Geelong Advertiser |
GROVEDALE has recorded a come-from-behind win over St Albans in a pulsating affair at Burdoo Reserve.
The lead swung back and forth in the final term before the Tigers prevailed 15.21 (111) to St Albans 17.7 (109).
The result came on a defining weekend, in which powerhouse South Barwon slipped two games behind the pack in seventh place.
The Swans’ loss to St Joseph’s, 18.11 (119) to 11.10 (76), leaves South Barwon in a precarious position for a team which has dominated the league for the past decade.
The contest at the top, however, is fascinating with today’s results leaving Newtown-Chilwell two premiership points ahead of Leopold which, in turn, is two points clear of the trailing pack.
Leopold made a statement, dispensing with St Mary’s by 46 points, taking second place from the Saints in the process.
The Lions got home comfortably, 20.9 (129) to 12.11 (83), despite the Saints kicking six goals in the last term.
Geelong West-St Peter’s got to sing the club song for third time this year, overcoming Lara by six goals, 15.8 (98) to 9.8 (62).
Newtown-Chilwell defeated North Shore, 25.21 (171) to 2.5 (17), and Colac was too strong for Bell Park, 21.18 (134) to 8.17 (65).
South Barwon co-coach Warwick Knuckey conceded the loss was disappointing..
“It’s not the result we wanted,’’ he said,
“We knew it would be a challenge, they knocked us off earlier in the year, but we thought we had the side to be better than we were today, a lot better than we were today.”
St Joseph’s coach Heath Jamieson praised his side’s commitment to the contest.
“When we are down on personnel we just need 22 contributors and I think today we can tick every box for that,” he said.
“What we preach is for an even contribution and when we get that we are a very good footy side.”
“And we just shut their game down and played it on our terms all day.”
BFL
It was a weekend of one-sided affairs in the BFL.
Drysdale was a bit disappointing at home, losing to Ocean Grove 6.9 to 14.12 with the Grubbers never threatened.
Queenscliff kicked 15 goals after halftime to rattle home 25.17 (157) to 14.11 (95) victors over Anglesea.
Geelong Amateurs dispatched Modewarre 23.18 (156) to 4.5 (29, Torquay downed Portarlington 27.14 (157) to 14.11 (95) and Barwon Heads 36.23 (239) defeated Newcomb 5.4 (34).
Grubbers coach Shane Jack said was pleased his side got off to a strong start.
“It was good to come out today and produce probably one of our better performances for the year, especially in that first half,’’ he said,
“This ground probably suits us a bit, obviously with the young kids and the leg speed, so it was a positive start.
“It set us up at half time, and you never feel comfortable, but you just felt that the way we were playing it was a good team effort.”
The Grubbers capitalised on a favourable run of free kicks in the first quarter, a tally that would appear lopsided on paper but could be attributed to the home side’s frustration and resulting undisciplined acts.
“Our first quarters have been ordinary,” Drysdale coach John Fitzgerald admitted.
“We were really ill-disciplined in both first quarters of (last week against) Queenscliff and this week.
“You want to be fired up and take intent into the game, but you just can’t be stupid and we were stupid.”
THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
GFL
LEOPOLD unleashed its attacking side in the third quarter to take its game against St Mary’s by the throat.
The Lions will end the day in second spot after ramming home eight goals in the quarter to lead the Saints, 18.8 to 6.9.
A seven-goal third term by Grovedale has the Tigers holding a two-point lead at the final break against St Albans.
Grovedale, inaccurate in the first half, added 7.7 in the third quarter to lead 11.18 (84) to 13.4 (82)
South Barwon will start the last quarter needing an unlikely 51 points just to catch up to St Joseph’s.
The Swans trail 6.7 (42) to the Joeys 14.9 (93) putting seventh-placed South Barwon well behind in the race for the top five.
Geelong West-St Peter’s appears set to register its third victory of the GFL season. The Roosters added four goals to one to lead Lara by 38 points.
Newtown-Chilwell and Colac will take big leads into the final quarter against North Shore and Bell Park.
BFL
Queenscliff’s seven-goal lead at the last break over Anglesea represents the closest of the BFL’s round 11 encounters.
The one-sided affairs will see Ocean Grove, Geelong Amateurs, Torquay and Barwon Heads joining the Coutas on the winners’ list.
SECOND QUARTER
GFL
SOUTH Barwon’s finals chances are quickly slipping away.
The Swans will have to find some of the spirit they are known for to turn things around in the second half as St Joseph’s have conceded only three goals in the first to lead by 24 points.
At the break St Joseph’s 7.7 leads South Barwon 3.7, leaving the perennial powerhouse at risk of ending the day two games out of the top five.
A second five-goal term by Leopold has given them a grip on their battle with second-placed St Mary’s with the Saints trailing 3.6 to 10.5 at the long break.
Inaccuracy is costing Grovedale dearly with the Tigers adding 2.5 in the term to see the SuperSaints extend their lead to 23 points.
In other GFL games, Bell Park missed some opportunities, kicking 3.7 for the term to trail Colac by 31 points; GWSP 9.5 (59) leads Lara 6.1 (37); top side Newtown & Chilwell at home has North Shore under control with the visitors kept to only one goal in the half.
BFL
Ocean Grove held Drysdale goalless in the second term to take control of their match at Drysdale Recreation Reserve. The Grubbers lead 9.8 (62) to 2.4 (16)
Portarlington, too, couldn’t kick a major that term, adding only one behind as Torquay put their foot down to lead 10.12 to 4.3.
In other BFL games, Queenscliff leads Anglesea by 33 points and Barwon Heads and the Ammos have Newcomb and Modewarre respectively well under control.
FIRST QUARTER
GFL
Leopold jumped St Mary’s, booting the first four goals in this high stakes contest where the loser risks slipping a few pegs down the GFL ladder.
At quarter time, Leopold led 5.4 to 1.1.
South Barwon champ Clinton Wells is playing his 300th game but of more immediate importance for the Swans is snaring the four points to keep in touch with the top five.
They Joeys, however, had most of it early, kicking three of the first four goals. They lead 4.3 to 1.4 at the break.
Grovedale is hosting St Albans at Burdoo Reserve but the visitors have put an upset on the cards with a strong opening quarter, booting 5.1 to the Tigers’ wayward 2.6.
In other GFL games, Colac has opened an impressive 30-point lead over Bell Park — 6.3 to 1.3; GWSP leads Lara 6.2 to 3.1; Newtown & Chilwell leads North Shore
by five goals.
BFL
Ocean Grove has dismissed a reputation for slow starts, kicking six goals in their danger game against Drysdale. At the break, Ocean Grove 6.4 led Drysdale 2.3.
The slowly improving Portarlington is hanging in there against Torquay, with only 10 points separating them at the break. The Tigers lead 5.6 to 4.2.
In other BFL games, Barwon Heads is chasing percentage against Newcomb, kicking 11 goals in the opening term. Modewarre trails the all-conquering Geelong Amateurs by five goals
Queenscliff leads Anglesea 7.4 to 3.1 and
GFL Round 10
Bell Park v Colac @ Hamlyn Park
GWSP v @ Lara West Oval
Grovedale v St Albans @ Burdoo Reserve
Leopold v St Mary’s @ Leopold Memorial
Newtown & Chilwell v North Shore @ Elderslie Reserve
St Joseph’s v South Barwon @ Drew Reserve
BFL Round 11
Drysdale v Ocean Grove @ Drysdale Recreation Reserve
Newcomb v Barwon Heads @ Grinter Reserve
Modewarre v Geelong Amateurs @ Community Bank Oval
Queenscliff v Anglesea @ Queenscliff Recreation Reserve
Torquay v Portarlington @ Spring Creek Reserve
GFL LADDER (after rd 9)
NEWTOWN & CHILWELL 28
ST MARY’S 28
LEOPOLD 26
ST JOSEPH’S 24
GROVEDALE 24
COLAC 24
SOUTH BARWON 20
BELL PARK 14
ST ALBANS 12
GWSP 8
LARA 8
NORTH SHORE 0
BFL LADDER (after rd 10)
GEELONG AMATEUR 40
OCEAN GROVE 32
TORQUAY 28
DRYSDALE 24
BARWON HEADS 24
QUEENSCLIFF 20
MODEWARRE 16
ANGLESEA 12
PORTARLINGTON 4
NEWCOMB POWER 0
