GFL wrap: All football results from Geelong in round 7
The leading ball winners and tackling machines for the round have been revealed. Read all the results and check the biggest tallies here.
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After conceding an early flurry of goals, St Mary’s continued its undefeated reign over the GFL with a contested 40-point win against St Joseph’s.
Three goals to Saints forward Patrick Dowling and another best-on-ground display from Mathieson Medal fancy Harry Benson eventually led St Mary’s to a 16.11 (107) to 10.7 (67) victory, further strengthening the side’s top spot stranglehold.
St Mary’s co-coach Travis Robertson said he expected a battle at the contest, and the side responded well to St Joseph’s pressure.
“We had been challenged, and challenged well, in that first quarter and we were able to respond,” he said.
“We knew it was going to be a contested battle, they’re a great side around the stoppages and contests and we knew we needed to match them.
“The boys answered really well, our tackling effort was superb, but the contested side of the game is something we like to pride ourselves on so it was good to be able to perform well there.”
St Joseph’s Joel O’Dwyer was reported for rough conduct on Saint Darcy Chirgwin, with the action gifting St Mary’s a goal late in the second quarter.
St Joseph’s coach Paul Carson said it was a difficult game against a strong opposition.
“It was certainly different to last week’s win, you go from riches to poor pretty quick,” he said.
“All our guys cracked in and had a good go, that first quarter showed what we’re capable of but we need to sustain that for the entire game.
“Once they opened up the contest they moved it really easily, and that’s a trait of all good footy sides.”
Leopold v Grovedale
Grovedale’s Flynn Young lived out every footballers dream as the forward slotted a goal after the siren to secure a two-point win against Leopold.
The Tigers’ newest star kicked four goals for the match and was “instrumental” in the 14.15 (99) to 14.13 (97) victory.
Grovedale coach Daniel Fraser said Young’s prowess, paired with Jordan Erskine who also kicked four, “had a big bearing on the result”.
“Flynn was instrumental up forward with four goals and two of them late in the game, which had a big bearing on the result,” he said.
“His forward pressure brought about that last goal, he’s working really well with Jordan (Erskine) and Tom (Gillett) after not playing much footy together.”
Leopold hit the lead with about a minute to go, before a Liam Davies clearance got the ball to the top of the goal square.
Young laid a tackle and was given a free kick in front of goal with about five seconds left in the game, before kicking the winning goal after the siren.
Grovedale kicked five goals in the last quarter to overcome a two-point deficit at the final break, with both sides trading blows through the final 25 minutes.
Leopold coach Garry Hocking said his side’s inconsistency early cost them.
“We kicked one goal from six scoring shots in the first quarter, 5.1 is much better than 1.5, and if we start better there we’re in control,” he said.
“I keep telling the boys we don’t want to be a second-half team, but we’re leaving ourselves too much work to do late in the game.
“We kicked 10 goals in the second half, we needed to convert our dominance early.”
Leopold’s Marcus Thompson had 32 disposals to lead all possession getters on the ground.
Bell Park v Lara
The Dragons proved too good for the Cats, securing a 12.13 (85) to 6.12 (48) victory at home.
Bell Park moves to 2-5 after seven rounds, with Dragon Jamie Fulton slotting three goals and ruck Luke Goetz kicking two majors in the win.
Lachlan Patten collected 38 disposals for the Dragons, while Lara’s Bailey Ettridge had 28 touches himself.
Lara was without goalkicking forward Mitch Day, who slotted five goals in round 6.
Colac v Geelong West
Fresh off a 100-point loss at the hands of St Joseph’s, Geelong West has surprised Colac in a 10.11 (71) to 10.10 (70) win.
Four goals to Tiger Adam Garner was not enough to secure a win as Giants midfielder Baxter Mensch had 36 disposals and a goal in a best-on-ground performance.
Newtown & Chilwell v South Barwon
The Eagles continued their strong start to the GFL season with an eight-point win against South Barwon, which slumped to 3-4 with the loss.
Forward pair Lachlan Bond and Jai Sheahan kicked two goals each for Newtown & Chilwell as the side secured a 10.11 (71) to 8.15 (63) win.
Eagles Matty Lloyd collected 39 disposals in the win, while the Swans had seven players record 20 touches or more.
St Albans v North Shore
An inaccurate Seagulls outfit held on against the winless Supersaints, winning 12.17 (89) to 10.6 (66).
North Shore co-coach and Mathieson Medal fancy Nick Dixon had 41 disposals while teammate Jack Leonard had 38 in the win.
Supersaint Sam Donegan had 36 disposals despite the loss.
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