A mindset shift was all that was required to see Lindisfarne play its best game of 2025

Lindisfarne coach Trey Westbury opens up about the mindset shift his players achieved during the week which reset the premiership contender and silenced the critics.

They say a week is a long time in football and for Lindisfarne the week was exactly what they needed according to coach Trey Westbury.

The Two Blues lost their SFL Community League round 10 match against Sorell at home but responded in the way Westbury expected after flipping the “mindset” of his players during the week to come out and thump the second placed Huonville Lions by 65-points.

Lindisfarne looked like the team we come to expect from them right from the first siren as they claimed a 17.8 (110) to 6.9 (45) victory.

“We learned a lot from last weeks game and we definitely weren’t happy with how we went about it,” Westbury said.

“But really proud of the boys today, to come up against arguably the best team in the comp behind Cygnet and play the way we did.

“We spoke during the week about our mindset and how we want to play and spoke about how we hadn’t been ourselves.

“We have been pretty up and down this year, we know what our best is and we need to continue that.

“The problem was and similar to last year we were in this mindset which drained us and by the grand final last year it showed and we sort of went back to that a little bit recently.

“So this week, we reset, we enjoyed each others company, had a few laughs and just enjoyed playing footy again.”

SFL Community League – Lindisfarne coach Trey Westbury celebrates with his teammates after kicking a goal in the clash with Huonville at Anzac Park. Picture: Jake Garland

A seven goal opening term was just the start the Two Blues were chasing as they took complete control of the game right from the first bounce.

Some would say power forward Ed Stanley was kept relatively quiet for his standards but still managed a game high three goals.

The win now puts Lindisfarne just a game behind the Lions with five games to go before finals.

Around the grounds, Cygnet held on in a tight contest to claim a 13-point victory over Sorell at Pembroke Park.

Similar to the first time the two teams met, Cygnet’s inaccuracy almost cost them the game, kicking 8.15 (63) to 7.8 (50).

Sorell were kept goalless in the first quarter and trailed by 31-points at first break but pegged it back to be just 12 points down at the main break.

Port skipper Joseph Direen kicked a game high three goals with James Zeitzen booting two while Jeremiah Perkins, Jacob Sawford and Jacob Smith kicked two each for the Eagles.

Dodges Ferry move into third spot with a massive win over Hobart.

The Sharks showed why they are the hunters this season claiming a 182-point win over the Tigers at TCA Ground.

Dodges booted 18 goals in the second half, keeping the Tigers to just one goal as they ran out 31.24 (210) to 4.4 (28).

New Norfolk created more headaches for Claremont, thumping them by 113-points at Boyer Oval.

A 10-goal haul by Jacob Daley helped New Norfolk to a 24.16 (160) to 7.5 (45) victory.

With the win over Sorell and Huonville losing the Lindisfarne, Cygnet now move three games clear on top of the ladder with a perfect 11 wins from 11 games this season.

The Lions sit second on 32 points with the Sharks and Two Blues equal third on 28 points with the Eagles sliding to fifth on 24 points.

Analysis: The key match-ups to decide SFL blockbusters

Experts will tell you, if you play a finals like game in June, it genuinely means you are playing to keep your season alive.

But not for Sorell, Cygnet, Lindisfarne and Huonville Lions who are four of the SFL Community League’s top five teams and will face off against each other this weekend.

Coming off a massive win last weekend against Lindisfarne, the Eagles will host Cygnet at Pembroke Oval at 1pm and the Two Blues will host the Lions at 1.30pm at Anzac Park.

We’ve deep dived into where the games will be won and lost for and who are the key match ups we are looking forward to seeing.

SFL Community League – Sorell's Bodhi Kingston in action during the match against Lindisfarne at Anzac Park. Picture: Jake Garland

Sorell v Cygnet

Last time they met – Round 5

Cygnet 6.17 (53) def Sorell 6.8 (44) at Cygnet Oval

Key match ups:

Joseph Direen v Adrian Butterworth.

Direen has kicked 33 goals this season and is the Port’s leading goalkicker. It could be a battle of the two captains if Butterworth goes to Direen and it will be an exciting contest.

James Zeitzen v Bodhi Kingston

Zeitzen has been one of the recruits of the season for Cygnet as it looks to continue their undefeated season but the potential matchup between Zeitzen and Kingston is a mouth-watering one. Both are quick, agile and have a strong leap, it could very well be a lockdown role for Kingston who has had a role as the third man up over the past few weeks.

James Zeitzen of Cygnet will be a tough matchup for Bodhi Kingston when the Port travel to Sorell on Saturday. Picture: Linda Higginson

The Midfield battle

This game will be won and lost in the contest, the forwards will go to work at both ends of the ground but it will be the supply from the middle which gets their team over the line. Expect a tough, hotly contested game.

Lindisfarne v Huonville

Last time they met – Round 2

Lindisfarne 11.12 (78) defeated by Huonville 13.17 (95) at Anzac Park

Key match ups:

Huonville Lions’ Cameron Johns will play a big part in standing on the leading goal kicker of the competition. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The midfield battle

No love lost between the two midfields, both do have a lot of respect for one another but the hotly contested game will bring plenty of fire in the midfield. The hard ball gets, one percenters and ability to get first hands on the footy will be what wins this game of footy.

SFL Community League – Lindisfarne forward Ed Stanley kicks one of his nine goals in the match against Sorell at Anzac Park. Picture: Jake Garland

Ed Stanley v Cameron Johns

The last time Johns stood on Stanley, he kept him goalless, that was round 2 this season. Stanley has kicked 59 goals this season and only been kept goalless once, which also played a huge part in the Lions taking the win last time they met at Anzac Park.

Sheldon Smith v Jack Preshaw

Smith was quiet by his standards in the loss to Sorell so you can expect him to rebound and he will get the direct opponent of Preshaw who is in some pretty good form himself. Both midfield bulls will have plenty of eyes glued to them.

Originally published as A mindset shift was all that was required to see Lindisfarne play its best game of 2025