North Geelong continues its Cinderella story to go 8-0 after defeat of Bannockburn

Portarlington has put in a spirited performance after quarter time following the shock sacking of its senior coach while North Geelong maintained its spotless form. See all the photos.

Geelong Amateur held off a spirited Portarlington after quarter time. Picture: Mike Dugdale

It was another bumper weekend of local footy and our photographers were there to capture the action.

In the BFNL, Portarlington endured a horror week with its senior coach Darren Findlay sacked after just seven rounds.

And down by 42 points at the first change, the undermanned Demons showed some ticker against the league leaders Geelong Amateur to ensure it maintained its upward trajectory after several winless seasons.

Meanwhile, in the GDFNL, North Geelong has continued its Cinderella story to bounce back from a bottom finish in 2023 to the top of the ladder after eight rounds.

The Magpies beat Bannockburn by 21 points at Osborne Park with Blake Miller booting three goals.

In local netball, Geelong Amateur bounced back from their loss to BFNL heavyweights Ocean Grove to beat Portarlington, 58-33.

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Goal Shooter Michelle Winch. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Goal Keeper Keisha Guilmartin and Portarlington Centre Hannah Branson. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Goal Shooter Michelle Winch. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Centre Georgia Duncan. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Wing Defence Zoey Shaw. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Centre Georgia Duncan. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Goal Attack Kayla Donnellon. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Portarlington Goal Keeper Laura Robinson. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Portarlington Goal Attack Mikayla Mevissen. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Portarlington Wing Attack Morgan van Leerdam. . Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Portarlington Goal Shooter Tully Bethune. Picture Mike Dugdale

Bannockurn coach Julia Ladgrove. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong coach Katie McLean. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockurn coach Julia Ladgrove. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Charlotte Scanlon makes a goal saving grab from incoming Marney McRandall of North Geelong. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Mikaela Minns gets her hands to the ball. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Charlotte Scanlon and North Geelong's Marney McRandall do battle. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Marney McRandall on the ball. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Nerys Kirk. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Alexandra Konidaris and Bannockburn's Mikaela Minns. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Marney McRandall. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn netball. Picture: Alan Barber

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Ammos Blake Sutterby and Port's Tiea Miles battle it out in the centre. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Port's Max Ruiter caught by Ammos Harrison Orr. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Harrison Orr marks. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Mitchell Day marks. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Ammos celebrate another goal. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Ammos Harry Kershaw celebrates goal. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Ammos Harry Kershaw celebrates goal. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Ammos Harry Kershaw celebrates goal. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Tom Gribble tackled by Port's Nick Lane. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Sam Lloyd and Mitchell Day celebrate. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Hamish Shepheard. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Harry Kershaw caught by Portarlington's Stephen Walton. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Jack Pickering. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Portarlington's Teia Miles. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Mitchell Day. Picture Mike Dugdale

BFNL - Portarlington v Geelong Amateurs. Geelong Amateurs Mitchell Day. Picture Mike Dugdale

Bannockburn coach Ron Pilgrim. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong coach Peter Riccardi. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Osca Riccardi. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Rory Desnoy looks to handball. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Rory Desnoy holds the ball under pressure from Bannockburn's Austin Mahoney. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Osca Riccardi celebates a goal with teammate Terry Tseros. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Osca Riccardi celebates a goal. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Osca Riccardi kicks a goal. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Connor Jervies falls to the ground in a scuffle. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Connor Jervies falls to the ground in a scuffle. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's John Fazio (middle) celebrates a goal. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Thomas Schwennesen celebrates a goal. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Austin Mahoney ends up at the bottom of the pile as North Geelong's Noah Penny comes in from the side. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Austin Mahoney handballs under pressure from North Geelong's Cooper Vaughan. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Osca Riccardi is trapped by Bannockburn. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Osca Riccardi and Thomas Davis make life difficult for Bannockburn's Ryan Perkins. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Jack Thompson is up for the mark. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Rory Desnoy kicks forward. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's North Geelong's Thomas Davis is tackled. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Austin Mahoney tries to break away from North Geelong's Rory Desnoy. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's #20 kicks forward. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Blake Miller celebrates a goal. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong's Cooper Pasque marks. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Bannockburn's Ryan Perkins (right) celebrates a goal. GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

GDFNL Connor Jervies marks. North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

GDFNL North Geelong v Bannockburn. Picture: Alan Barber

Originally published as North Geelong continues its Cinderella story to go 8-0 after defeat of Bannockburn