A seven-goal haul from veteran forward Ben Evans has helped Belmont Lions return to the winners’ list with a comprehensive 76-point victory over Corio.
The third-placed Lions, who suffered consecutive losses to East Geelong and Inverleigh before their bye, regained their eight-point buffer on Bannockburn and Thomson with five rounds remaining.
Co-coach Andy Walsgott, absent from the losses to the Eagles and Hawks due to work commitments, says the manner of the Lions’ performance was most pleasing.
“The way we played was the most exciting thing,” he said.
“We really got back to what we saw before I went away and what we were doing in the first two or three months of the year.
“The way we played was the most important thing.”
Evans’ haul was his best return since arriving at Winter Reserve in 2021 and took him to 98 goals in a Lions’ jumper.
“I said to the boys, ‘If we move the ball we want to, and we win the ball at the clearances and get the ball moving our way’, we’ve got someone who is really hard to stop,” Walsgott said.
“I think the way we moved the ball allowed that to happen.
“That’s going to happen every week if we give him the right service.
“The work we did up the ground to get it to him in one-on-ones to let him do his thing was pleasing.”
Evans’ brother Jak was also impressive with five goals to take his tally for the season to 25.
The biggest headache for the Lions – who reached ten wins in a season for the first time since last playing finals in 2015 – will be at selection.
Walsgott, again sidelined after suffering a knock at training on Tuesday night, has the likes of Harry Thompson, Sam Jones, Zac Moore and Brock Mahoney to return in the coming weeks.
“We had 22 really good players today,” he said
“Everyone’s available next week, I think. We had a couple of little injuries that might not get up.
“But if they do, Tuesday and Thursday could be long nights (at selection).”
Ben McPherson (ankle) and Dave Allitt (hamstring awareness) are no certainty for next Sunday’s NAIDOC Game against Geelong West at Winter Reserve.
Destyn Burns finished with three goals to be among Corio’s best, with Trent Smith and Herschelle Carr contributing two majors.
Carr’s output has him two goals clear of Inverleigh star Adam Donohue on top of the GDFNL goal-kicking table.
Reigning premier Inverleigh has moved to within two points of the top five after overcoming a dogged Bell Post Hill by 19 points at Morton Power Oval.
The Hawks led by just seven points at the final change, but a five-goal-to-three final quarter was enough for a 13.10 (88) to 9.15 (69) victory.
The Casey Meehan-Noah Sneskov combination produced six goals for Inverleigh, with both kicking three majors apiece.
For the inaccurate Panthers, Josh Norman finished with three goals.
Anakie celebrated its 1994 premiership reunion by putting a dent in the finals hopes of North Geelong at Anakie Reserve.
The Roos posted a 31-point win over the Magpies, 14.17 (101) to 10.10 (70), for their fourth victory of the season.
Oscar Barter kicked five goals to take his season tally to 33, while veteran Andrew Boseley added three.
Juanito Ramos and Blake Miller kicked three apiece for North, now two games adrift of the top five with five rounds remaining.
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