THE Geelong Falcons have further enhanced their NAB League Boys premiership credentials after snatching victory from the previously unbeaten Oakleigh Chargers at Ballarat’s MARS Stadium.
Trailing by 13 points at three-quarter time after surrendering a nine-point half time lead, the Falcons kicked three goals to one in the final term to claim an 11.7 (73) to 10.11 (71) victory.
“It was a topsy-turvy match,” coach Paul Corrigan said.
“Our boys started really well, and then they hit back and got a bit of momentum through the second and third quarters.
“I put it on our boys at three-quarter time to back themselves, and again, they just came home with the goods.
“We were a bit stronger around the contest and were able to get more ball going forward and gave our forwards a bit more of a look in that last quarter.”
It is the third time in six matches the Falcons have come from behind at the last change to win.
Corrigan’s men also trailed Bendigo Pioneers by 35 points when they stormed home to claim a draw in Round 2.
“It builds a bit of resilience in the boys, that they know from any situation, we can come back from there and be a bit more risky with our how we play,” he said.
“We encouraged the boys at the start not to lean on that. We made a really good start, but we didn’t capitalise early on.
“And some of our ball movement, we could have gone inside 50 a little bit better.
“But, that’s all learning; we’ll get better.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the boys for getting over the line.”
Corrigan was full of praise for his defensive unit.
“I thought our backs were huge,” he said. (Oscar) Murdoch and (Brady) Ferguson, as our key pillars, were really good.
“First-gamer Angus Hastie across half-back did some things as a 16-year-old where you go ‘wow’.
“He’s played three GFL senior games for Geelong West in the last three weeks, and we saw some things there that were really positive.”
Captain Jhye Clark enhanced his AFL draft credentials with a game-high 28 disposals, while Ted Clohesy (19 disposals) and ruck Olivier Northam (16 disposals and 15 hitouts) also had an influence.
In first his first Falcons appearance of the season, reigning GFL leading goalkicker Tom Gillett finished with three goals.
The Falcons next face fellow premiership contender Gippsland Power at Dandenong’s Shepley Oval on Saturday.
Twitter: @tom_king79
GEELONG FALCONS 3.1, 5.2, 8.2, 11.7 (73)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 1.2, 3.5, 9.9, 10.11 (71)
Goals: Geelong Falcons: Tom Gillett 3, Tom Burke 2, Tadhg Evans 2, Euriah Hollard, Patrick Hughes, Michael Rudd
Oakleigh Chargers: Ingo Dammersmith 2, Kaleb Djordevic 2, Jerome Lawrence 2, Braden Andrews, Kynan Brown, Connor Riley
Best: Geelong Falcons: Oscar Murdoch, Patrick Hughes, Tom Gillett, Jhye Clark, Brady Ferguson, Angus Hastie
Oakleigh Chargers: Kynan Brown, Jerome Lawrence, Scott Beilby, Luke Teal, Jasper Mundy
