A late goal from big man Ollie Hicks has helped Bell Park to a thrilling three-point win over Leopold to keep alive its double-chance hopes.
After leading by as much as 29 points early in the third quarter, the Dragons found themselves trailing by a point 23 minutes into the final term when Hicks marked in a pack about 25 metres from goal.
Despite kicking two behinds during the third quarter, Hicks calmly went back and slotted the goal.
However, the Lions ensured a tense final few minutes, with brothers Harry and Oscar Morphet both kicking behinds.
Harry’s shot on the run, which hit the post, proved to be the last score of the contest, with the ball near the top of Leopold’s goal square when the siren sounded.
“We just weren’t quite at our best,” coach James Saker said.
“To the credit of Leopold, I thought their pressure was huge in the second half, and they played a really smart style, and we played pretty silly.
“It was probably a good thing to get behind, I thought. It sort of changed a little bit of the attitude of Leopold, and it got our guys to chase the game a little bit.
“I was really happy with our last sort of 10 minutes.
“We gritted the teeth and (did) some really good contested stuff to pepper the goals and finally big ‘Fridge’ (Hicks) took a mark and kicked truly.”
Three consecutive goals to Bell Park in 10 minutes in the first quarter in perfect conditions, including one from Henry Mansfield in his first senior appearance since early 2025, put Leopold at arm’s length.
However, the Dragons were unable to put the Lions away, and with a raucous crowd behind them, the home team could sniff an upset when they cut the margin to 14 points at three-quarter time.
Goals from both Morphets, followed by a long bomb from Will Sheahan after pulling in a mark of the year contender at the 15-minute mark, put Leopold in front.
After Bell Park duo Jett Bermingham and Finn Hoey attempted to snatch back the lead with shots at goal, it was Hicks who ended up playing the hero.
Despite the loss, which has effectively ended Leopold’s finals hopes, assistant coach Tim Connolly, standing in for Sam Hughes, who was absent due to work commitments, couldn’t have been prouder of his team’s effort.
“Five forced changes from last week makes things difficult, but it also gives blokes a look. And the guys that came in did a really good job,” Connolly said
“To fight back the way we did was… it hurts at the moment, but the journey we’re on, you can’t help but be proud.”
In his first Bell Park appearance of the season, Geelong VFL-listed Kobe George kicked two goals and showed why he’s highly regarded at the Cats.
Mitch Mahady managed two majors in the first quarter before being well covered by Leopold youngster Solomon Harvey.
For the Lions, Rising Star contender Darcy Brislane’s fine season continued, kicking four goals, to take his season tally to 26.
Will Sheahan (three goals) and captain Mitch Burgess did all they could to drag Leopold over the line.
Bell Park next faces fellow top three contenders Newtown & Chilwell at Jardon Oval, while Leopold heads to Burdoo Reserve to take on Grovedale.
The Lions will be sweating on the fitness of ruck Kyle Bumpstead (ankle), who failed to play the last quarter, while Darby Henderson also struggled with an ankle issue of his own.
Newtown & Chilwell (2nd, 11-3) survived a scare against Grovedale (9th, 4-10), storming home at Burdoo Reserve for a 13-point victory.
Trailing by 24 points early in the final term, the Eagles kicked six goals to none to finish the contest and post a 16.10 (106) to 14.9 (93) win.
Connor Fopiani kicked four goals for the Towners, with Mitch Dodos contributing three majors.
Veteran big man Ryan Abbott and Bradley Kreuger managed three goals each for the Tigers.
Andrew Boseley wound back the clock with his best haul of goals at GFNL level in four years, finishing with seven majors as South Barwon (3rd, 11-4) had the better of Colac (6th, 8-7) by 32 points at McDonald Reserve.
Swans captain Matt Caldow played an important support role, kicking four goals.
Experienced pair Jarryn McCormack and Kane Smartt finished with three goals apiece for the Tigers, who face the prospect of missing this year’s finals series.
St Mary’s (1st, 13-1) didn’t have it all their own way in beating St Albans (8th, 4-10) by 44 points at Anthony Costa Oval.
The premiership favourites led by 17 points at halftime before pulling away after the main break to claim a 17.18 (110) to 11.10 (76) win.
Jack Willson was a standout with a career-best six goals.
Seven-goal hauls from Jack Jovanovic and co-captain Paddy De Grandi were the highlights as St Joseph’s (5th, 10-5) took another step towards securing a finals berth with a 172-point hiding of North Shore (11th, 0-15) at Plan Group Oval.
Joeys kicked nine goals in the opening term on their way to a percentage-boosting 30.17 (197) to 3.7 (25) result.
Geelong VFL-listed Jovanovic’s second goal gave him 50 in his first season with the club.
Geelong West (10th, 2-12) had the bye.
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