All news, stats and updates from GFL round 18
St Joseph’s and Lara had their game called off in the third quarter because of a storm, while one Giant records the first 50-disposal game in 2022. Read all the stats.
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St Joseph’s coach Paul Carson said the lightning and hail that caused the club’s game against Lara to be called off was “one of the most bizarre situations on a footy field” he had seen.
Joeys were holding a 33-point lead late in the third quarter when storm clouds transformed a once-sunny Bisinella Oval into darkness.
Hail “the size of golf balls” started falling from the sky, with players trying to shield their faces as they were pelted with the ice.
Soon after the storm began, a bolt of lightning struck a tree opposite the grand stand, providing a brief-but-fierce flash of light around the ground.
Carson said the umpires were quick to move players off the ground when the weather turned sour.
“The hail started coming down first, which was huge, they were like the size of golf balls,” he said.
“The guys couldn’t see because of the hail, then the lightning started cracking down, so the umpires got us off really quickly and got us into the changerooms.
“We spoke with the umpires and they explained if everything cleared then we would go back out and play, but if there was any more lightning then the game was off.
“We lasted about two minutes out there again and there was some more so that was it.
“Everyone was pretty shocked, the umpires handled it really well and everyone’s safe now, which is paramount.
“At the end of the day, Lara couldn’t make finals and we can’t move in our spot on the ladder, so playing one-quarter less than a full game won’t impact anything too much.”
There were no injuries sustained from the freak weather event, despite play continuing in the hail for about three minutes.
Carson said “it looked like it had just snowed” once they came back out of the change rooms.
“Luckily no one was hurt, but players couldn’t see what was going on, they were trying to shield their eyes and their faces from it all,” he said.
“They couldn’t run, is how the boys described it to me, it came down fast and hard and it was extraordinary scenes.
“It looked like it had just snowed, the ground was coloured white from all the hail after it all stopped.”
St Joseph’s was awarded the win and the four points from the clash.
Benson back, Lang’s five in stirring win
St Mary’s co-coach Travis Robertson said he was pleased that his side’s form was peaking at the right time of the year, despite an inaccurate day in front of goals.
St Mary’s ultimately beat Grovedale 14.21 (105) to 8.9 (57), but it was the return of Mathieson Medalist Harry Benson from a broken jaw that excited Saints fans and their coaching staff.
Benson started forward but soon found himself in the midfield, with the star easy to spot from the sidelines as he donned the protective helmet.
The 2021 Mathieson Medalist provided spectators with plenty of highlights, including a run-down tackle in the first quarter of the game.
Robertson said it was exciting to see Benson, and key forward Tom Lang, return in recent weeks.
“Like anyone, it probably takes a bit of time to get going, but Tom was a terrific marking target for us and he rewarded us with a few goals,” he said.
“He was back to the Langy we know, he led up well and took a couple of contested marks, he was a real key for us in that forward line but it was working really well.
“Harry’s a little hard to control at times, we tried to manage his minutes and to ease him into the footy by playing him up forward but he likes to compete and there was never any doubt in his effort in this game.”
Grovedale coach Daniel Fraser said he was happy with how his side competed for its final game of the season, but his side had lapses that cost them.
“St Mary’s used the ball a little bit better than us, our first two and a half quarters was really good for pressure,” he said.
“The game was on our terms for periods there, but we backed off a bit and they’re too classy, their ball use was fantastic.”
Colac v Newtown & Chilwell
A six-goal haul from Jacob McGuane sounded warning alarms around the GFL, with the Tigers dismantling the Eagles convincingly, winning 11.21 (87) to 9.15 (69).
Tough conditions kept scoring low, with a flurry of points marring an otherwise quality game of football.
Eagle Charlie Byrne kicked three goals, while Matty Lloyd performed well in the back half for Newtown & Chilwell.
Colac winger Bailey Scott had 31 disposals, while Jai Sheahan had 30 touches for the Eagles.
Geelong West v St Albans
The Giants ended their season on a major high, kicking nine fourth-quarter goals to run out dominant 25.19 (169) to 1.1 (7) winners against St Albans.
Mathieson medal chance Baxter Mensch did his chances of the award no harm, kicking three goals and collecting 42 disposals in a best-on-ground performance.
Teammate David Handley pipped Mensch for most touches for the game, recording the GFL’s first 50-disposal game of the season.
Forward pair Angus Codd and Phil Moimoi had five and four majors respectively, and Sam Donegan was the best Supersaint on the ground.
North Shore v Leopold
Leading goal kicker Mitch Patten will hope his three goals against the Seagulls will be enough to hold onto the award, with Leopold’s home-and-away season over with a 17.20 (122) to 9.9 (63) win.
Patten has 55 goals for the season, holding a six-goal lead over Swan Andrew Boseley.
Lion captain Marcus Thompson had another stellar game as he makes a case for the Mathieson Medal, collecting 26 disposals and two goals
North Shore co-coach Nick Dixon was one of the Seagulls’ best with 31 touches and four inside 50s, while Brad Gerrard had 42 disposals, five marks and two tackles.
South Barwon v Bell Park
The Dragons were not able to send off departing coach Shane Jack with a win, with South Barwon’s Andrew Boseley kicking 10 goals on the way to a 23.15 (153) to 11.8 (74) victory.
Bell Park sent multiple defensive options to Boseley but he could not be stopped, proving a difficult assignment alongside Lachlan Noble, who kicked five majors from 25 disposals.
At the other end of the ground, Bell Park’s Jackson Bright slotted four majors and Lachie Patten had another fantastic outing with 30 touches, while young gun Hamish Lucas continues to grow in his midfield role with 20 disposals.
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Originally published as All news, stats and updates from GFL round 18
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