Geelong West has kept alive its slim hopes of ending a 17-year finals drought after snatching a thrilling one-point win over Grovedale at West Oval this (Sunday) afternoon.
Trailing by 31 points early in the final term after Tigers spearhead Tom Gillett kicked his sixth goal in his first senior appearance of the season following a seven-goal-to-one third quarter from the visitors, the Giants appeared headed for their sixth loss of the season.
However, kicking with the aid of a slight northeasterly breeze and buoyed by a vocal home crowd, West kicked four goals in eight minutes to cut the margin to seven points.
A behind to the Giants was the only score for 13 minutes before Ethan Liddle received a free kick following a high tackle from star Tiger Will Ford about 20 from goal, and he duly converted his opportunity to tie the score.
West thought they’d sealed the game when an Angus Codd kick went between the goal posts, sparking scenes of jubilation.
However, it was deemed to have been touched off the boot, allowing Grovedale a chance to steal the match back.
The Tigers were able to progress the ball to the middle of the ground, but the siren sounded on a final quarter that lasted more than 34 minutes as a kick from Jack Caia headed in the direction of Gillett.
“The breeze had slightly started to pick up, and so we felt like if we could get a little bit of speed off half-back – I felt we were a bit stagnant in the third quarter – (was) the key to trying to get some handball receives and really running with some purpose and intensity.,” Mellor told K rock Football post-game.
“We changed up a few structural positions, and we had to make the most of our opportunities, which we did.”
One of the changes was to throw key defender Angus Codd into the ruck after eight-gamer Ned Duyker had battled the Joe McCarthy-Ryan Abbott combination throughout the afternoon.
However, with Mac Scoullar playing reserves, using Codd as a ruck option was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
“We talked about it during the week, really only going with one ruckman, in Ned,” Mellor said.
“I thought Ned did a super job today, and then Abbott – he’s been around for a long time, really experienced – and he just ripped the game open in the third quarter.
“I felt like Ned was maybe just getting a little bit tired, and if we could get Coddy to at least nullify him at centre bounces, we knew that Coddy might get a little bit of footy around the ground, and that seemed to be the way that it went.”
For Grovedale and coach Jacob Spolding, it was another heartbreaking loss, coming after they led by as much as 32 points during a seven-goal-to-one third quarter.
The Tigers have lost four matches by 18 points or less in the first half of the season, including a two-point loss to Bell Park and an 11-point loss to Leopold in the previous two weeks.
“Yeah, it’s a tough one to sit through the last 30 minutes,” Spolding said.
“We thought we controlled the majority of the game in the third quarter, hit the scoreboard,
“Five goals up, by no means did we think the game was won, but we certainly knew we had to be ready for a bit of a fight.
“And to Geelong West’s credit, they had nothing to lose. They rolled the dice in a few, got forward and kicked some goals.”
Despite the losses, Spolding is confident Grovedale is headed in the right direction.
“My messaging to the boys after the game was: ‘The last three weeks we’ve gone down by two points, 11 points and one point. I’d rather be in our situation that we are faced (with) this year than the situation we were in this time last year, where we were getting beaten by 10, 12, 13, 14 goals, and not a chance to win late in the game,” he revealed.
“I think this year we’ve been in all games up to probably half-time, three-quarter time, with the exception of the Newtown game.
“But, we just haven’t quite been good enough to get over the line.”
Gillett’s six goals were supported by three from McCarthy and two from co-captain Rory Quinn during a third-quarter cameo.
Former skipper Brady Campi is facing a stint on the sidelines after suffering a suspected adductor injury during the second quarter.
West spearhead Lachie Horniblow threatened to have an afternoon out when he went to half-time with four goals, but was well held by Nathan McHugh after half-time.
However, livewire recruit Noah Allen bobbed up with two of his three goals in the final quarter.
Geelong West faces a return meeting with second-placed Newtown & Chilwell at Elderslie Reserve to start the second half of its season.
Grovedale returns home for a clash with ladder leader St Joseph’s.
Newtown & Chilwell has taken a giant step towards playing finals in Steve Johnson’s first season in charge after overrunning Colac in the final term to claim an 11-point win at Central Reserve.
Trailing by 10 points at three-quarter time, the Towners kicked six goals to three in the final term to claim a 14.11 (95) to 12.12 (84) victory, which has Johnson’s men two wins clear of third spot, having played an extra game.
Luke Maddock kicked three goals for Newtown & Chilwell, while Jarryn McCormack contributed three for the Tigers, who were without playing coach Seb Ross and veteran Joffy Simpkin.
St Joseph’s maintained a game break on the Eagles in top spot on the ladder, but not without a scare from Bell Park at Hamlyn Park.
Trailing by 23 points at half-time, Joeys then produced a six-goal third quarter to take a seven-point lead into three-quarter time.
That was followed by a 4.7 to 2.3 final term, resulting in a 13.14 (92) to 10.9 (69) victory.
Oscar Morrison was again lively inside forward 50 with three goals for St Joseph’s, with star defender Liam Betson and captain Alex Hickey also important.
Geelong VFL-listed pair Hamish Lucas and Jack Sarcevic kicked two goals apiece for the Dragons.
South Barwon has posted its best win of the season as it outlasted fellow finals contender St Mary’s by nine points at McDonald Reserve to remain in touch with the top five heading into the second half of the season.
In a contest where the margin never exceeded 11 points, the Swans held off the inaccurate Saints, 10.7 (67) to 7.16 (58).
Returning small forward Lachie Noble kicked three goals for South, and Sam James was his usual busy self in the midfield.
Elliot MacDonald and Charlie Vallelonga managed two goals each for St Mary’s.
Leopold maintained the Mick Thompson Cup following a comfortable 61-point win over St Albans at St Albans Reserve.
Lions veteran Sam Scott produced another vintage performance, finishing with a game-high five goals in the 19.15 (129) to 10.8 (68) result.
Supersaint Tom Higgins grabbed a share of the lead on the GFNL goalkicking table, with his four goals taking the West Australian recruit to 31 for the season.
Click here to read about North Shore’s drought-breaking 14-point win over Lara
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