On a day when game plans went out the window, Newtown & Chilwell coach Steve Johnson praised his team’s effort as it ended St Joseph’s 25-game home-and-away winning streak with a stirring 26-point win at Drew Oval.
Played on a surface that resembled a swimming pool in some parts and with rain consistently falling, the Eagles kept the unbeaten ladder leaders to just one goal after quarter time in claiming a 6.15 (51) to 3.8 (26) victory.
Their sixth win, equalling their entire 2024 return, and first against Joeys since 2018, was a performance that has Johnson’s men well-placed for a quick return to September action.
“I thought we were pretty relentless around the contest, and our ability to get our hands dirty and get to work in there was outstanding,” Johnson told K rock Football.
“And also, I thought our pressure, our ability to tackle and get after them over the course of four quarters was as good as we’ve played this year, and the scoreboard ends up reflecting that.”
St Joseph’s kicked the first two goals of the contest through Oscar Morrison and Felix Henderson, with the visitors kept goalless despite numerous forward 50 entries.
However, Johnson was pleased with what he had seen by the first change despite trailing by seven points.
“You can have all the plans in the world, but when the rain comes down like it did today… You’ve just got to play the conditions,” he said.
“It’s about the team that’s going to be harder, going to be stronger around the contest, be able to win the territory battle and make the most of your opportunities, which we didn’t early on in the game.
“I was really happy with our first quarter. They kicked two goals early, but I felt like we were dominant in the inside 50s.
“The pressure was there, and I just thought it was going to turn.”
Ned Harris and Liam Nash revelled in the conditions, with Nash’s constant attack on the contest setting the tone for the Towners.
The most experienced player on the ground, Braden Hocking, proved almost impassable across half-back, while Connor Fopiani was the lone multiple goalkicker for the day, with two majors, taking his season tally to 17.
In the absence of Mathieson Medal fancy James Gow, St Joseph’s captain Al Hickey did all he could to lift his side as his 2015 premiership teammates marked the 10th anniversary of their drought-breaking success inside the Alan Russell Pavilion.
However, coach Ron Watt, whose last home-and-away loss came in the final round of 2023, conceded the visitors adapted better to the conditions.
“It just reverts to basic wet weather football; everyone’s done that ever since they were kids.
“‘How do you play? Get your body behind the ball. Make sure you get your head over it. Don’t try and finesse with it and all the rest of it’.
“But we didn’t do very well, did we?
“Newtown were just far superior in these wet conditions, and they thoroughly deserved the win that they got.”
On Saturday, Bell Park survived a major scare from Grovedale to hold on for a two-point win at Burdoo Reserve, 10.12 (72) to 10.10 (70).
The Dragons appeared to have done enough when they led the Tigers by 22 points at three-quarter time in trying conditions.
However, three goals from Grovedale ensured a tense finish, with the ball only 20m from the home team’s goal when the siren sounded.
In his best return since arriving at Hamlyn Park last year, Mitch Mahady kicked four goals for the Dragons, with midfielder Jett Bermingham a standout.
Big men Ryan Abbott and Joe McCarthy each kicked two goals for the Tigers, who were best served by defenders Brady Campi and Tom Schulze.
Geelong VFL-listed Oscar Pollock has delivered his best performance since arriving at South Barwon, as it overcame an improving St Albans by 39 points at St Albans Reserve.
The Port Fairy product kicked five goals in the 19.8 (122) to 12.11 (83) result.
Fraser Fort kicked three goals and Jonty Broughton contributed two, with his first the 200th of his career.
Tom Higgins’ impressive first season continues, with three goals giving the West Australian recruit 25 from the opening seven rounds.
Veteran Joffy Simpkin produced another vintage performance as Colac made light work of Geelong West at West Oval with a 14.14 (98) to 4.6 (30) result.
The 37-year-old kicked five goals to take his season tally to 19, while the recalled Luke Hillman made the most of his opportunity with a four-goal return.
Adam Garner and Tom Rienets were named the Tigers’ best.
Riley Moore and Angus Codd battled hard for the Giants.
The mercurial Paddy Dowling dined out, kicking 11 goals, as St Mary’s bounced back quickly from last week’s first loss of the season with a 221-point smashing of North Shore at Windsor Park.
The Saints were quick out of the blocks, kicking six goals in the opening quarter, and followed that up with eight, ten, and 12 goals over the following three terms.
Dowling’s second double-figure haul of the season has taken him to the lead on the GFNL goalkicking table with 30.
Sam Bourke and Jarryd Garner each kicked four goals, while Trent McMullan and Jack Willson each kicked three.
Declan Clark and Nathan King kicked a goal apiece for the Seagulls.
Connor Giddings kicked seven goals for the second time this season as Leopold boosted its percentage with a 209-point hiding of Lara at Lara Recreation Reserve.
The Lions showed no mercy to the struggling Cats, piling on 34.13 (217) to 1.2 (8).
Kyle Bumpstead kicked a career-high five goals for Leopold, which had 16 individual goalkickers.
Werribee VFL-listed Daly Andrews kicked the Cats’ only goal in his first game for the club.
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