. “They were absolutely all over us.
“We didn’t play the conditions that well. I reckon we would have kicked out of bounds on the full six or seven times when exiting defence.
“We were probably a bit too excited, too up for it.
“But we settled after quarter time and were awesome after that.”
Walsgott praised defensive duo Lewis McDonald and Corey Jarrad, who limited the influence of East Geelong forwards Zac Smith and Caleb Ezard.
“Those two boys were awesome for us,” he said.
“I thought how midfield group was good. (John) McIntyre’s a star player, (Ned) Aulsebrook’s a good player, (Ben) Crombie’s a very good player.
“But I think we bat deep in there, and the two rucks (Jed Evans and Noah Houtsma) went to work.
“Braeden Eddy was really good across half-back. And our two wings – Josh Wilson and ‘BJ’ (Bradley Michell) – were elite again.”
The Lions will now enjoy a week off before battling for the club’s second senior GDFNL premiership.
Walsgott says he expects to take an unchanged team into the grand final.
“We’re confident going in with those 22 boys in two weeks time,” he said.
For the Eagles, who will need to negotiate a preliminary final meeting with either Werribee Centrals or Thomson, if it wants to end a 15-year premiership drought, Sam Lowe, Conor McKinnon, and Jaydan McLauchlan were their best.
