GFL full statistic breakdown after round 4.

Three players recorded more than 40 touches in Saturday’s GFL matches, while two rucks eclipsed 50 hit outs. Analyse all the stats from round 4 here.

St Mary’s co-coach Travis Robertson says his side was expecting a tight battle against South Barwon on Sunday and it got just that, the Saints just edging clear by five points when the final siren blew.

A late Patrick Dowling goal was the difference on the scoreboard, St Mary’s continuing its unbeaten start to the season with a 6.12 (48)-6.7 (43) win in blustery conditions at McDonald Reserve.

“We always knew they were going to be one of the better sides in the league this year … so we were coming here expecting a pretty tight game of footy, maybe not as tight as it ended up being,” Robertson said.

“Credit to them, they played some pretty good footy today.”

Patrick Dowling booted three goals for the Saints. Picture: Mark Wilson

Neither side was able to create scoreboard pressure throughout the day, but each enjoyed dominant patches around the ground at different stages.

St Mary’s started strongly in this area but couldn’t put it on the scoreboard, South Barwon turning the momentum midway through the term to go into the first change 10-point leaders.

“Certainly in that first 15 or 20 minutes we felt like we owned the game and just were unfortunately not able to hit the scoreboard,” Robertson said.

“That’s something we need to work on … that can sometimes just be your skill execution but it can also be where we’re sending the ball in, so we’ll have a look at that during the week.”

For South Barwon coach David Farrell, his side suffered the same fate during the second term.

“I think in the second quarter we had a real dominance as far as forcing the footy forward and repeat entries and playing in our third of the ground which was really important in a territory game,” he said.

South Barwon’s Jackson Carmody is tackled by St Mary's Trent McMullin. Picture: Mark Wilson

“They’re such a good side, sometimes you don’t get necessarily reward for effort on the scoreboard.”

The game remained an arm wrestle after the main break, both sides exchanging the lead on multiple occasions.

South Barwon held a slender one-point lead at the 21-minute mark of the final term before Dowling kicked the second of his two last quarter goals to give St Mary’s a five-point lead.

In a day where the weather wasn’t kind to forwards, it was a strong finish to the game from the star goalkicker.

“He stayed in the game, I think the winning goal he kicked was after we’d put him on ball … threw him into the centre and he was able to sneak forward,” Robertson said.

South Barwon still had a multiple attacks left before the final siren blew, the last of them resulting in an inside 50 that couldn’t be marked.

The Swans now find themselves fifth at 2-2, while St Mary’s is sitting cosy in first at 4-0.

North Shore outlasts Bell Park

North Shore co-coach Darren Winter credited his side for not dwelling on last week’s loss to St Mary’s as they snuck over the line by one-point against Bell Park.

The Seagulls led at every change but the game remained close throughout the four quarters, North Shore eventually prevailing 10.9 (69)-10.8 (68).

“To their credit, they could’ve come into this game pretty flat and with their heads down but we certainly like to move on really quick after a game and continue to march forward,” Winter said.

“To their credit they were able to do that and come into the game with a positive frame of mind.”

Bell Park got off to a strong start early in the first term but North Shore were able to wrestle back momentum to lead by a point at quarter time, a sign of growth in the side.

“It was positive that the guys aren’t going into their shell,” Winter said.

“This is part of the thing that we want our guys to do right across the board … is just to continue to back themselves in and play good, positive, strong football.”

Winter was pleased with the tough display around the ball by his side.

North Shore’s Jacob Sammut-Miljevic was on fire against Bell Park. Picture: Mark Wilson

“There was a little bit of a breeze going straight across the ground which made it a really tough contest, it was pretty much stoppage after stoppage,” he said.

“There wasn’t any real free-flowing ball so I was just happy that they were able to tough it out through those repeat stoppages over and over again to be able to, I suppose, hang on.”

For Bell Park coach Shane Jack, poor decision making and disposal was the difference.

“We let ourselves down with some of our decision making once again,” he said.

“It’s just probably our link between our forwards and our backs and just some basic skill errors to be honest, we were missing one-metre handballs.

“Some decision making under pressure is probably what hurt us, we’re just not making the correct decisions at the correct time of game.

“I can never question the endeavour of the boys, they always give it all, but it’s just that skill execution that’s letting us down at the moment.”

North Shore co-coach Nick Dixon recorded 41 disposals to set a new season high for himself, while teammate Brad Gerrard had 38 disposals as well.

Bell Park’s Lachlan Patten recorded 43 disposals, including 17 contested possessions, but no other Dragon had more than 25 touches for the game.

Colac strong start helps Tigers to big win

Colac kicked five first-quarter goals and never looked back, too strong for Leopold 15.12 (102)-7.9 (51).

The game wasn’t out of Leopold’s grasp at the final change, 27 points separating the two sides.

Six goals to two in the final term sealed the deal for Colac, however.

Tiger midfield pair Lachlan and Jonathan Simpkin dominated in the guts, collecting 33 and 31 disposals respectively, while Brody Mahoney had 23 and 11 contested possessions.

Leopold’s Marcus Thompson had 35 touches (19 contested) and seven tackles, while Rob Maibaum laid 14 tackles in the loss.

Geelong West fight off brave Lara

Geelong West fought off another strong Lara performance to salute 11.7 (73)-7.18 (60).

The win is the Giants second so far in season 2022.

Giants midfielder Baxter Mensch set a new personal best, recording 38 disposals to his name.

Lara’s Billy Goodwin had 15 contested possessions from his 23 disposals and still went at 87 per cent efficiency.

Joeys continue winning ways

St Joseph’s started exactly where it left off last week to beat Grovedale 16.9 (105)-12.10 (82).

Six first-quarter goals set the scene for Joeys and they never looked back in the 23-point win.

Alex Hickey was the major ball winner for St Joseph’s, recording 28 disposals (13 contested) and four inside 50s.

Oscar Morrison kicked three goals for Joeys, while Jake Tute had 30 touches for Grovedale.

Eagles kick away against St Albans.

Newtown & Chilwell brushed off a slow first-half to run away 67-point win over St Albans.

Just 11 points separated the two sides at halftime, the Eagles eventually prevailing 13.23 (101) – 5.4 (34).

Eagles midfielder exploded for 46 disposals, including 14 contested, to set a new season high for the competition, while ruck Cameron Wilkinson recorded 55 hit outs.

Mitch Diamond was able to hit the scoreboard for Newtown & Chilwell, bagging three goals, while seven other players each hit the scoreboard.

Originally published as GFL full statistic breakdown after round 4.