SAINTS COMING FROM HEAVEN
ST MARY’S STAY ALIVE IN RACE
IS there another twist in the GFL season?
St Mary’s has shaken up the finals race yet again, stunning third- placed Newtown & Chilwell at Elderslie Reserve in a 46- point upset that keeps the Saints’ firmly in the top- five hunt.
Kyle Reid and Tom Lang notched three goals apiece in the 16.11 ( 107) to 9.7 ( 61) win as they stay alive in an intriguing race.
They are now in sixth place, a win outside the top five, and face a crunch clash with seventh- placed South Barwon next round.
“The only thing we can do is keep winning,” St Mary’s cocoach Glenn Keast said.
“We can’t do any more than that. We’ve put ourselves in a situation where we play a side next week ( South Barwon) in contention and coming to do as much as we are.
“It’s good to play in a game that matters. It’s good practice for a pretty young group.”
With scores level at quartertime, St Mary’s clicked into gear and jumped out to a 14point half- time lead, before sealing the result in a dominant final term.
They scored six goals to three in the last quarter to condemn Newtown & Chilwell to its third loss in four matches.
“We felt we haven’t scored enough ( previously),” Keast said.
“We controlled a large part of the game last week but didn’t get the score on the board, so we wanted to try to get deeper entries and be more aggressive with our ball movement. “We did that really well.” He praised the performance of Reid, who has been a revelation since switching ends.
He did not miss a beat on Saturday, despite it being his first game since Round 12.
“Our midfield fired, and we welcomed back Kyle Reid, kicking three,” he said.
“He was good, not just from kicking goals but creating contests, which is the thing we’ve struggled with along with our transition. He gave us a target.”
Jack Blood was again St Mary’s best, with Jai Sheahan ( two goals) a shining light for Newtown & Chilwell.
DRAGONS FIRE IN THIRD
BELL Park kept itself safely in fifth — for now — with a strong win over St Albans, 12.11 ( 83) to 6.11 ( 47) at Hamlyn Park.
The Supersaints put in a good showing, leading at quarter- time and still within a kick at half- time, before the Dragons kicked five of the next six goals to open up the game after the break.
Defender Stephen Bensted was Bell Park’s best in the win, while Jackson Sheringham was prominent through the midfield to continue his good form. Damon Hemphill was St Albans’ best.
HUPPATZ LIFTS GIANTS
GEELONG West and Grovedale slugged it out in a thriller that went the Giants’ way, 12.9 ( 81) to 11.11 ( 77) at West Oval.
Accurate kicking no doubt helped the home side, with a five- goal- to- one third term swinging the momentum the Giants’ way after the Tigers led at the first two breaks.
Young GFL star Lochie Huppatz was arguably the difference with four goals in a best- afield display, again showing why he is one of the great stories to emerge from West’s season.
Grovedale ball- winner James Tsitas was everywhere for the Tigers, proving a cut above at this level after recently dropping back from Geelong’s VFL side.
LARA ON WINNERS LIST
LARA scored its second win of the season, overcoming North Shore once again 9.8 ( 62) to 6.9 ( 45).
Brock Van Doren slotted three goals for the Cats, taking his season tally to 30.
Jordan Stone was Lara’s best, while Ryan Robertson did his best to keep North Shore in the contest.
The Seagulls were still a chance at three- quarter time, down by three goals, but Lara showed poise to bank the win.
BIG FINISH FOR COLAC
COLAC proved far too strong for South Barwon, 21.9 ( 134) to 6.8 ( 44), to stay equal on points with St Joseph’s at the top of the ladder.
Luke Hillman ( four goals), Tyler Murnane, Jacob McGuane and Cooper Stephens ( three each) shared in the spoils, as the Tigers again shared the goals around with 11 goalkickers. Josh Saunders was again the Swans’ best on what was a tough day for South Barwon. Colac kicked eight goals to one in the final quarter in an ominous warning about its hunger for the contest.