Leigh Gilbert blitz leads Kinglake to big win, eyes premiership in NFNL return

Kinglake star Leigh Gilbert came close to matching his old mate Shane Harvey’s goalkicking exploits on Saturday with a monster haul.

Leigh Gilbert in action for Kinglake. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Leigh Gilbert certainly enjoyed his move forward on Saturday.

The Kinglake star emulated his old North Heidelberg mate Shane Harvey’s exploits with an astounding 15 goals in a 221-point win over Lalor at Memorial Reserve.

Gilbert was one of 11 Lakers that hit the scoreboard with Damian Pywell booting six as well in a 37.14 (236) to 2.3 (15) romp.

The 15-goal haul is the Northern league’s biggest since Laurimar’s Jacson Cecil’s 16 majors last season against Reservoir and Kinglake’s best since Brent Gallichio kicked 14 against Thornton Eildon in 2019.

Harvey’s best was 17 in 2017 against Watsonia, a match that Gilbert kicked two goals himself in.

The three-time NFNL Team of the Year gun said his would be seeing more time in front of the big sticks from now on.

“It’s always good to have a game like that, it was out of the blue,” Gilbert said.

“We’ve had a few injuries and threw the side around a bit, the boys got the ball to me quick and efficiently and it all came together.

“I’d never kicked more than seven goals before, so well and truly a career-high, I’d never really played deep forward before.

“The plan going forward is to stay forward because Josh Nixon ruptured his Achilles against Mernda.

“Now with him out I’ve come out of that midfield-forward role and be playing majority forward now.”

Gilbert almost doubled his season goal haul and moved to fifth in the league goalkicking charts with 31 majors.

Despite the massive margin Kinglake remains in second place, just 0.01 per cent behind Laurimar – 230.74 to 230.73.

The Lakers have locked in a finals spot but the battle for a double chance is red-hot with Mernda just a game behind and with a game in-hand.

Gilbert said his club expected to be competitive in its return from the Outer East league and was remaining focused on the job at hand.

“I wouldn’t say a surprise, we always thought we’d be competitive,” he said.

“We’ve got a good, strong side and obviously made the grand final (last year) but there’s still an unknown coming into a new league against new sides.

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“The next step is to finish top-two and get that double chance, give ourselves the best opportunity to make the grand final.

“We’ve got a pretty difficult run home, we’ve got the Stars this week then Old Eltham who knocked us off, Laurimar who are on top and finish with Heidelberg West who are in the four now.”

Kinglake faces its biggest trip of the season on Saturday, travelling to Fitzroy Stars’ Sir Doug Nicholls Oval before returning to Memorial Reserve to host Old Eltham Collegians.

It finishes the season on the road with matches against Laurimar and Heidelberg West and has the bye in the final round.