Geelong Amateur forward Mitch Day bags seven goals in 43-point defeat of reigning premier Torquay

A returning Geelong Amateur forward might have triggered some PTSD for defenders across the BFNL as last year’s cellar dweller started the season in promising style.

Torquay coach Dom Gleeson looks on in the game against Geelong Amateur. Picture: Phil Yeo

Local footy’s back and the opening round saw plenty of action, with returning Geelong Amateur forward Mitch Day rolling back the clock with seven majors against the defending champions, Torquay.

The Tigers may be ruing some accuracy issues, offering up just nine points across the first and third terms in a 43-point loss at McCartney Oval.

Geelong Amateur’s Sam Lloyd address his charges at a break. Photograph: Phil Yeo

It was the first time Torquay had dropped an opening round BFNL match since the Seagulls won by 10 points in 2016.

Five things we learned from local footy’s opening round

Eagles respond after poor opening half

On GFNL coaching debut, Geelong great Steve Johnson didn’t exactly enjoy the perfect start to his tenure, down by 57 points at half time against St Joseph’s at Elderslie Reserve.

However, Stevie J and his former premiership teammate David Wojcinski alongside him in the coaches box were able to trigger a response in his Eagles as they outscored the visitors 8.4. to 4.6 in the second half.

Ammos forward sends out mayday

Look out Bellarine backmen, Mitch Day is back.

Defenders across the region must have been having sleepless nights with the off-season news the BFNL’s most prolific goal kicker of the past 10 seasons had returned to Queens Park.

Day bagged 378 goals across five seasons for the Ammos last decade, averaging 4.4 majors a game.

Geelong Amateur’s Mitch Day booted seven against Torquay. Photo: Phil Yeo

With this masthead tipping Day to win the goal kicking award in 2025, he started his season with seven majors in a 43-point defeat of reigning premier Torquay at McCartney Oval.

It was a huge statement from the Ammos who lost four of their final game games of 2024, ending their season with a whimper and an elimination final loss to Modewarre.

Meanwhile, new recruit in backman Dan Weigl was in the Ammos’ best players after making the switch from Lara alongside Day.

Power up

Leading into Round 1, Newcomb coach Tony Mirabella had big wraps on young forward Jacob Watson and he delivered with three majors.

Meanwhile Jack Duke – who kicked almost 45 per cent of Newcomb’s goals last year – also booted three.

The Power kicked 5.4 in the first quarter against Queenscliff – almost as many points as it kicked in some games last year, recording under 55 total points on seven occasions.

It’s only round one, but the Power could be the season’s big improver in 2025.

Sensational Seagulls

The new-look Barwon Heads started the season strongly after an indifferent 2024, with GFNL recruits in Damian McMahon and Zach Walter in the best players against Portarlington.

Meanwhile, young Jack Henderson, who played just two senior games last year, booted four.

However, there were troubling signs for the Demons, who had led by two points at half time before Heads would then kick 8.10 to just one goal in the third to effectively ice the contest.

The Demons will be wanting to put those types of quarters in the rearview as it looks to build on some promising signs in 2024.

Brave Bennett returns in style

Joel Bennett returned to the field after a sickening collision in Round 6 last year. Picture: Brad Fleet

Eleven months after there were concerns Corio’s Joel Bennett would never play footy again, after a sickening collision which caused neck and back fractures, the 2023 Whitley medallist made a triumphant return to the field in Round 1 against Anakie.

Bennett would boot five in one of the greatest returns to the field in Geelong football memory, as the Devils got home by four points at Shell Reserve.

Originally published as Geelong Amateur forward Mitch Day bags seven goals in 43-point defeat of reigning premier Torquay