South Barwon has guaranteed itself the double chance after overcoming a slow start to defeat likely qualifying final opponent Newtown & Chilwell by 19 points in an “arm wrestle” at McDonald Reserve.
The Swans ensured their spot in the opening match of the GFNL finals series on September 5 with an 11.12 (78) to 9.5 (59) result.
Coach Mark Neeld was impressed with how South handled the intensity the Eagles brought across the afternoon.
“There was a period of time where each team had an extra player in the back line, so when the pressure’s high in the midfield, if the ball comes in high and long, it gives that person an opportunity to impact the contest,” Neeld told K rock Football.
“And we felt that that was part of the arm wrestle, and we just wanted to outlast them, and we just outlasted them.”
Kicking with the aid of the south-westerly breeze in the first quarter, Newtown & Chilwell jumped to a 23-point lead at quarter time, with veteran Liam Nash kicking two goals.
However, South grabbed the lead by halftime, kicking four goals in the second quarter while restricting the Eagles to just one behind.
Newtown & Chilwell grabbed back the lead after Connor Fopiani kicked a goal following a strong mark.
However, when Leigham Elzinga kicked his second goal of the contest, South Barwon took a five-point lead, and it would remain in front for the remainder of the afternoon.
The Towners were as close as six points early in the final term after two goals in a minute from Fopiani.
But the Swans steadied to kick the last two majors of the contest through experienced pair Taylor Mulraney and Sam James.
Mathieson medallist Fraser Fort, who spent time in defence throughout the afternoon, was a standout for South Barwon.
“He was really good,” Neeld said.
“We spoke about ‘Bose’ (Andrew Boseley) finding a good vein of form; so is Fraser.
“A different role for him this year, which he’s embracing, which is great.”
Newtown & Chilwell coach Steve Johnson remained upbeat despite his team’s second loss to South Barwon for the season.
“I come away from it actually pretty optimistic that if we play close to our best football, we’ll be competitive, and hopefully we get another shot at them in a couple of weeks’ time,” he said.
“We’ve got to get over St Albans next week to finish top three.
“I said be disappointed by the result, but don’t be disheartened.
“I think (there are) a lot of things we can take away from this game, and next time go to work on the opposition a little bit more.
“We felt like we learned some things as well.
“So, we lose by 19 points on their home deck, and they had a pretty strong team in, and we’ve got a few to come back.
“So, we weren’t too disappointed.”
Among those to return between now and the finals are co-captain Luke Maddock, running defender Mitch Diamond, classy winger Logan Morey and forward Nick Jephson.
St Joseph’s (13-5) has climbed into third spot after making light work of a severely depleted Colac (6th, 9-8) by 83 points at Australian Lamb Company Stadium.
However, the 19.20 (134) to 7.9 (51) victory is unlikely to be enough to claim the double chance.
Joeys will have the bye in the final home-and-away round, and with Newtown & Chilwell to host St Albans, a win for the Eagles will be enough to snatch back third spot.
Jack Jovanovic returned from missing last week’s win over St Mary’s to kick seven goals and move back into the lead for the GFNL goalkicking award, one clear of Supersaint Tom Higgins.
Veteran Ryan Monaghan kicked three goals for the Tigers, who were without Darcy Lang, Kody Spokes, Zach Zdybel, Ethan Liddle and Ben McCarthy.
A six-goal haul from reigning joint Mathieson medallist Jett Bermingham was the highlight as Bell Park (5th, 12-6) returned to form with a 91-point hiding of St Albans (9th, 4-13) at Hi Sushi Oval.
Bermingham ran rampant in another performance that is likely to have attracted the interest of the umpires as the elimination final-bound Dragons ended their home-and-away season with a 22.15 (147) to 7.14 (56) victory.
Debutant Noah Hollard made the most of his opportunity, contributing four goals.
Tom Higgins kicked three goals for the Supersaints to take his season to 64.
Despite conceding the lead on the GFNL goalkicking table to Jovanovic, with Joeys having the bye next week, two goals against Newtown & Chilwell will be enough to usurp the Joeys spearhead.
Grovedale (8th, 6-11) kicked 13 goals to one after halftime to hand North Shore (11th, 0-18) a 109-point hiding at Burdoo Reserve.
Tom Gillett kicked five goals, and veteran Ryan Abbott finished with four goals in the 22.28 (160) to 8.3 (51) victory.
Bailey Shelley kicked three goals for the Seagulls.
The round concludes this afternoon with the clash between St Mary’s (1st, 14-2) and Geelong West (10th, 3-13).
A win for the Saints will make the minor premiership a certainty.
Leopold (7th, 8-9) had the bye.
