Goal race goes down to the wire

REIGNING Whitley medallist Jak Kennedy-Hunt has urged teammate Nathan Mayes to be proud of his efforts this season, regardless of whether he passes his fitness test this week.

Mayes, who has never even won a club leading goalkicker award, currently sits on top of the GDFL table with 51 majors.

But a hamstring injury prevented him from taking on Thomson last week and he remains in doubt for Saturday’s clash against Corio, meaning he could be pipped for the league’s goalkicking award.

“We have bigger fish to fry, so it’s unlikely at this stage, but we’ll see what happens,” Mayes said.

Sidelined teammate Kennedy-Hunt took out the goalkicking honours last season with 104 from 14 games.

Currently stranded on 43 after only eight appearances this year, the prolific spearhead admits he has enjoyed watching his teammate apply himself each week.

“At times we had to confront the players this season behind closed doors and I’ll admit some didn’t take it the right way,” Kennedy-Hunt said. “But Nathan took it all on board and that was evident in the player that he has become and he hasn’t missed a session since.”

Asked to compare the 25year-old to former teammates, Kennedy-Hunt was split between two options.

“Simon Phillips over at Norwood or a Rob Costello at Werribee, a dangerous small forward when that ball comes in,” he said.

“If those types have five metres of space in the forward line, then they’d hurt you every time. Nathan has stepped to the plate this season.”

Mayes leads Bell Post Hill’s Jayden Ettridge, who sits on 50 ahead of his clash against his former club Anakie, while Geelong West forward Brayden Mitchell has 47.

“I might have to hit up my good friend and Anakie defender ‘Pupp’ (Mitchell White) to nullify Ettridge on the day,” Kennedy-Hunt added, playfully.