Re-live all the action from Geelong Football Netball League grand final day as Leopold go back-to-back

Leopold has recorded a maiden back-to-back GFNL triumph, giving their masterful coach the ultimate sendoff in his final game in charge. Plus, recap all the action from grand final day.

Leopold players and staff celebrate their premiership win. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The biggest day on Geelong’s sporting calendar has lived up to the billing.

Leopold secured back-to-back premierships but South Barwon were right in the contest for most of the match and gave the Lions a late scare.

Earlier Newtown & Chillwell edged past St Joseph’s in a thrilling U18 grand final in the dying seconds after being the beneficiary of a free kick, while South Barwon took out first grand final of the day by five-points against a fast-finishing St Mary’s.

See how the day played out below.

5.20PM MATCH REPORT: LIONS GO BACK-TO-BACK

Ben Cameron

Leopold has given its masterful coach the perfect send off in his final game in charge, recording maiden GFNL back-to-back flags with a 21-point defeat of South Barwon.

Twelve months on after last year’s 50-point fizzer at Leopold between the same foes, it was a case of new location, remodelled teams and a different looking contest with just 17 points separating them at the final break.

However, the Lions had largely kept the Swans at bay at Kardinia Park after a red and white response in the second term to briefly reclaim the lead.

And when Luke Justin hit James Edmonds with a precision pass, his accurate conversion put the Lions 23 points clear, leaving a mountain to climb for the Swans considering their difficulties in front of goals and Fraser Fort kept quiet for the second Saturday in a row.

The Swans would kick two quickies through Fort and Jack Driver to cut the margin to just 14 points — a dropped Jonty Broughton mark in the goalsquare would have made things interesting if he’d clung on.

Leopold's Billy Ritchie celebrates a goal. Picture: Mike Dugdale

However, inspirational skipper Marcus Thompson later found Jake Pitt at the top of the square for the icing on the cake, as the Lions won 11.11 (83) to 9.8 (62).

It capped off a stunning September record during coach Garry Hocking’s three-year reign, the only loss being the 2022 grand final to St Mary’s.

This time, the usual suspects Logan Wagener, Brock Williamson, Tate Porter, Oliver Tate and Thompson and co got plenty of it while the Polders backline was typically tight and Mitch Burgess ballistic.

Williamson would receive the inaugural Frank Fopiani Medal for best on ground.

Post-match, Hocking said it was magnificent to win another title in front of more than 10,000 fans.

“It’s awesome to play in front of a crowd like this, to see a lot of green and gold even better,” Hocking said.

“What about this playing group? How bloody good?

“You’ve all done an amazing job over the past three years, we’ve won two flags, back-to-back, it’s hard to do.

“It takes everybody, it takes a village (to win a flag).

“That’s it, I’m done, thank you.”

Leopold's Trevor Nofi flies high. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Meanwhile, he praised the efforts of the Swans, saying their time would come “very, very soon”.

“Today was a great contest, it could have gone either way,” he said.

Earlier, Leopold had ominously gone whack with four consecutive goals, skipping out to a 17-point lead after the Swans booted the first through the craftiness of Fort out of the ruck.

But the defending champions would take control with fast ball use and aerial dominance close to the uprights with, Harris Jennings and Connor Giddings taking strong marks to convert.

Then came a Williamson snap and a loose ball found its way into the hands of Riley Stone at the back of pack to dribble through the Lions’ fourth in a row.

The Swans might have felt a tremor or two of PTSD after last year’s hammering, but a superb, steadying conversion beyond the arc from Jackson Carmody kept South Barwon in the contest.

The red and whites continued to push in the second, with Thompson having to jump the fence to retrieve Todd White’s shot on goal in the Joel Selwood Stand.

A free kick and goal to Broughton was followed by a Lachlan Noble major to put his side back in front with an accurate conversion.

It was a strong response from a team who was blown off the park 12 months prior, although ruckman Ben Kellett limping off midway through the term would have concerned Swans fans.

After going 14 minutes without a score, the Lions hit back with Giddings’ second and a smooth transition from defence into the hands of Billy Ritchie.

The Swans were saved by a wider half time margin by a pair of posters up the Players Stand end.

Goals would be traded in the third and Sam Scott copped a heavy knock to the head, sending him down to the changerooms for repairs.

However, he would bravely return bandaged up and be part of a chain of Leopold possessions for its ninth goal through Thompson and collect a number of other important touches for the term.

3:15PM LIONS LEAD AT THE HALF

It looked like deja vu of last year’s grand final early with Leopold bursting out of the blocks, but South Barwon hit back with the next three goals to take the lead.

The Lions kicked the next two to take a 6.3 (39) to 4.7 (31) lead into halftime.

South Barwon ruckman Ben Kellett spent time off the ground with an ankle complaint but returned to the ground.

Connor Giddings has booted two goals for the Lions, while Mathieson medallist Doyle Madigan has found plenty of the ball and used it well.

2:53PM FANS FLOCK TO THE CATTERY

Fans have flocked through the turnstiles since the start of the seniors.

In fact, it is understood more than 2000 fans have come in the last hour.

There was around 6000 fans who had bought tickets before then, meaning the target of 10,000 is well in reach.

1:39PM FAST FINISHING SAINTS FALL JUST SHORT

Ben Cameron

St Mary’s’ quest for back-to-back GFNL reserves premierships has fallen at the final hurdle, but only just, beaten by South Barwon by five points at Kardinia Park on Friday.

The Saints, who won last year’s decider by seven points over Leopold on its home deck, had blasted their way into the decider with an 83-point flogging of St Joseph’s in the qualifying final two weeks prior.

However, South Barwon would collect its second reserves flag in three seasons, winning 6.4 (40) to 5.5 (35), and atoning for a 59-point smashing at the hands of Mary’s in May earlier in the season.

The Saints, the most offensive team this year by more than 300 points during the regular season, were kept to two goals by three quarter time.

South Barwon celebrate its win. Picture: Mike Dugdale

And in a crucial piece of play in the sixth minute of the last term, a Declan Robertson turnover off half back was run up the other end for South Barwon’s sixth and most important goal via Max Mawson, putting them 22 points clear and seemingly home.

However, the minor premiers would keep on coming as South Barwon’s Ethan Coffey came off with an apparent shoulder issue.

Ty Williams, who along with the classy Jordi Robertson picked up a heap of important touches in the fourth, trimmed the margin back to 16 with a fine set shot,

Will Sexton could have iced the game in the 16th minute with a set shot but missed, and then the ball was raced from coast to coast to cut the margin to just 11 points through the boot of Noah Biggs.

But the Swans defence, led by Andrew Hutchinson, stood firm to hold on as Mary’s enjoyed plenty of inside 50s.

A running goal just seconds before the siren would trim the margin to five points, but it was all in vain for the Saints.

1:20PM ALL THE NETBALL RESULTS

Meg Saultry is keeping a close eye on the netball down at the Kardinia Park courts, headlined by Leopold winning its first senior premiership in 12 years — and the Lions celebrated with gusto.

Here are all the results and best on courts so far.

C grade

Leopold 43 d South Barwon 42

Best on court: Anna Maher (Leopold)

D grade

St Mary’s 32 d Leopold 31

Best on court: Stacey Learmonth (Leopold)

Under 17 division one

Newtown & Chilwell 32 d South Barwon 17

Best on court: Charlize Cook (N&C)

Under 17 division two

Newtown & Chilwell 28 d South Barwon 14

Best on court: Luella Aldridge (N&C)

Under 15 division one

South Barwon 42 d Geelong West Giants 36 in O/T

Best on court: Leni Hepburn (SB)

Under 15 division one

South Barwon 26 d Newtown & Chilwell 18

Best on court: Poppy Wellington (SB)

Under 13 division one

South Barwon 35 d Newtown & Chilwell 33 in O/T

Best on court: Stevie Hepburn (SB)

Under 13 division two

South Barwon 22 d Colac 19

Best on court: Ruby Martin (SB)

12:31PM GOOD OMEN?

As Leopold prepares for its GFNL grand final, the Lions have taken out the Rookie Me grand final sprint.

A bunch of under-14 youngsters from every club took to GMHBA Stadium at halftime of the reserves clash, and the young Lion cub smoked them.

Is it a good omen for the Lions? We’ll see.

12:25PM SWANS LOOKING GOOD

South Barwon is on track to win its second GFNL reserves flag in three seasons, leading St Mary’s by three goals on Friday at Kardinia Park.

Swans forward Aaron Vickey slotted two in the second term as his side skipped out to a 25-point lead.

However, St Mary’s got one back on the goal line in the 11th minute of the second as the Saints hunt back-to-back flags.

11:00AM NEWTOWN WINS THRILLING U18 GRAND FINAL

Wow. What a finish!

Newtown & Chillwell trailed for almost the entire game, until Geelong Falcons talent Ben Pennisi received a fortuitous high contact high free kick and slotted it straight through the big sticks from 30 metres out in the dying seconds.

The reaction from the Newtown & Chillwell faithful said it all, with St Joseph’s left in despair.

That’s three U18s flags in a row now for the Eagles, and it is only a matter of time until these talented youngsters are tearing the seniors apart.

Some finish. Geelong Falcon Ben Pennisi kicks a set shot in the dying seconds to put Newtown & Chillwell in front. They win their third straight U18 flag by three points. pic.twitter.com/z7sBjyQUOQ

— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) September 27, 2024

Newtown & Chillwell players go off after the siren sounds. Picture: Alan Barber

Newtown players pose after their win. Picture: Alan Barber

Newtown & Chilwell player George Melville hugs a fan after the win. Picture: Alan Barber

10:16AM JUMPING THE FENCE

It’s commonplace for local footballers to jump the fence to collect a ball, but it’s not often they have to retrieve a ball over the stands.

That’s what a Joeys player had to do in the third quarter behind the goals at GMHBA Stadium.

Now that’s going the extra mile.

Local footy meeting the big league. A Joeys player jumped over the fence into the stands to collect a footy behind the goals pic.twitter.com/s5XSKEenVY

— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) September 27, 2024

10:00AM FIRST GRAND FINAL VICTORS

Torquay has the perfect start to grand final day with two 13&U premierships in division one and two.

The Tigers’ division one side won 30-19 against Queenscliff, while their seconds triumphed 25-12 in their clash with Ocean Grove.

In the U18s footy, St Joseph’s lead Newtown & Chillwell by seven points at halftime.

The main highlight was a big specky from Geelong Falcons prospect Giuseppe Posterino on the wing in the first quarter.

The Joeys have dominated the territory battle but haven’t made it count on the scoreboard, kicking 4.9, with key forwards Xavier Paatsch and Kye Smith each kicking a goal and looking dangerous.

Newtown & Chillwell has limited opportunities but took its chances, with two goals out the back and a classy snap from Alfie Wojcinski – the son of three-time premiership great David – in the second term keeping them right in the contest.

Geelong Football League grand final day kicking off at Kardinia Park. A few sons of guns in action for Newtown & Chillwell in the U18s - Jagger Mooney, Alfie Wojcinski and Boston Riccardi. @geelongaddypic.twitter.com/sH6ZLpFrV7

— Dan Batten (@danbatten_) September 26, 2024

7:30AM THE DAY IS HERE

Welcome to GFNL grand final day!

We’ll be bringing you all the action all in one place today.

First up are the 13 and under netball grand finals starting at 8am, while the under-18 grand final featuring Jagga Mooney — son of Cam — and Boston Riccardi — son of Peter — will kick off at 9:15am.

Originally published as Re-live all the action from Geelong Football Netball League grand final day as Leopold go back-to-back