North Geelong has held off a late charge from Inverleigh to snap a 13-game losing streak against the 2023 premiers.
Leading by a game-high 22 points during the final quarter, the Magpies conceded three goals to see the margin cut to four points.
With the ball parked in the Hawks’ forward 50, the siren was the sweetest sound for North coach Peter Riccardi.
The Magpies’ 14.13 (97) to 14.9 (93) win was its first against Inverleigh since the 2015 preliminary final and broke a run of outs at Inverleigh Reserve that also dated back a decade.
“They did make us work for it, and we made hard work of it,” Riccardi said.
“We were three-and-a-bit goals up with five or six minutes to go, and we were trying to save the game.
“They were coming at us… we were panicking a little bit as well as the back end there.
“So, we were very happy to walk away with a win. It’s not easy going there and taking the four points.”
Midfielder Tom Schwennesen, big man Tom Davis, and forward duo John Fazio and Mark Paramanov, who finished with three goals apiece, were standouts for North.
The Magpies now have a fortnight to prepare for a mouthwatering match-up with fellow unbeaten team East Geelong.
And Riccardi knows his charges are nowhere near their best despite holding the spot.
“We take these four points, we go away, (and) we regroup,” he said.
We’ve got two weeks now to recover and face what I think might be the toughest test in the GDFL, playing East Geelong.
“We aren’t the fittest product by all means.
“The good thing about today is that we can improve. It’s just that some of our decision-making and skill errors were very, very eye-opening.”
Injuries to Dylan Fisher (hamstring) and Cooper Pasque (ankle) took some of the gloss off the win.
However, Charlie Farrell and North Shore recruit Jordan Purcell should be right for the clash with the Eagles.
For Inverleigh, which has started 0-2 for the first time since 2013, former Geelong West captain Josh Viney kicked four goals, while Anglesea recruit Jarod Bacon and Mason Dickson each kicked three.
In the round’s other matches;
In the words of East Geelong coach Ned Aulsebrook, “both teams tried to lose the game”, but in the end, the Eagles claimed a three-point victory over Werribee Centrals at Richmond Crescent.
Leading by one point at three-quarter time, East outscored the Centurions, 1.5 to 1.3, to claim an 8.15 (63) to 8.12 (60) victory.
Noah Charman and Zac Smith each kicked two goals for the Eagles, while reigning GDFNL leading goalkicker Cam Saliba finished with three in his first outing of the season for the Centurions.
A fast start was enough for Geelong West to open its 2025 account after beating Winchelsea by 14 points at West Oval.
The Giants jumped out of the blocks, kicking 3.3 to 0.2, proving the difference in the 10.6 (66) to 7.10 (52) result.
40-year-old veteran Justin Carey kicked three goals for West, while Indi Parish and North Shore recruit Cam Primmer managed two apiece for the Blues.
Reigning premier Thomson has held off an impressive challenge from Anakie to claim a nine-point win at Anakie Reserve, 12.8 (80) to 10.11 (71).
The Roos got as close as one point during time-on of the final quarter before the Tigers found a game-winning goal.
Dan Freeman and Darcy Troop kicked four and three goals to be Thomson’s best.
At the other end, Andrew Boseley (four goals) did all he could to carry Anakie over the line.
An impressive performance in front of goal from Bailey Kelly proved the difference as Bannockburn held off an inaccurate Corio by 21 points at Shell Reserve.
In his best return since joining the Tigers from Leopold ahead of the 2024 season, Kelly kicked six goals as the Tigers posted a 16.16 (112) to 12.21 (93) victory.
Kelly joined Boseley and Devils coach Joel Bennett, who kicked three goals, at the top of the GDFNL goal-kicking table.
Belmont Lions used a five-goal-to-one third quarter to overcome Bell Post Hill by 36 points at Myers Reserve.
Ben McPherson and Jake Wood each kicked three goals in the 12.14 (86) to 7.8 (50) result.,
Recruit Scott Hughes contributed three goals for the Panthers.
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