Geelong Amateur co-coach Riley Kershaw hopes the thrilling one-point win over premiership favourites Torquay will be a “stepping stone” into the run to the Bellarine finals.
The Pegs moved into second spot on the ladder with the 12.11 (83) to 11.16 (82) victory, snapping the Tigers’ 15-match winning streak, which stretched back to the final round of last year.
“We’ve got a talented list, and I think, at times, we might have thought we’re as good as we could be,” Kershaw said.
“It’s a stepping stone, really. While it might not seem the biggest stepping stone, it’s definitely something we want to build off.
“But, the competition’s so even. Although it’s a great win, you can’t get complacent by any stretch of the imagination.
“But it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”
Trailing by three points at the 16-minute mark when Jesse Dawson converted a set shot for Torquay, Geelong Amateur found what proved to be the match-winning goal less than three minutes later.
From a stoppage around 20m out from the Pegs’ goal, Tom Gribble roved a ruck tap from Jai Sheahan and snapped truly.
Kershaw says it was a performance in which structure was put aside, likening the intensity to a final.
“It was just contest after contest,” he said. “Maybe the cards fell our way at certain points.
“If it had finished a draw, everyone would have said that was the right result. It was just a really good game of footy.
“I can’t say there was something definitive where we got them, and vice versa; I think Dom (Gleeson) would say the same.”
Kershaw was full of praise for captain Harry Kershaw, who put his hand up to play a defensive role following the late withdrawal of Xavier Muhor (illness).
“It solved a small headache that we didn’t need going into the game,” he said.
“That was leadership at its finest.”
Sheahan, mid-season recruit Luke Hillier, and Max Hungerford each kicked three goals for Ammos.
Dawson finished with three majors for the Tigers, while Weylin Doyle contributed two.
Queenscliff has claimed its second scalp in as many weeks after outlasting Anglesea by 22 points at The Couta Bowl.
Leading by seven points at three-quarter time, the Coutas kicked three goals to one in the final term to bank an 11.12 (78) to 8.8 (56) result.
Veteran former skipper Jake Hedley kicked three goals for the winners, with young gun Jordan Monahan and Ocean Grove recruit Bailey Prato each kicking two goals.
Jack Baker and Simon Umbers managed two apiece for the Roos, who have left the door open for Barwon Heads, Modewarre or Drysdale to snatch the double chance off them.
A late goal from Connor Joseph broke the deadlock to give Modewarre a crucial six-point win over Portarlington at Mt Moriac Reserve.
With the scores locked at 88 apiece at the 25-minute mark, Joseph snapped truly after roving a boundary throw in to kick his fifth goal of the afternoon.
It would prove to be the last score in the 13.16 (94) to 13.10 (88) victory.
Connor Menadue kicked four goals for the Demons, while captain Mitch Turnbull contributed three.
Barwon Heads overcame a plucky Ocean Grove to claim the Battle of the Bridge by 33 points at Howard Harmer Oval, 16.11 (107) to 11.8 (74)
The Seagulls trailed by 11 points at halftime before wresting back momentum with a seven-goal-to-two third quarter in front of a crowd featuring members of their 1974 premiership team.
Veteran co-coach Mitch Herbison kicked five goals, and Brock Close contributed four for Barwon Heads.
Grubber Brady Pritchard kicked four goals for third time this season to take his tally to 26.
Drysdale maintained touch with the top five after taking care of Newcomb by 46 points at Drysdale Recreation Reserve.
The inaccurate Hawks claimed their seventh win of the season, 16.19 (115) to 10.9 (69).
Ricky Reid kicked a career-best four goals, with Nick Aringo, James Breust and Jake Hargreaves contributing three majors apiece.
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