If the simplest gauge of a club’s improvement is the scoreboard, then Grovedale has come along in leaps and bounds in the past three weeks.
Beaten by 136 points by St Mary’s just three weeks prior, the Tigers, who welcomed back former junior James Tsitas and fellow ex-AFL player Hugh Greenwood for yesterday’s clash with the Saints at Anthony Costa Oval, came close to pulling off the upset of the GFNL season.
Jacob Spolding’s men led the unbeaten reigning premier early in the third quarter and trailed by only four points at three-quarter time, before the home team’s class prevailed, kicking three goals to start the final term and claim a 20-point victory, 11.12 (78) to 8.10 (58).
“Today was a really positive step forward in our development as a footy club and a footy team,” Spolding said.
“Coming up against them three weeks ago, where we certainly lowered our colours, today was a really pleasing performance.
“I was really proud of our effort. Although we didn’t get the points. I was really proud of how we went about it.”
The cameos from Tsitas and Greenwood were the result of being in Geelong with AFL club Gold Coast, where both still hold off-field roles.
“Both boys had their moments,” Spolding said
“Hugh kicked a goal at the start of the third quarter, and the boys certainly got around him and made him feel really a part of our footy club, which was great.
“And James, being a Grovedale junior, got to play with a couple of his mates.
“He’s hard at it, he’s a quality footballer, clean. He ruffled a few feathers at different stages throughout the four quarters.
“He enjoyed himself and, yeah, they were great additions to our team.”
Hard-nosed midfielder Billy Ford, big man Joe McCarthy, and winger Jack Caia did all they could to get Grovedale over the line.
While Spolding also praised the work of the Tigers’ key defenders, keeping Paddy Dowling and Lachie Peck to a combined one goal
“Dowling and Peck didn’t really have much influence on the game,” he said.
“They had little bits here and there, but I thought our key defenders were really good.”
However, they couldn’t limit the impact of youngster Jack Willson, whose five goals were pivotal for St Mary’s.
Midfielder Elliot MacDonald and defensive duo Hamish Bourke and Ryan Pendlebury also played important roles for the Saints, who will now prepare for a matchup with second-placed Newtown & Chilwell.
Grovedale, which now sits a game and percentage behind fifth-placed Colac, hosts St Joseph’s at Burdoo Reserve.
Bell Park held South Barwon to its lowest score in seven years in recording a crucial 63-point win at Hi Sushi Oval.
The Dragons held the Swans to 2.10 (22), while kicking 13.7 (85) themselves, to stay in touch with the top five.
Defender Matt Jones was named Bell Park’s best, with Jack Sarcevic also impressive in kicking three goals.
2024 Mathieson medallist Doyle Madigan battled hard for South, whose only goalkickers were Sam James and captain Matt Caldow.
The Swans were held to 2.5 (17) by St Mary’s in Round 16, 2019.
Leopold has survived a fright from the winless North Shore at Memorial Park to keep alive its finals hopes as it enters the second half of the season.
The Seagulls pulled to within seven points midway through the third quarter before the Lions, who were without current captain Mitch Burgess and former skipper Marcus Thompson, steadied to claim a 25-point victory, 13.17 (95) to 11.4 (70).
Darcy Brislane kicked three goals for Leopold, while Billy Clark, Archie Eichler and Kody Gallagher each contributed two majors and appeared in the Lions’ best players.
The experienced Harry Purcell did all he could to cause an upset for North Shore, kicking six goals.
St Joseph’s used a six-goal-to-one third quarter to overcome a plucky St Albans by 24 points at Plan Group Oval, 13.14 (92) to 10.8 (68).
The home team led by just four points at half-time, but a four-goal burst in five minutes, including two to best-on-ground Mal White, proved crucial.
Pep Posterino’s three goals were also important, as was the midfield performance of playing co-coach James Gow.
Spearhead Tom Higgins kicked four goals and was named the Supersaints’ best.
Colac maintained fifth spot on the ladder after seeing off Geelong West by 79 points at Australian Lamb Company Stadium.
After an inaccurate first half, where they led by 24 points, the Tigers flexed their muscle, with an 11-goal-to-three second half securing a 16.18 (114) to 5.5 (35) result.
Co-captain Zach Zdybel, Sam Giblett and former Giant Ethan Liddle were named Colac’s best.
Wil Nicholls, who is likely to return to the Geelong Falcons next week, big man Mac Scoullar, and Lachie Horniblow (three goals) were best for Geelong West.
Newtown & Chilwell had the bye.
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