Now it’s time to start talking about Newtown & Chilwell as a legitimate premiership threat.
Any lingering doubts about the young Eagles’ ability to compete with the competition’s best have now been dispelled after they outlasted South Barwon by 22 points at Elderslie Reserve.
Trailing by a point at three-quarter time, Newtown & Chilwell kicked the only four goals of the final term, including three in a five-minute burst to turn the game on its head, to claim their 12th win of the season, 11.9 (75) to 6.17 (53).
The victory means the Eagles have beaten every finalist from last year except for St Mary’s, who they’ll face in the final round, in a clash that could determine the minor premiership.
Coach Steve Johnson hailed his team’s ability to soak up South Barwon’s pressure, especially in the third quarter, where the visitors kicked a wasteful 2.6.
“We knew that South Barwon liked to play a pretty physical, pressurised brand of footy, and I thought we matched them with that in the first quarter,” Johnson told K rock Football following the match.
“I thought we were almost dominating the field position, but we didn’t score, and they kicked some goals going back the other way.
“And then in the second quarter, they got right on top. I thought they probably didn’t kick away as much as they probably could have.
“It was a bit of an arm wrestle right throughout the day, but we’ve been finishing off games really well.
“So when the pressure starts to sort of lower because the fatigue kicks in, that’s when you can start to take the game on a little bit more, and we’ve been really good at that in our last quarters.”
During the Damien McMahon era, if you wanted someone to step up, it would be Matt McMahon, Matt Boag or Blake Sutterby who would put Newtown & Chilwell on their back and carry the Eagles across the line.
On Saturday, it was names like Jett Modoloa, who finished with a game-high three goals, Ben Pennisi, and Jedd Coburn who stood up in critical moments.
Modola and Pennisi had no senior footy to their name heading into 2025, while Coburn made eight appearances last year.
Throw in junior products Noah Caracella and Jesse Colville, as well as recruits Mitch Dodos, Ben McGlade, Archer Harkness, and Felix Katsaros, and you can understand why this evolution has caught many by surprise.
But not the coach.
“Early on in the season, (I) said we’ll be a better team at the end of the year than what we are right now,” Johnson said.
“Our training standards are really high. They train with real intensity, which is something I learned early on in my career under ‘Bomber’ Thompson; train the way you want to play, and they really commit to training.
“We have quite physical sessions, and that holds you in good stead for moments like today.
“And some of these kids… the improvements are going through the roof.”
Eagle Logan Morey, who won a premiership under Johnson’s coaching at Ovens and Murray League club Yarrawonga, kicked three goals and is likely to find himself in the votes come the Mathieson Medal count.
For the Swans, Geelong VFL midfielder Paddy Kelly was outstanding in his first GFNL appearance since Round 1 before a knock to the calf during the third quarter impacted his influence.
Fellow Cat Oscar Pollock kicked two goals. However, the radar was off for star Fraser Fort and captain Matt Caldow, who kicked a combined 1.8.
Newtown & Chilwell will enjoy a week off thanks to bringing forward the clash with St Joseph’s to the start of the season before taking on St Albans and Lara ahead of a mouthwatering match-up with the Saints on August 30.
South Barwon now sees itself back outside the top five and likely needs to win its remaining four matches, which include battles with finals-bound St Mary’s and Colac, to make a third consecutive September appearance.
Bell Park returned to the top five after producing a stunning 73-point win over St Mary’s at Hamlyn Park to mark milestones for captain Lachie Patten (200) and underrated defender Steve Bensted (150)
The Dragons’ victory, their first over the Saints since 2019, was spearheaded by a 37-disposal, 18-mark performance by Zac Mirkovic.
Mirkovic tallied nine inside 50s and six rebound 50s in Bell Park’s 21.7 (133) to 8.12 (60) result.
Tyler Pidegon was also impressive, kicking five goals for the second time as a Dragon.
He was well supported by Eli Pearce and Jack Sarcevic, who kicked four and three goals, respectively.
Jarryd Garner had 32 disposals and Harry McMahon kicked three goals for the Saints, who were missing brothers Hamish and Sam Bourke and ruck Fletcher Hughes from the team that hammered Lara the week before.
It was St Mary’s most significant loss since being on the end of an 84-point hiding from eventual premier South Barwon in Round 16, 2012.
St Joseph’s has overcome a late charge from Leopold to claim a 17-point win and maintain second spot on the ladder.
Leading by 34 points at three-quarter time, Joeys found that margin cut to four points by the visitors when Lions veteran Sam Scott goaled at the 22-minute mark.
However, two late majors from Joel Edwards were enough for a 13.10 (88) to 11.5 (71) result.
Midfielder Keelin Betson and the versatile Joey Chaplin were outstanding for St Joseph’s, with Hunter Lewis kicking three goals.
Scott kicked three goals for Leopold, with Mitch Burgess and Riley Stone among the best.
The Lions will need to win their four remaining matches and have results go their way to keep their premiership hat-trick quest alive into September.
Nathan Kreuger’s first appearance for Grovedale has been worth the wait, with the former Geelong and Collingwood big man kicking seven goals in a 27-point win over St Albans at St Albans Reserve, 14.11 (95) to 9.14 (68).
Available to the Tigers as a result of the Cats having a VFL bye, Kreuger had five goals by half-time as the Tigers, who were held goalless last week, took a 31-point lead into the main break.
Essendon VFL-listed Ed Adams and Sam Walker, who kicked two goals, were also important.
Ethan Guida kicked four goals to be the Supersaints’ best.
While the rest of the top half of the ladder was sorting itself out, Colac was taking care of business in beating Lara by 117 points at Lara Recreation Reserve.
The Tigers, who play four of their final five matches away from home, outclassed the Cats, 20.18 (138) to 3.3 (21).
Adam Walters kicked five goals for Colac, with the experienced Kane Smartt contributing four majors.
Lachie Horniblow kicked ten goals and Noah Allen contributed seven majors as Geelong West retained the Ron Sells Cup with a 162-point hiding of North Shore at West Oval.
Midfielder Lachie Taylor was also impressive in the 29.23 (197) to 5.3 (33) victory.
Horniblow’s haul moves him to 40 goals for the season, four behind St Mary’s Paddy Dowling with four rounds to play.
X: @krockfootball
