A hamstring injury suffered by playing coach Seb Ross has taken some of the gloss off Colac’s impressive 52-point win over fellow top-three contender St Mary’s at Central Reserve.
The 32-year-old came from the field during the final term, with the Tigers to gauge its seriousness in the coming days.
It’s the second time Ross has had a hamstring issue this season.
“I don’t even know whether it’s the same one as a few weeks ago or not, or how bad; I didn’t speak to him too much (about it),” co-coach Jason Armistead said.
“That’ll probably just be a wait and see.”
It was a rare down moment for Colac, which jumped to an 18-point lead at quarter time thanks to goals from Jarrod Walters, Ryan Monaghan and Jarryn McCormack.
From that point on, the Tigers had control of the contest, with a seven-goal-to-three third quarter a highlight.
“We’ve been pretty consistent during the first seven weeks with just a couple of hiccups here and there,” Armistead said.
“We’ve slowly been improving in a few areas, and today was just probably that culmination of it.
“Down at our ground probably helps as well.”
Ben McCarthy’s impressive season continued in the Colac midfield, while Luke Hillman kicked five goals to give him nine in two matches since being dropped to the reserves in Round 6.
“His last two weeks have been great,” Armistead said.
“It’s not as much as he’s got on the scoreboard, it’s been some of the stuff off the footy.
“His work rate’s got back up to where we know he can impact defensively as well as in attack.
“That’s probably been the most important thing for him and for us in that role.
“We couldn’t be happier for him the way he’s gone about it.”
For St Mary’s, which has lost two of its past three after going through the opening five rounds undefeated, the return of big man Sam Christensen following injury was a positive.
While the experienced Jesse Travaglini kicked three goals in his best performance of an injury-interrupted campaign.
St Mary’s now sits third on the ladder, percentage clear of Colac
Both face important meetings to round out the first half of the season, with the Saints hosting South Barwon and the Tigers welcoming second-placed Newtown & Chilwell.
A five-goal haul from Paddy De Grandi and another dominant midfield performance from Mathieson Medal fancy James Gow have helped St Joseph’s bounce back quickly from its first loss of the season with a 62-point win over South Barwon.
The Joeys grew their lead at every break at Drew Oval, with a 5.8 to 1.2 final term the exclamation mark on a 12.19 (91) to 3.11 (29) victory.
Lewis Antonac, Mitch Chafer and Felix Henderson supported De Grandi with two goals apiece.
Lewis Page, who kicked one of the Swans’ three goals, was named their best.
Leopold has maintained its spot inside the top five, but not without a fright from Grovedale at Memorial Park, winning 10.12 (72) to 9.7 (61)
After a first-half arm wrestle, Leopold kicked away to a 26-point three-quarter time lead.
However, the youthful Tigers weren’t interested in rolling over and kicked three of the last four goals of the game before running out of time to snatch victory.
After struggling past Grovedale last week, Bell Park has marked captain Lachie Patten’s return from injury with a percentage-boosting 93-point win over St Albans at Hamlyn Park.
The Dragons kicked the only five goals of the opening quarter to take control of the contest and never looked back in recording a 17.16 (118) to 3.7 (25) victory.
Geelong VFL-listed midfielder Hamish Lucas kicked four goals, Oli Hicks and Tom Pearson contributed three apiece, and midfield gun Jett Bermingham again impressed.
Tom Higgins kicked two goals for the Supersaints, who were best served by Ethan Guida and Jed Warrin.
Geelong West has kicked its highest GFNL score in handing North Shore a 242-point hiding at Windsor Park.
The Giants slammed on 12 goals in the opening quarter on their way to a 38.24 (252) to 1.4 (10) result.
They had 13 individual goalkickers, led by Tanner Lewis with six and five apiece for Brady Smigowski and Torquay recruit Ollie Maddelena.
Brad Tregenza kicked the only goal for the Seagulls, whose average losing margin sits at 199.5 points.
Newtown & Chilwell claimed second spot on the ladder after hammering Lara by 166 points at Elderslie Reserve, 27.18 (180) to 2.2 (14)
The performance was highlighted by nine goals in the second quarter and ten majors in the final term.
Ben Pennisi kicked five goals, while fellow youngsters Jett Modola and Mitch Dodos each kicked four.
Majak Daw and Josh Sanders kicked the Cats’ two goals.
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