Toby Bennett best on ground in GDFNL Interleague thriller against Colac and District league

In a final quarter spanning 38 minutes, the GDFNL and CDFNL threw everything at landing the final, winning blow. In the end, the finish was fitting of the occasion.

GDFNL Interleague coach Paul Lynch addresses his players at quarter time. Picture: Brad Fleet

Paul Lynch believes there is a space for Interleague in all levels of football, describing the Geelong and District league’s nail-biting victory over rivals Colac and District as “a great advertisement” for the format moving forward.

The Thomson premiership coach led the Raiders in their return to Interleague footy after a six-year hiatus, with Monday’s win their first since 2018 and first as an 25-and-under squad.

And while the last 10 minutes of a 38-minute final quarter undoubtedly raised a few people’s heart rates, with both teams level and seeking a matchwinner, Lynch admitted he “enjoyed” the theatre of it - particularly with his side coming out on top by seven points, with an after-the-siren goal from Austin Mulvahil.

A trio of Raiders wrap up a CDFNL rival. Picture: Brad Fleet

It saw the GDFNL claim the inaugural Hickey-Whitley shield - named after both league’s respective presidents, Peter Hickey and Neville Whitley.

“The crowd was really involved, and it would have been a great spectacle to watch,” Lynch said.

“You could see the buy in from players on both sides by the end of the game, that was finals like footy in that last five, 10 minutes.

“It showed they weren’t there just for a bruise-free game of footy, they were fair-dinkum.

“I think there is definitely a spot in all levels of footy (for Interleague), you just have to find that right weekend to make it happen.

“And I think, the under-25 thing works, because older bodies are looking for that rest mid-year.”

Lynch was confident both the match, and its training in the lead-up, would help players take their games forward into the rest of the GDFNL season.

“I said to them at the top of the program, if you can go back to your clubs, five per cent, one per cent better, I’d be happy with that,” Lynch said.

“And it gives them that look at that bit better footy if they want to try their hand at GFL or Bellarine footy, whatever they do.

“Myself, I think all kids should aspire to play at the highest level they can.”

Toby Bennett with his best on ground medallist for the GDFNL's Interleague game against the CDFNL. Picture: SJV Photography

Raiders captain Toby Bennett took out the Sid Jones medal as the GDFNL’s best on ground.

The Corio defender said he didn’t take the opportunity to lead the high-calibre side out lightly.

“Huge privilege, among some big names that have led the side before,” Bennett said.

A key figure in defence, Bennett and his fellow back six did well under siege in the final minutes to repel several late Colac attacks.

“Colac boys brought the heat,” Bennett said.

“The siren would just not blow, then we were under the pump with all the 50s we gave away, it almost tried to give the game away.

“Luckily we held strong, and locked down and defended that and spread offensively and got the win which was good.”

The 24-year-old, who would be eligible for next year’s Interleague if it remained a 25-and-under format, singled out the efforts of Anakie’s Oscar Barter, who was voted best on field by the opposition for his work up forward and in the ruck, as well as Belmont half forward Ben McPherson.

“Took a couple massive hits too,” Bennett said of McPherson.

Earlier: Raiders brave chaotic finish in all-time Interleague classic

Geelong and District league pulled off an all-time classic Interleague win against Colac and District league on Monday.

Replicating a similar finish to the two league’s 1993 Interleague battle – which the GDFNL won in the dying seconds – the Raiders iced the win with an after-the-siren goal from vice-captain Austin Mulvahil.

The Raiders already had the victory, a poster seconds before the siren putting them ahead by one point, but it was a fitting finish from Mulvahil considering the game’s chaotic finish, which ended with a scoreline of 11.13 (79) to 10.12 (72).

Austin Mulvahil launches the ball forward earlier in the game. Picture: Brad Fleet

In a final quarter extending to 38 minutes, both sides threw everything at it in search of a winning goal.

After trailing most of the game, Colac hit the lead after 20 minutes and it seemed the game might slip from the Raiders’ reach.

But an Oscar Barter torp got the Raiders up the ground quickly after the 30 minute mark, before Belmont livewire Ben McPherson snapped truly to regain a narrow one point lead for the Raiders.

Colac charged back up the field in search of a response, though their attempt was touched on the line to level scores again, before the Raiders launched a similar foray forward to earn the poster and subsequent Mulvahil goal.

Zane Jones fires off a kick in Monday’s Interleague. Picture: Brad Fleet

A brief downpour at Winchelsea’s Eastern Reserve minutes before the 25-and-under clash led to a slippery opening quarter, with skill execution an issue particularly for the Raiders.

Despite dominating inside 50 entries, the Raiders couldn’t make it count, kicking 2.4 compared to Colac’s more efficient 2.1 from fewer opportunities.

Herschelle Carr finished with five goals for the Raiders. Picture: Brad Fleet

Some Herschelle Carr brilliance opened the Raiders’ scoring, the Corio forward crumbing the ball after Barter brought it to ground for a bending goal.

It was the first of three first half goals for Carr, who then added a fourth and fifth in the opening minutes of the third term in similar fashion, running on to it deep and in open space to soccer through, before coming off with a hurt quad.

Raiders captain Toby Bennett and his deputy Mulvahil were composed figures behind the ball early, before coach Paul Lynch pushed Mulvahil into the midfield in the second term in a bid to get a better griphold through the middle of the ground.

Lynch lamented his side’s lack of cleanliness with the ball in the opening term, adding they were getting “nailed in the contest” before he encouraged players to “lower their eyes” going forward instead of dumping it around the centre half forward line only for it to get picked off by a loose Colac defender.

Ben O'Brien (right) takes a grab in defence for the Raiders. Picture: Brad Fleet

Mulvahil’s move into the middle paid off immediately, the 22-year-old laying a strong tackle to turn over the ball as teammate Jacsen Jewell played on to slot a composed shot on goal.

Opening up their lead to 12 at half time, the Raiders extended it to 25 off the back of Carr’s early third quarter goals, before Colac chipped the margin back within eight by the final break.

Trading goals early in the fourth, Colac swung momentum, cutting it back to one point midway through the final quarter, before hitting the front in the 20th minute.

Bennett claimed best afield for the GDFNL, while Mitch Thornton was judged Colac’s best.

Originally published as Toby Bennett best on ground in GDFNL Interleague thriller against Colac and District league