Newtown & Chilwell winger Zach Walter sustains hamstring injury in 63-point walloping of Bell Park

A GFL contender’s walloping of Bell Park after half time has been soured by a hamstring strain to one of its young guns in the third term.

A hamstring injury to Newtown & Chilwell winger Zach Walter was the only downer for the Towners as they whipped Bell Park after half time to win by 63 points at Elderslie Reserve.

If the Dragons’ Nicholas Petering’s shot for goal just before the main break had been on target, the visitors would have taken a slender lead after bending the contest back in their favour after a 5.2 to 2.4 second term.

However, Newtown & Chilwell emerged a different team in the second half, slamming on 10.9 to just 1.4, with the round 15 contest quickly going from in-the-balance to a genuine belting.

Charlie Byrne’s delivery by foot was precise. Picture: David Smith

For the second time this year, opportunist Euriah Hollard would snag a bag of five against the Dragons after doing the same in round 4.

In a clear sign it was Hollard’s day, spillage from a three-on-one contest in the Dragons’ favour landed in the small forward’s hands, allowing him to waltz in for the easiest six pointer of the day.

Bell Park’s precise kicking for goal from the set shot had kept them in check with the home team – their scorecard showing 7.3 at one stage – as Zac Mirkovic and Willson Mack were allowed too much room to move, slotting three apiece.

However, any sense of forward line connection suddenly dissolved as the Eagles’ defence tightened.

The match honoured the late Zoe Kennedy, an Eagles netballer who died of an athsma attack in 2020 at the age of just 15. Picture: Davis Smith

Earlier, the home side – decked out in purple socks for the annual Zoe Kennedy Tribute Match – controlled play but found it hard to push through the Dragons’ defensive structures.

They over-possessed the leather in the opening 10 minutes or so as the Dragons struck a few early blows through accurate set shots from Mirkovic and the booming left boot of Jamie Fulton.

But with Liam Nash everywhere, Braden Hocking (three goals) and Lachlan Bond emerging as marking options in the third term and a dashing Nelson Browne providing defensive rebound, Newtown made an emphatic statement after losing by 35 points to South Barwon last round.

The visitors could only muster one major for the half through Wil Tobin as Newtown suddenly had winners on every line.

Jamie Fulton takes a mark for Bell Park.

The Towners finished the game with some of its most eye-catching footy of the day, with a stunning roost from Matty Lloyd and Nash taking a hanger to cap off a fine afternoon for the ex-Footscray player.

After the game, Walter, who had only just returned from a three-month break due to a hamstring with the same leg, was hopeful it wouldn’t rule him out for the rest of the season.

Walter had provided plenty of dash along the wing and kicked a great running goal in the opening term to answer the Dragons’ early forays forward.

“I was feeling good, it was frustrating,” Walter said, in his second game back in 2023.

“In the past it’s been that gun shot feeling ... it’s in a different spot as well.

“Rather than being up high, it’s a bit lower.”

Post-match, Eagles coach Damien McMahon said his charges defended a lot better in the second half and it was a “massive” win in the context of the season.

“Overall, a prettty complete performance in the second half,” McMahon told his players.

“We had players stepping up at different times.

“The gap between our top and our bottom today was very slim.”

Originally published as Newtown & Chilwell winger Zach Walter sustains hamstring injury in 63-point walloping of Bell Park