GDFL: Bell Post Hill overcome strong start from Geelong West
A six-goal win would usually put a smile on a coach’s face, but Bell Post Hill’s Justin Tarr feels his side still has room to improve.
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Bell Post Hill coach Justin Tarr believes the Panthers are “nowhere near our best” despite a six-goal win over a challenging Geelong West outfit.
A second-term explosion has set up an important Bell Post Hill win, with the six-goal loss compounding the Giants’ woes this season.
The Giants had much of the momentum in the opening term but could not convert in less-than-ideal conditions, booting 2.5 to 1.1 in the opening quarter, but the Panthers piled on 6.7 with the breeze to just one goal in the second term.
Bell Post Hill ultimately ran away with a 14.12 (96) to 8.12 (60) victory over Geelong West to hold onto a top two position, with the Giants moving to a 4-7 record.
Tarr said his side was lucky to not be down by more at the opening break.
“I thought West started off really well, they beat us around the ball with more intensity and smashed us in contested footy,” he said after the win.
“We were a bit behind the eight-ball coming into that second quarter, after quarter time our intensity really lifted and it gave us a chance to get more scoring shots in that quarter.
“There was a bit of a breeze going down that way but we had to get it down there first.”
The loss means the Giants, who were widely tipped to challenge for the GDFL premiership this season, are three games out of the finals calculations with just seven games to go in the year.
Star recruit Mat Hebbard still has not played a game since he injured his calf in round 2, with Giants co-coach Mitch Wight suggesting “it’s not too bad” after the win over Drysdale back in April.
Hebbard was on hand during the loss, assisting Wight and Matt Ianelli on the bench while in a moonboot.
Tarr said the win was pleasing but he knew the Panthers were still finding their best form with seven weeks to go in the home-and-away season.
“It’s good to get the win, especially when we’re not playing our best footy.
“We’re nowhere near our best at the moment, I said that to the boys after the game, we’re still winning games but I feel like we still have so much improvement left in us.
“It’s just about finding our best footy and playing it for four quarters, we’re working towards that still so we want to keep improving and peaking at the right time.”
Originally published as GDFL: Bell Post Hill overcome strong start from Geelong West
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