Geelong Advertiser | THE GFL interleague side has claimed a three-peat of titles, breaking away from Goulburn Valley to claim a 12.30 (102) to 9.13 (67) win at the Deakin Reserve in Shepparton.
Geelong controlled the stoppages early, allowing goal sneaks Tristan Battaglia and Brandon Howarth to set up big men Jacob McGuane and Jordan Erskine in front of goal.
Meanwhile down the back vice-captains Daniel Lovick and Rob Condy capitalised as sweepers before outnumbered Leopold defender Jeremy Larcombe forced a brave smother to stun the crowd.
But a period of inaccurate kicking allowed the Nicholas Warnock-inspired GVFL side to kick six unanswered goals and grab a 14-point lead at half time.
First year GFL head coach Jeremy Dyer reflected on his side’s lack of consistency up forward in the first half.
“The start was good in the first term. We did exactly what we wanted to do — we wanted to run and link up — by which stage we looked more dangerous and potent,” Dyer said.
“We looked at the scoreboard after the second quarter and we didn’t think that it was going to be easy because we just got beaten to the ball and stopped running, quite the stark contrast.”
Geelong’s game continued to fade in the second half after Ryan Monaghan suffered a hamstring injury just minutes after he was cleared of a concussion test.
The Colac midfielder, who was celebrating his birthday that day, would play no further part in the match.
Thankfully for the visitors, fellow 22-year-old Dane McFarlane stepped up to the plate and displayed his trademark sprints to inspire the GFL.
His endeavours allowed Howarth to kick another two goals to reclaim the lead before leaders Jai Thompson and Jason Davenport furthered the visitors assault.“To the boys’ credit, after we gave them a little kick in the pants at half time, they started to play the way we wanted them to play,” Dyer said.
In the final term the GFL team was kicking to the western end, which had produced a combined score of 1.11 despite the fact there was no wind under the clear Shepparton skies.
The floodgates broke open for the GFL’s midfielders in the last term thanks to an impressive goal on the run by James Linton.
Davenport followed and medal contender Darcy Fort also scored off one step, but it was Geelong’s cattle with GVFL experience that had the last laugh.
Lovick was named best on ground for the GFL in the 3rd v 4th match against Ballarat in 2012, before moving to the Shepparton Swans from 2013-14 and winning a long awaited premiership last year.
“We won easily in the end but in that second quarter our back line was a bit nervous,” Lovick said. “They seemed to get the footy around a lot easier than they did in the first couple of quarters.
“Justin Madden was a good friend and a good teammate so there was a little bit of banter through some inside knowledge, which is all good in footy.”
Lovick capped off his first VCFL championship win with a rare run up to half forward to launch a long kick that miraculously bounced through, reminiscent to that of Port Adelaide’s Angus Monfries in 2013.
“As soon as the ball bounced everyone just stopped and I heard Jason Davenport call McGuane out of the square, then back in, then back out. It was funny though cause I was trying to centre it,” Lovick said.
Mathew Hebbard also played senior football in the GVFL with rival club Shepparton United.After a long day down back, he too ventured up forward to take a quality mark in the square, launching a ball out of the stadium for a goal.
“The win is not so much important as a ranking but more rewarding for the players,” Dyer said.
“The GFL community should be proud of the boys’ effort today.
“When you think about the feat of staying on top three years in a row, I believe that’s a huge effort for the playing group and there were around 11 new players today.
“As much as Goulbourn Valley will say that they had a few (players) out, we certainly did too.
“That just happens and there’s nothing you can do about it.
“Hopefully we go again. We enjoy these opportunities to represent our league against quality opposition and the players involved today all seemed to enjoy it.”
Dyer said he was pleased with Dane McFarlane’s crown as Bob Cahir Memorial medallist for best on ground, recognising his pace across the ground.
The former VCFL and West Coast Eagles representative also singled out Condy, Fort, Linton, Lovick and Kane Leersen as other standouts.
“Glen Wallace has put together a program in the GFL where once players are in they seem to enjoy it and tend to put their hand up again,” Dyer said.
“The depth in Geelong footy is pretty pronounced so if you do get injuries you could probably pull in three sides that all line-up very well.
“The young players like Jye Cross, who is only 19, will go back to senior footy with confidence knowing that they’ve proven themselves at interleague level.”
