Bell Post Hill beat Winchelsea by 38 points despite loss of Nick Costello and Boe Collins to injury

A depleted Bell Post Hill has shored up second place on the GDFL ladder despite an eye injury to one of its key forwards and a wrist fracture to a star midfielder.

Bell Post Hill has overcome the loss of a key forward to an eye injury at half time and wayward kicking to maintain second place on the GDFL ladder.

The Panthers kept Winchelsea to just 14 points by half time before a 5.2 to 2.2 third quarter effectively shut the gate at Myers Reserve on Saturday.

Bell Post Hill eventually won the game 12.13 (85) to 7.5 (47) in a hammer blow to the Blues’ finals aspirations.

Bell Post Hill player Nick Costello suffered an eye injury during the match against Winchelsea. Picture: Nick Costello.

For the winners, Will Ford kicked three goals – to creep within one major of GDFL leading forward, Winchelsea’s Leigh Ellis – while Adam Costello, Boe Collins and Tim Barton slotted two apiece.

However, Collins fractured his hand and his recovery timeline is not yet known.

Panthers coach Justin Tarr said Collins was “amazing” but his side missed too many easy chances to score six-pointers.

Bell Post Hill also lost Nick Costello with a “bad poke in the eye” but the club is expecting him to be OK to play next round against Bannockburn.

Bell Post Hill’s Adrian Fantella attempts to evade an opponent. Picture: Mark Wilson

Costello is the Panthers’ second most prolific forward this season with 29 goals from 12 senior matches.

Tarr said Costello had a cut in his eye, which had produced some blood, and had been taken to hospital.

“Nick should be fine, still sore but no major damage to his eye,” he said.

Tarr said it was difficult to assess the severity of the injury initially as his eye closed over immediately: “It was probably just a fingernail.”

Will Ford celebrates a goal for Bell Post Hill with Renn Lovitt and Jack Yates against Winchelsea. Picture: Mark Wilson

Despite sitting second on equal points with Thomson, Tarr said the Panthers had plenty of room for improvement.

“I don’t think we’ve played four quarters of our best footy,” he said.

The Panthers are set to welcome back Jordan Schrader-Sabell, who injured his ankle in round 1 and returned through the reserves on Saturday in good form.

Meanwhile, Dylan Witney and Jett Herrmann could also return in two weeks’ time.

Originally published as Bell Post Hill beat Winchelsea by 38 points despite loss of Nick Costello and Boe Collins to injury