Banished to the reserves the previous week, Jonty Broughton has shown why he is one of the most dynamic forwards in the GFNL as South Barwon handed fellow finals aspirants Bell Park a 94-point hiding at Hamlyn Park.
Broughton kicked five goals as the Swans climbed back into the five at Colac’s expense and put themselves in the box seat to play in an elimination final with home games against Newtown & Chilwell and Geelong West to end their season.
He says coach Mark Neeld wanted him to return to enjoying the game.
“We had a bit of an off game against St Joeys, and it was just to go back and have a bit of fun with the footy and get my pressure up,” Broughton told krockfootball.live.
“He’s a pretty good coach, and I’m happy to do that and do my stint down there, then get around the footy a little bit there.
“And (I’m) happy to contribute back up here as well, so it was good.”
After conceding three of the opening four goals, South Barwon had the contest on its terms after the first change.
From that point, the Swans outscored Bell Park 17 goals to three, highlighted by a stunning nine-goal final quarter burst reminiscent of what Neeld’s men were on the wrong end of the previous week against Leopold.
“The players were pleased with what they did in the last quarter, which was important,” he said.
“And it wasn’t around the scoreboard – they wanted to do a few little things around the ground, which we’ve been practising at training.
“And they were pleased they had a go at it. Some of them came off, and some of them didn’t.”
It was another disappointing performance against a team in the top half of the ladder for Bell Park.
Of the Dragons’ five losses for 2024, three have been by 89 points or more.
“I took most of the responsibility for the last quarter; we tried some stuff,” coach James Saker said.
“My message at three-quarter time – the damage was done by then – “we’re going to try ten different things. If one of them works that we can use in the next couple of weeks, then that would be a positive”.
“I’m focused mainly on the first three quarters, in terms of the players making sure they’re really reviewing themselves really hard, and I’m taking responsibility for that last quarter.
“It did blow out. We tried some stuff that clearly didn’t work. But a couple of things, we might tuck in the back pocket.”
Bell Park remains a game clear of South Barwon and Colac in fourth spot ahead of meetings with Grovedale at Burdoo Reserve and St Mary’s at Hamlyn Park to finish its home-and-away campaign.
St Mary’s has shown why its depth is the envy of most of the competition in handing rivals Colac a hiding for the second time this season.
After taking care of the Tigers by 72 points in Round 9 at Anthony Costa Oval, the Saints’ trip down the highway to Central Reserve was just as impressive.
They claimed a 61-point victory, 24.14 (158) to 14.13 (97), despite the absence of names like Jarryd Garner, Sam Dobson, and captain Jack Blood.
Sam Bourke showed his flexibility with a five-goal haul, while Zak Sherman and Jesse Travaglini contributed four goals apiece.
Damian McMahon enjoyed the expanses of Central Reserve, and ruck Nick Minchin was also important.
Darcy Lang finished with three goals for Colac, with captain Jack Melican and 200-gamer Lachie Simpkin the Tigers’ best.
Bell Park’s loss to South Barwon has given Leopold a one-game and significant percentage break on the Dragons after the Lions dispatched St Albans by 145 points at Concept Oval.
After opening up a 28-point break at quarter time, the reigning premier ruined the game as a contest when that margin became 62 points at the main change.
An 11-goal final term put an exclamation mark on a 26.17 (173) to 4.4 (28) result.
Leopold had 13 individual goalkickers, led by five from Jake Pitt.
The Lions should lock away a qualifying final berth when it hosts North Shore next week.
St Joseph’s remains on track to produce the first perfect home-and-away season since 2018 after seeing off a competitive Grovedale outfit by 52 points at Burdoo Reserve, 18.10 (118) to 9.12 (66).
Jack Mullen followed his four goals against Geelong West with a five-goal haul, with Hunter Lewis contributing four.
Key defender Liam Betson was impressive against his former club, while Josh Nurnaitis continues to earn rave reviews.
Tigers forward Mitch Chafer showed why he’s close to a VFL call-up with Werribee with another three goals, giving him 26 from nine appearances after an injury-delayed start to the season.
Will O’Dwyer’s impressive first season with Newtown & Chilwell has continued as the Eagles overcame a challenging first half at Windsor Park to defeat North Shore by 81 points, 19.17 (131) to 7.8 (50).
O’Dwyer kicked three goals, second only to Liam Fiore’s four majors for the visitors.
Will Milsome’s five goals were best up forward for the Seagulls, who were again well led by co-captain Jacob Miljevic.
This afternoon, Geelong West hosts Lara at West Oval
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