Two wins over two of its 2025 finals victims, by a combined 149 points, has some wondering: Who can stop St Mary’s?
After seeing off preliminary final opponents Colac by 69 points in Round 1, the reigning premier, fresh off a bye, were at their ruthless best in handing elimination finalist Bell Park by 80 points at Anthony Costa Oval on Sunday afternoon.
The Saints won every quarter on their way to a 20.14 (134) to 8.6 (54) result, led by five goals from talisman Paddy Dowling and four from Jack Willson, in his first senior appearance of the season.
But it was the third term, when they piled on eight goals, including three in the opening eight minutes, to extend their half-time lead from 25 points to 65 at the final change, that showed them at their scintillating best.
“It was an excellent performance,” co-coach Ben Boseley told K rock Football.
“We knew this was going to be a super game. We expected Bell Park to come out, and to the boys’ credit, we made it really simple.
“I think the 22 players that played contributed really evenly across the board, and that’s the most pleasing thing for us, is that everyone’s fulfilling their little role within the greater team.”
Bell Park coach James Saker was left to rue a slow start.
Kicking with the aid of a northerly breeze after winning the toss, the Dragons didn’t post a goal until the 23-minute mark, while watching St Mary’s kick three majors to open up a 20-point lead.
“We weren’t very happy with that at all,” Saker said. “They were really good, and we were really bad early.
“They got the game on their terms. It looked like they wanted it, too, for long periods of time.
“We had a few patches where we were gritty and stuck to task.
“But then when we had our opportunities forward at the centre, when we had momentum, we just didn’t capitalise, and they bounce through as good as anyone, which they did today.
St Mary’s next faces St Albans, with co-captain Jack Blood, who was unavailable, and Harvey Ryan (concussion protocol) expected to return, putting pressure on team selection.
“I don’t want to forecast selection on Tuesday. I’m just going to enjoy tonight, but it will be a challenge moving forward for us,” Boseley said.
Bell Park will return home for a meeting with fellow finals hopefuls Leopold, which held on for a thrilling two-point win against Colac at Leopold Memorial Park, 13.14 (92) to 13.12 (90).
On the day the Lions celebrated the naming of their pavilion after late club icon Les Ash, the Tigers seemed intent on spoiling the party, leading by as much as 32 points during the third quarter.
However, Leopold kicked three of the last four goals of the term to cut the margin to 19 points at the final change.
Goals from Mason Williams and Riley Stone got the Polders back to within six points before Josh Garner extended Colac’s lead to 13 points.
But the Lions had one last charge left in them, with four-goal hero Harry Morphet and Lara recruit Darby Henderson kicking goals to pull the home team to within a point.
Tait Lunnon-Johnson then put Leopold in front at the 22-minute mark, with a vocal home crowd helping the Lions to hold on.
Meanwhile, in the Bellarine league, Round 4 has concluded with wins for Queenscliff and Torquay.
After trailing by eight points at quarter-time, the Coutas outscored Surf Coast, 22 goals to three from that point on to record a 25.15 (165) to 8.3 (51) victory.
While the Tigers got some small revenge for their preliminary final loss to Anglesea, pulling away from the reigning premier after half-time for a 56-point result, 17.10 (112) to 7.14 (56).
Tynan Smith kicked three goals for Torquay, as did Alex Braaksma for the Ros.
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