An impressive final quarter burst from St Joseph’s (4th, 12-5) has kept alive their double chance hopes after upsetting St Mary’s (1st, 14-2) by 47 points at Plan Group Oval.
Joeys led by just five points against the undermanned Saints at three-quarter time before slamming on seven goals in the final term to claim an important 15.9 (99) to 7.10 (52) result.
The victory puts St Joseph’s only percentage behind South Barwon and Newtown & Chilwell, who do battle next week.
“I think, beating the top side, benchmark of the comp, it’s always going to be one of the better wins this season,” co-coach James Gow said.
“That and Newtown were probably our best ones so far. No.
“They had some out, so did we. So, it’d be good to see everyone hopefully at full strength if we get them again at the end of the year.”
Gow was impressed with the growth of St Joseph’s crop of talented youngsters when they were challenged by the reigning premier in the third quarter.
“I think it’s just showing signs of maturity as a side, and it’s really pleasing knowing that our pressure and our ball movement hold up,” he said.
“We kept persisting with it even though they challenged us a fair bit, so that was pleasing.”
Gow says the performance was a timely reminder that St Joseph’s won’t be just making up the numbers in September.
“I think we’re probably about where we thought we’d be as a coaching group at the start of the year,” he said.
“We knew we could contend again in the finals, but it’s good for the confidence going into finals to know you can match it with the better teams.”
In the absence of star forward Jack Jovanovic, the classy Mitch Chafer (four goals) and co-captain Paddy De Grandi (three) shared the heavy lifting in the Joeys forward line.
St Joseph’s travels to Colac next week before having the bye in Round 20.
For St Mary’s, who were without a host of premiership players, including young ruck Fletcher Hughes, who made his VFL debut for Port Melbourne, Lachy Peck and Jack Willson kicked two goals.
Peck, Jarryd Garner and Jesse Travaglini were named best for the Saints, who meet Geelong West next Sunday at Anthony Costa Oval.
Grovedale (8th, 5-11) has denied Bell Park (5th, 11-6) the chance to lock away a finals berth after posting an upset 26-point win at Hi Sushi Oval.
The Tigers led by 22 points at halftime, before the Dragons fought back to level the scores at the final change.
However, Grovedale produced a stirring final quarter, kicking five goals to one to record their fifth victory of the season, 12.11 (83) to 8.9 (57).
Tom Gillett (four goals) and Ryan Abbott (three) provided an important one-two punch inside forward 50.
Euriah Hollard and Lucas Stefanovski each kicked two goals for Bell Park, which remains two wins clear of Colac.
Newtown & Chilwell (3rd, 12-4) used a seven-goal-to-two second quarter to record a 40-point win over Leopold (7th, 8-9) and maintain its spot inside the top three.
The Eagles led by just three points at quarter time but extended that margin to 33 points by halftime before posting a 16.12 (108) to 10.8 (68) result.
Mitch Dodos kicked four goals for the Towners, Liam Nash contributed three majors, and big man Cam Wilkinson was their best.
Nic Ash and Harry Morphet kicked three goals apiece to be among the best for the Lions, who have the bye next week.
The finals aspirations of Colac (6th, 9-7) remain alive for at least another week after outlasting St Albans (9th, 4-12) for a 40-point victory at St Albans Reserve.
The contest remained tight until three-quarter time, with the Tigers leading by 13 points.
However, Colac kicked the only four goals of the final term to record a 13.16 (94) to 8.6 (54) victory.
Darcy Lang returned to kick three goals for the Tigers, who need to beat St Joseph’s and St Mary’s in the final two home-and-away matches, and hope the Supersaints upset Bell Park next week.
Bailey Brogden kicked four goals for St Albans, with Tom Higgins’ two majors giving him a three-goal lead over St Joseph’s Jack Jovanovic in the race for the GFNL goalkicking title.
Buoyed by the appointment of Garry Hocking as senior coach for the next three seasons, Geelong West (10th, 3-13) all but consigned North Shore (11th, 0-17) with a 65-point win at Scaada Stadium.
The 18.21 (129) to 8.16 (64) victory snapped an 11-match losing streak for the Giants.
Former Torquay pair Jay Kaltenback and Luke Wittman each kicked three goals for West, as did captain Jacob Sammut for the Seagulls.
South Barwon (2nd, 12-4) had the bye ahead of a mouthwatering meeting with Newtown & Chilwell at McDonald Reserve.
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