St Mary’s has strengthened its grip on the minor premiership after overcoming South Barwon for the second time in five weeks.
Leading by 28 points at three-quarter time at McDonald Reserve, the Saints, who suffered their first loss of the season before the league-wide bye, held off the Swans’ final-quarter push with the northerly wind to post a 17-point victory, 12.13 (85) to 9.14 (68).
The victory keeps the reigning premier two games clear of Newtown & Chilwell, which has played one less match, and three ahead of South, Bell Park, and St Joseph’s heading into the final third of the season.
St Mary’s co-coach Luke Rayner admits he didn’t think his team had done enough when it kicked with the wind first, despite keeping the Swans goalless after posting 3.10.
“Probably 20 minutes into the first quarter, I thought, ‘Oh, well, yeah, we probably haven’t done what we needed to do’,” he said.
“It was a decent wind, so we knew they were going to get their turn in the second term.
“Similar to us, they kicked a few points as well, but took in a slender lead (at halftime).
“You just never know what’s going to happen or what it’s going to be in terms of whether you’ve done enough or haven’t done enough.
“But I felt like after the first quarter, ‘Yeah, we probably left a couple out there on the park that would have been handy to have going into that second term’.
However, despite a slow start when it had the breeze at its back again in the third term, St Mary’s was able to get the break they needed, kicking six consecutive goals to give itself a handy buffer at the final break.
“The boys got on a little bit of a roll in the back half of that third quarter and were able to establish a bit of a lead,” Rayner said.
“We squared things all up for the last quarter and backed our boys in to sort of go head-to-head and get the job done.”
The Bourke brothers, Sam and Hamish, continued their fine seasons.
Sam was the most effective forward on the ground, finishing with three goals. He was also deployed in defence when St Mary’s kicked into the wind.
Hamish’s standing as one of the GFNL’s elite defenders continues to grow.
“He’s an absolute ripper,” Rayner said. “He’s just so good in terms of his discipline and how he defends.
“He knows when to defend, but he’s also turning into a player that has the capability to win his own ball as well.”
The Saints will have the bye next week before facing finals hopefuls Bell Park on July 25.
Lewis Page, Ben Kellett, and 2024 Mathieson medallist Doyle Madigan were named South Barwon’s best ahead of its match against Grovedale next week.
Newtown & Chilwell (2nd, 9-2) has come from 29 points down at halftime to beat a plucky Geelong West (10th, 2-10) by 24 points at Scaada Stadium, 14.9 (93) to 10.9 (69).
After an even first quarter, in which the Eagles held a four-point lead, the Giants used the wind at their backs to good effect, banging on seven goals to one.
However, Newtown & Chilwell went one better in the third term, kicking eight goals to grab a 17-point advantage and take the game away from the home team, who farewelled coach Chris Browne during the week.
Liam Nash was the star for the Towners, finishing with three goals, while Ned Harris continued to mount a case for back-to-back Mathieson medals.
Riley Meddings and Brady Smigowski each kicked two goals for the Giants, with Meddings named their best.
Six goals from Tom Pearson and another strong midfield display from Jett Bermingham were the highlights as Bell Park (4th, 8-4) boosted its percentage with a 174-point hiding of North Shore (11th, 0-12) at Windsor Park.
After a tight first quarter, the Dragons put the result to bed with a 12-goal second term.
Jack Sarcevic and Lucas Stefanovski kicked four goals in the 29.23 (197) to 3.5 (23) result.
Dylan Bennett and Lachie Vivian were named the best for the Seagulls, who were without inspirational captain Jacob Sammut.
Colac (6th, 7-5) proved too strong for Grovedale (8th, 4-8) by 64 points at Australian Lamb Company Stadium, 17.21 (123) to 8.11 (59).
The home team took control of the contest with a seven-goal-to-one opening quarter and was never seriously threatened by Grovedale.
Colac had ten individual goalkickers, including Jarrod Walters in his first game back from a serious shoulder injury suffered in last year’s qualifying final.
Bradley Kreuger and Billy Spicer each kicked two goals for the undermanned Grovedale.
Leopold (7th, 6-6) maintained its stranglehold on the Mick Thompson Cup and kept its slim finals hopes alive with a 70-point win over St Albans (9th, 2-9) at St Albans Reserve.
In the match that honours his late uncle, Marcus Thompson produced a vintage performance, which was capped off by three goals.
Nic Ash also kicked three goals in the 17.13 (115) to 7.3 (45) result.
Tom Gunther and Tom Higgins kicked two goals apiece and were among the Supersaints’ best.
St Joseph’s (5th, 8-4) had the bye.
