GFL: South Barwon lose two star Swans against Grovedale
Some of the league’s best players have racked up eye-watering numbers in the first round of the GFL season. Look at the numbers here.
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South Barwon was left to count the cost of its win over Grovedale in the opening round of the season, with a star defender set to miss multiple games and a gun midfielder also under an injury cloud.
Swans key back Jack Driver suffered a badly broken nose in a contest during the second quarter and was taken to hospital for surgery, while midfielder Doyle Madigan did not return to the field of play after a knock to his hip.
South Barwon coach Mark Neeld said he was proud of his side to step up with limited rotations, winning the game 14.15 (99) to 8.10 (58).
“Jack suffered a very badly broken nose, his nose was somewhere underneath his right eye, which is not where you want it to be,” he said.
“He was taken straight to the emergency department and will have that looked at, and Doyle just copped a knock that probably wasn’t too bad but the stage of the game meant we could just hold him back.
“I thought the boys played really well down a couple of guys, we were able to run out the game in really difficult conditions.”
South Barwon kicked 6.5 to 1.1 in the opening quarter, with Grovedale slotting the first goal of the match, with the opening-term blitz setting up the result.
Grovedale coach Daniel Fraser said his side failed to adjust to the slippery conditions early in the first quarter.
“We got beaten early around the ball and at ground level, they were bigger and stronger around the contest,” he said.
“They adapted to the conditions probably a bit earlier than we did, it took us until about halfway through the second to adapt to the ground and conditions.”
Grovedale skipper Nathan Deans made his long-awaited return to football after a knee injury in 2021, and was one of the Tigers’ best players in the loss.
Deans had 39 disposals, tied for most on the ground with defender Harrison Whyte.
Fraser said he “looked like the Nathan of old”.
“That’s Nathan Deans to a tee, he was fantastic, he just charged in and it was great to see him back,” he said.
“He was always going to play a full game, we had no worries about it, I think from a coaching point of view it was more letting him out there and allow him to get confidence in that and I think that’s what he did.”
Around the Grounds
North Shore was soundly beaten to the tune of 105 points at the hands of Colac, with the Tigers piling on 22.18 (150) to 7.3 (45).
Seagulls recruit Jordan Lane slotted five goals in his second game for the club, while Luke Hillman starred for Colac with six goals.
Adam Garner and Darcy Lang both booted four goals, while Jon Simpkin slotted three majors.
Newtown & Chilwell’s quest for a premiership in 2023 has started strongly with a 13.16 (94) to 7.11 (53) victory over Geelong West.
Ned Harris and Lachlan Bond both booted three goals, while Mitch Diamond snagged two majors in the win.
Six goals to Dragon forward Jack Fischer has set up a 16.9 (105) to 5.11 (41) win over St Albans to start of James Saker’s stint as Bell Park coach with a victory.
St Albans had five solitary goal scorers, while Bell Park had five players kick at least two goals.
Leopold has put away a dogged Lara outfit at home, running out 15.14 (104) to 10.10 (70) victors in the wet.
Rob Maibaum starred for the Lions, while young Cats star Connor Linehan-Cunningham was best on ground for Lara.
St Joseph’s has shocked reigning premiers St Mary’s in the wet, running out 11.4 (70) to 6.8 (44) victors.
Joey’s midfielder Jack Buckley recorded 38 disposals and led the way around the ground with his attack on the footy.
The Saints went at just 42 per cent efficiency in the miserable conditions, with Jarryd Garner thriving in the conditions with 37 disposals.
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Originally published as GFL: South Barwon lose two star Swans against Grovedale
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