Therry Penola star Jarrod Bannister cracks the 100-goal mark for the first time in his career as the Lions firm as VAFA Division 1 flag favourites

AT HALF-TIME of Therry Penola’s Victorian Amateur Football Association clash against Whitefriars, Jarrod Bannister had all but given up on reaching the 100-goal mark in Round 17.

S45wp933 VAFA: Therry Penola versus Old Paradians play at John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve in Oak Park. Bannister brothers from Therry Penola 3 Jarrod Bannister

AT HALF-TIME of Therry Penola’s Victorian Amateur Football Association clash against Whitefriars, Jarrod Bannister had all but given up on reaching the 100-goal mark in Round 17.

Bannister entered the fixture with 88 goals to his name and booted three of the Lions’ eight goals in the opening half.

Most supporters had accepted Bannister would have to wait another week to reach the ton for the first time in his career before the leading goalkicker in Division 1 went ballistic.

Bannister slotted six goals in the third quarter, taking his total to 97 for the season.

Early in the final quarter, with another Therry Penola win in the bag, Bannister brought the crowd to its feet with his 12th major of the afternoon.

“I’ve only played permanent forward for the past two seasons really,” Bannister said.

“Other than that I’ve always been a midfielder or backman.”

The milestone could have come earlier in the day had Bannister not kicked a wayward 12.8.

Bannister and his brother Corey have formed one of the most formidable forward-line combinations across Melbourne this year, averaging more than 10 goals per game.

“We don’t really fly for the same marks,” he said.

“Being brothers, we’ve kind of got that sixth sense.

“We know where each other is ... it just works really well.

“It’s one of those things that doesn’t need much work, it just clicks.”

The 26-year-old, from Essendon, said he would not be satisfied with his campaign unless he fired Therry Penola to back-to-back premierships.

“The individual accolades are all great but I’d trade that in for a premiership medal any day of the week,” he said.

“If we could go back-to-back, that would be something the club’s never done and would be absolutely unbelievable.”

Therry Penola has been flying high for the entire 2014 season. Picture: Kylie Else.

After 18 consecutive games without a loss, Bannister and Therry Penola are entitled to feel confident heading into finals.

“Throughout the year we’ve just stuck to the basics and when we play our best footy we feel like no one can go with us,” he said.

After last year’s Division 2 premiership win over Yarra Valley, Jarrod and Corey rushed from Craigieburn’s Highgate Reserve to celebrate the club’s success with their older brother Rick.

Rick, a former Therry Penola footballer, became a quadriplegic after a horse fall and was unable to attend last year’s grand final.

While he appreciates the individual accolades and fans marvelling at his goalkicking prowess, Bannister would trade it all in to get the chance to celebrate the spoils of another successful season with Rick after this year’s grand final.

“Fingers crossed this year he finds the strength and if we do make a grand final he might be able to get there,” he said.

Jarrod Bannister was rested on Saturday as Therry Penola finished its unbeaten campaign with a 35-point victory over Old Mentonians at Turner Road Reserve.

In his absence, Corey booted eight majors.

The Lions meet Williamstown CYMS in the first week of Division 1 finals this weekend.