Fadeout gives fans bad dose of Blues

LOCAL football followers have been enthralled for weeks with the battle for positions in the top five in all three leagues, with surprise results constantly changing expected scenarios.

When Winchelsea took a 31-point lead into the threequarter time huddle in their clash with Geelong West, it appeared the GDFL finals combatants were settled.

Unfortunately for Blues supporters, their players perhaps thought it was settled as well. With the greatest respect to the heart-and-soul performance the Giants delivered in that stirring final quarter, the effort put up by the Blues was woeful.

Considering the rewards on offer, it was unforgivable to surrender so easily to a team effectively playing for pride.

Coach Brendan Forssman has worked hard to put some substance into this Winchelsea team since he took on the coaching role, constantly striving to improve his group individually and collectively.

That final-quarter effort was unacceptable and if they are to confirm finals action, they must defeat a revitalised Anakie or ladder-leader Thomson in the run home.

This provides great excitement for the local footy public, but it is pressure Forssman and the Blues supporters could do without. THERE is plenty to like about the way the teams with no chance of playing finals are finishing the season.

Anakie has produced five excellent weeks of football and still has the chance to shape the finals in the coming weeks.

The Roos host the staggering Winchelsea outfit next round and Bannockburn in the final week.

Belmont was finally rewarded with its second win since Lachie Edwards took on the coaching role — the efforts produced over those seven weeks have been full of spirit.

The batch of talented teenagers introduced into the group this year will also hearten their supporters.

Bell Post Hill has been a little inconsistent but still collected wins that caused panic among finals aspirants.

All this points to the 2020 season, continuing to level out what was recently a lopsided competition. WHEN the highly decorated Bell Post Hill defensive champion Cam Addie returned to Geelong West this season, he had an eye on spending his final years of senior footy in the opposite goalsquare.

Circumstances did not allow that in the early games, but he has been a revelation since he finally convinced the coaching staff he should change ends.

Saturday’s return of six goals takes his season’s tally to a more-than-credible 40. The new-found enthusiasm may add another season or two to his fabulous career.