Belmont Lions, East Geelong the GDFNL bench setters so far in 2025
With six home-and-away rounds remaining, the race for finals is set to heat up in the GDFNL. So who is best-placed to see September action?
Geelong
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We’re two-thirds of the way through the Geelong and District league season, with the race for finals set to generate pace in the coming weeks.
With two games separating fifth and sixth, can anyone shake up the apple cart and make a late play for top 5?
We’ve taken a look at where things stand heading into Saturday’s trio of games – with round 13 split across the next fortnight.
Belmont Lions
Well placed to make finals for a second-straight year as they strive to atone for last year’s losing grand final.
The Lions defied some early expectations of a potential drop-off off the back of a quieter recruiting period, and while they haven’t necessarily buried teams this year, they’ve still found ways to grind out wins.
Should finish top 3 being three games clear of fourth, but their next three weeks will tell us a lot about this team coming up against a trio of other finals contenders.
Current position: 1st, 11-1.
High point: 13-point defeat of North Geelong in round 11.
Low point: 17-point loss to Anakie in round 8.
Run home: Thomson (H), Bell Post Hill (H), East Geelong (A), Inverleigh (H), Corio (A), GW Giants (H).
East Geelong
The Eagles will be tested with a tough run home against each of the current 5, but have largely earned having a target on their back.
Kept their current eight-game winning streak going last round by scrapping past Bannockburn, but have put opposition to bed in their other wins and been in positions to win the two games they’ve dropped, their defeats to top 3 Belmont and North Geelong decided by seven points or less.
Current position: 2nd, 10-2.
High point: 95-point defeat of Thomson in round 6.
Low point: 7-point loss to Belmont Lions in round 4.
Run home: North Geelong (H), Werribee Centrals (A), Belmont Lions (H), Bell Post Hill (A), Thomson (A), Inverleigh (H).
North Geelong
One of the biggest improvers this year after missing finals last year solely through percentage, the Magpies started with a bang to win their first eight.
But they’ve stumbled in recent weeks, losing three of their last four to top 5 sides to slip down to third.
Have arguably one of easier runs home, but they’ll be seeking to make a statement next round against top 2 East Geelong of their intent come finals.
Current position: 3rd, 9-3.
High point: 102-point defeat of Werribee Centrals in R10.
Low point: 52-point loss to Bell Post Hill in R12.
Run home: East Geelong (A), Inverleigh (H), Corio (A), GW Giants (H), Anakie (A), Winchelsea (H).
Thomson
You’d have to take the reigning premiers’ ladder position with a grain of salt, considering they came from fourth to win last year’s flag.
A mixed start saw the Tigers go 4-4 – including a horror loss to East Geelong in round 6 – but an impressive one-point win over North Geelong seems to have got them back on track and amid a four-game winning streak.
Will be tested in the run home against quality opponents, but if they can win half and time their run again, will be a strong chance to defend their flag.
Current position: 4th, 8-4.
High point: 1-point defeat of North Geelong in R9.
Low point: 95-point loss to East Geelong in R6.
Run home: Belmont Lions (A), Anakie (H), Bell Post Hill (H), Winchelsea (A), East Geelong (H), Bannockburn (A).
Bell Post Hill
The Panthers are well-positioned to return to finals after a drop-off last year.
Armed with a two-game buffer in fifth, they have breathing room but can’t afford to drop too many games in the run home.
Belmont, Thomson and East Geelong will be tough tests, but you’d think wins in the other three – taking their win count to 11 – should be enough to play finals.
Current position: 5th, 8-4.
High point: 52-point defeat of North Geelong in R12.
Low point: 26-point loss to Anakie in R9.
Run home: Werribee Centrals (H), Belmont Lions (A), Thomson (A), East Geelong (H), Inverleigh (A), Corio (H).
Inverleigh
The Hawks have defied expectations of a greater drop-off following several experienced off-season departures.
Two games out of the top 5, they’d need to have a seamless run home against tough opposition if they’re to put serious pressure on the top 5.
But have shown to be extremely competitive despite the mixed 6-6 record, their largest loss a 34-point margin.
Current position: 6th, 6-6.
High point: 28-point defeat of Thomson in R8.
Low point: 6-point loss to Winchelsea in R1.
Run home: Bannockburn (H), North Geelong (A), Werribee Centrals (H), Belmont Lions (A), Bell Post Hill (H), East Geelong (A).
Anakie
A shock loss to bottom-side Corio last round could be the dagger in the Roos’ hopes of breaking a long finals drought.
It’d be a bitter pill, considering they’ve proven themselves with good wins over top 5 Belmont and Bell Post Hill.
Like the Hawks, they’d have to keep winning and hope others in the top 5 slip up big.
Current position: 7th, 6-6.
High point: 17-point defeat of Belmont Lions in R8.
Low point: 2-point loss to Corio in R12.
Run home: GW Giants (A), Thomson (A), Winchelsea (H), Bannockburn (A), North Geelong (H), Werribee Centrals (A).
Bannockburn
Bannockburn’s season could be summed up as ‘what if’.
The Tigers very easily might have found themselves up the pointy end of the ladder, with four losses under nine points and all decided by 24 point or less.
They’ve lost their last six but have six winnable games to finish the year – though they’ve likely left their run too late.
Current position: 8th, 4-8.
High point: 57-point defeat of Winchelsea in R6.
Low point: 1-point loss to East Geelong in R12.
Run home: Inverleigh (A), Corio (H), GW Giants (A), Anakie (H), Winchelsea (A), Thomson (H).
Werribee Centrals
The Centurions’ doomed 2-5 start would have left a bitter taste, with four of those losses decided by seven points or loss.
A horror 100+ point loss to North Geelong was a mid-season low point, though they’ve turned it around somewhat with competitive games against top 4 Thomson and Belmont since.
With tough games against the Panthers and Eagles to come, any possible run the Centurions would likely be too little, too late.
Current position: 9th, 4-8.
High point: 17-point defeat of Bannockburn in R9.
Low point: 102-point loss to North Geelong in R10.
Run home: Bell Post Hill (A), East Geelong (H), Inverleigh (A), Corio (H), GW Giants (A), Anakie (H).
Winchelsea
There remains a chasm between the Blues’ best and worst.
Amid a nine-game losing streak, they’ve put in competitive showings against Belmont and Bell Post Hill to keep the margin under four goals, but let the scoreboard blow out in other losses.
Will want to take a few scalps in a bid to build momentum for 2025 and avoid the wooden spoon.
Current position: 10th, 2-10.
High point: 98-point defeat of Corio in R3.
Low point: 85-point loss to Werribee Centrals in R8.
Run home: Corio (A), GW Giants (H), Anakie (A), Thomson (H), Bannockburn (H), North Geelong (A).
Geelong West Giants
The Giants are still needing to learn to win.
They face a similar fight to last year to avoid the wooden spoon in the final stretch, and face some tricky match-ups if they’re to do so but have shown to be competitive in several losses to keep the margin close.
Current position: 11th, 2-10.
High point: 15-point defeat of Corio in R11
Low point: 82-point loss to Thomson in R12.
Run home: Anakie (H), Winchelsea (A), Bannockburn (H), North Geelong (A), Werribee Centrals (H), Belmont Lions (A).
Corio
It’s been a tough season for the Devils, who buoyed by some strong pre-season buzz, would have hoped to make further strides up the ladder.
A series of injuries across round 3 and 4 hurt, as the number of triple-digits soon piled up.
Will look to avoid a repeat of last year’s wooden spoon, but face a tough final six fixtures.
Current position: 12th, 2-10.
High point: 2-point defeat of Anakie in R12.
Low point: 93-point loss to Winchelsea in R3.
Run home: Winchelsea (H), Bannockburn (A), North Geelong (H), Werribee Centrals (A), Belmont Lions (H), Bell Post Hill (A).
Originally published as Belmont Lions, East Geelong the GDFNL bench setters so far in 2025
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