Taking it down to the wire
Hawks win by just one kick
FOR the third time in the space of the year, one kick separated GDFL heavyweights Inverleigh and Bell Post Hill.
Inverleigh coach Mark McDowell declared the sixpoint win one of the club’s best in recent years — not necessarily because of the spectacle, but because of how diligently his players stuck to the task.
The narrow win was justly deserved by the Hawks, who were down a man from the opening passages after Lorne recruit Joshua Rees succumbed to a knee injury.
“I don’t think we were able to play our best football as a result of the intensity in such an important game,” McDowell said.
“But in terms of our relentless effort toward victory, I’d rate this as one of our best wins over the years.”
Down back, the Hawks limited Panther goalkickers Nick Costello and Jayden Ettridge to a single goal each, with Ettridge touchless in the second term before finishing with 10 disposals for the match.
“We’re really happy to see Ben Bouwman out there, only his third game back from a broken jaw, but he did very well on Ettridge from start to finish,” McDowell said.
Big man Renn Lovitt performed well in the ruck, but tall Hawk James Huybens also had an influence with two important goals.
The Hawks also ticked boxes in the youth bracket, with teenagers Ryan Soldic and Jye McEwan influential in the opening term, an age bracket of concern for Inverleigh in recent years.
But just how influential was their forward Jak Kennedy- Hunt? The league’s ultimate goalkicking talent was marked by Cam Addie, a week after the Panther defender was named captain of Bell Post Hill’s greatest ever team.
Having already registered 86 goals in his first 10 games, the 28-year-old KennedyHunt was held to one major in the opening half, such was the competitiveness of the league’s No.1 defender.
Yet the Hawk still finished with three goals, five behinds and seven marks, with his total of 13 disposals involving goal assists to teammates Soldic and Will Hamer.
“He’s a quality player who’s likely to rest next week, he was sore coming into the game and looking back he probably should have been rested against Belmont,” McDowell said.
“He kicked 3.5 this afternoon but if he kicks more accurately you’ll judge the matchup differently.
“I think he kicked more behinds today than he did in all his other games combined.”
Hawk Blake Hutchinson was awarded the Geoff Hill Memorial Trophy, as voted by his predecessors on the club’s past players’ day.
The dynamic ball winner finished on 29 votes ahead of ruckman James Huybens (28 votes), Ben Bouwman (17), Curtis Young (7), Ryan Soldic (3), Kennedy-Hunt (2), Billy Cations (1), Michael Best (1) and Ryan Garrard (1).
Tim Barton, Shane Lymer and Will Urquhart joined Addie in Bell Post Hill’s best players, recognising the reigning premier’s defensive talents.
Whitley Medal contender Adrian Fantella finished with 30 disposals (23 kicks) and nine marks, and could have been named in his side’s best players along with Caleb Bacely (20 disposals and five marks).
“We’re just focused on continuing improving and trying to get our style ingrained in how we play,” McDowell said.
“It flashes in and flashes out so we need to keep the game on our terms.”