St Albans prove it has closed the gap on the competition in brave defeat to Geelong West in celebration game

St Albans lost its last clash with Geelong West by 139-points. But it is more than just this result that proves the Supersaints have turned the corner.

Lachie Horniblow celebrates one of his 5 goals. Picture: Mike Dugdale

When David Handley put Geelong West 25-points ahead early in the final quarter, the game appeared over.

St Albans had fought back from 21-points down at quarter time to level the scores late in the third term, before a double blow from Lachie Horniblow, who starred with five goals, and a major from Mac Scoullar put some distance between the two emerging sides.

The Supersaints of recent years would have been unable to run the game out, but this new and exciting line-up, without Hayden Elliot in the second half with a shoulder injury, didn’t say die.

Geelong West took out a seesawing thriller 11.14 (80) to 10.13 (73) on Saturday as the club honoured the club’s VFA premiership team of 1975 in the famous Roosters guernsey.

It was a far cry from the last result between the two sides in 2024 where the Giants thrashed the Supersaints by 139-points.

Hayden Elliot went off with an injured left shoulder. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Emotions fired up during the 1st quarter. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Both clubs have had a facelift over the off-season. Incredibly, just 10 Supersaints and 11 Giants players took the field in that round five game last year.

New coach Rick Munn’s post-game assessment was telling and showed how far the Supersaints have come since their last-placed finish last season.

St Albans had just three players over the age of 25 in its line-up, but Munn feels it was a game the Supersaints should have won.

“We know we are a fit side, so we knew we weren’t out of it, just had to get a couple of little details right, especially around the ball,” Munn said.

“Once we did that and evened up the numbers ahead of the ball, we got back into the game. But ultimately just left our run a little bit too late.

“It is good for their development, but we are obviously disappointed because we could have and should’ve won that game.

“There wasn’t any surprises with how they played and wanted to set up, and we just got beaten by what we knew and that’s what was disappointing.”

Rick Munn coaches from the boundary. Picture: Mike Dugdale

St Albans recruits Tom Higgins and brothers Kye and Jed Warrin led the charge in the final quarter as the Supersaints cut the deficit to a single point with a four-goal surge.

Higgins dribbled one home on the left and snapped through his fourth from a strong mark, Jed Warrin slotted a goal from 35 metres, and Kye Warrin handballed off to Bailey Coutts to set up his third goal.

Blake Hodgson split his time between Grovedale’s seniors and reserves last year but was also named among the best against Geelong West off halfbaack.

“Jed is a class player. He has brought some traits to the side that we didn’t have last year and some great leadership around contest as well,” Munn said.

“Higgins gives us a really good presence, he often had to fight outnumbered but he doesn’’t get outmarked, he brings the ball to ground for our smalls.

“Kye Warrin I thought he was our best player, he was quite sensational really. His second, third, fourth efforts – ruck, centre half forward, bit of inside mid, he did a bit of everything.”

Geelong West's Tom Handley celebrates goal. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The Warrins weren’t the only brothers to stand tall, with Tom and David Handley pivotal in the final quarter.

But it was Horniblow once again who stepped up when his side needed it most, gathering in the goalsquare for his fifth goal to put the Giants seven points ahead.

He could have had a sixth after he marked a high ball inside 50 and missed a snap set shot.

The siren sounded soon after to hand them a hard-fought win in front of the 1975 Geelong West premiership team and Geelong legend Bill Goggin, who coached that side to victory.

Billy Goggin makes his way to the grand stand to raise the 1975 VFA premiership flag. Picture: Mike Dugdale

However, the real story from this nailbiting clash is that the gap has closed between St Albans and the middle tier of the competition after years of Supersaints pain.

Grovedale’s 120-point win over Lara on Saturday evening was similar to the Supersaints’ 138-point victory over the Cats, and the two sides will do battle next week in a fascinating contest.

“We want to be in games for longer, more competitive, especially with the mid-tier teams and the top-tier teams,” Munn said.

“So it was a small step in the right direction, we feel like we can compete and have got the team and the squad to compete, and can stay in games for longer.”

“We are looking forward to the clash next week against Grovedale, that will really give us a really good idea of where we’re at.”

Originally published as St Albans prove it has closed the gap on the competition in brave defeat to Geelong West in celebration game