GFNL club Leopold is through to the preliminary final after dispatching an injury-hit Colac by 17 points in their weekend semi-final clash.
The Tigers lost Cooper Hayes early in the match after he was sent crashing to the turf in a solid tackle, with Adam Garner suffering a back injury in the second term and while he remained on the field, he was unable to have much of an impact on the game.
Colac stayed with Leopold for much of the first half ith the sides separated by just 10 points at the long break.
The gap had stretched to 24 points by the third break,and 32 points by the ten minute mark of the final quarter.
The Tigers for one last gasp but wer unable to haul the Lions in, with Leopold eventually running out the victor.
Leopolds’ Mitch Patten booted five goals, including two in the first quarter, telling K rock Football that coach Buddha Hocking has instilled “a massive belief” in the playing group.
“I only get goals because the mids start to get on top,” Patten said.
“Westy’s really in form and so are Marcus and Logan, they’re really in form and it makes my job a lot easier.”
He said next week’s match at the familiar Memorial Park was a bonus for the side.
“It definitely helps,” he said, “we train there and everyone spends every second day there at the moment.”
Patten also had plenty of praise for the Lions’ backs, saying they provide a solid set-up that helps him make the most of his personal style.
“With Kevin and Crossy and Trent Thompson up there, you just know they’re either going to mark it or broing it to ground because they’re aerially so good.
“When (the ball) is in the air you can judge if they’re in the best spot and the mids can already be bursting out.”
Leopold will take on St Mary’s in Saturday’s Preliminary Final, with the winner to take on South Barwon in the Grand Final the following week.
