JOEYS PUT FOOT DOWN IN GIANT WIN
A CONSISTENT four-quarter effort against Geelong West on Saturday provided a healthy boost to St Joseph’s percentage as it solidified its place in the GFL top five with a thumping 100-point win.
Joeys demolished the Giants 21.14 (140) to 6.4 (40) at West Oval to move to 5-1, with coach Paul Carson pleased with his players’ efforts across the entire contest.
“In the past few weeks we haven’t really been able to put the foot down, we’ve kept sides in the game for too long,” Carson said.
“Those times we’ve let teams come back in and only just got over the line can come back and really haunt you, and hurt your ladder position later in the year, so when you’re on top it’s really important to capitalise.”
St Joseph’s pair Sam Clohesy and Jack Mullen did the damage on the scoreboard with four goals each for the afternoon, while forwards Ayden Gras and Callum Mitchell booted three apiece.
Giant David Peel was the only multiple goalscorer for Geelong West with two, while midfielder Baxter Mensch found plenty of the ball inside the contest.
Geelong West coach Greg Mellor said his side was soundly beaten around the contest, and there were lessons to be learned from the defeat.
“They beat us in all facets of the game, they beat us at the contest and they beat us on the outside, their forwards played really well and their pressure made us make a lot of mistakes,” Mellor said.
“You make your greatest learnings when you lose, and it’s important for us as a playing group to know why we lost how we did and what we need to do to be better.”
COLAC v ST ALBANS
THE Tigers piled on an impressive 15 goals in the second half at Central Reserve to blow the Supersaints away in a 19.17 (131) to 5.5 (35) victory.
Colac forward Luke Hillman slotted six majors while midfielder Jonathan Simpkin was also a key for the Tigers.
LARA v ST MARY’S
LARA struggled to contain the might of St Mary’s, but put in an admirable effort against the defending champions on Saturday.
Despite not scoring in the opening quarter, the Cats clawed back against the Saints.
But six goals to Tom Lang and five to Patrick Dowling led St Mary’s to an ultimately comfortable 18.18 (126) to 11.9 (75) win.
NORTH SHORE v NEWTOWN & CHILWELL
THE Eagles continued their flying start to the season with a 15.15 (105) to 10.6 (66) victory away against North Shore.
Matt Boag and Mitch Diamond were in top form for Newtown & Chilwell, while Kobe Annand and Cameron Wilkinson provided an entertaining battle in the ruck.
GROVEDALE V BELL PARK
GROVEDALE recorded its second win of the campaign, defeating Bell Park 13.15 (93) to 11.10 (76).
The Tigers trailed at Burdoo Reserve at the main break but kicked eight goals to four in the second half, with Jak Tute and Flynn Young influential in the win.
SOUTH BARWON v LEOPOLD
THE Lions caused the upset of the round in the GFL with a 15-point boilover against
South Barwon.
A four-goal performance to Leopold’s Mitch Patten was instrumental in the 11.12 (78) to 8.15 (63) victory away from home. Swan Andrew Boseley kicked four majors for the home team, while Lachlan Noble was named their best.
A big pack of Giants and Joeys leap for the high ball; and (top), St Joseph’s Ayden Gras celebrates one of his three goals for the day. Pictures: Alan Barber