The emerging rivalry between Belmont Lions and Werribee Centrals delivered a nail-biter at Winter Reserve to open the new GDFNL season.
In the battle of last year’s qualifying final combatants, it was the Lions who overcame a shoddy third quarter, where it saw a 21-point half-time lead become a four-point deficit at the final change to claim a three-point victory, 9.8 (62) to 8.11 (59).
Coach Andy Walsgott admitted his disappointment at the Lions’ effort at the main break came to the surface.
“I don’t like to get too angry, but it certainly wasn’t one of my more joyous three-quarter time speeches,” he said.
“But I just said that they walked the ball out of the middle; we were reacting to them.
“They came to win the game in the second half – it felt like we were trying to save it and just get through and just prey on errors instead of actually trying to win the game.
“So I just said they’ve got to win the game; we’re not here to just play it out and see if they make errors.
“We had to step up, play our type of footy and be brave. And to the boys’ credit, they were super brave and got over the line.”
Veteran Ben Evans was crucial in the closing stages, while Barwon Heads recruits Lachie Slorach and Billy Pelham were also important.
“We won some key moments,” Walsgott said.
“We were able to equalise around the ground a little bit.
When the ball gets into the hands of their prime movers and they get an extra around the ball, they’re very, very difficult to stop.
“But we were able to equalise that in the last quarter.
“And then we had some big players stand up in big moments, which was the difference probably to get us over the line in the end.”
In the round’s other matches;
Playing coach Joel Bennett made a stunning return to football to help Corio to a thrilling four-point win over Anakie at Shell Reserve.
In his first game since suffering a serious injury in May last year, Bennett kicked five goals as the Devils held off the fast-finishing visitors, 13.8 (86) to 11.16 (82).
At the other end of the ground, Andrew Boseley kicked four goals for the Roos.
Winchelsea made a winning start to Ben Moloney’s tenure as coach with a 10.9 (69) to 9.9 (63) victory over Inverleigh at Inverleigh Reserve.
The returning Indi Parish kicked four goals for the Blues, while Jaiden Reid finished with three for the Hawks.
Reigning premier Thomson survived a scare from Geelong West at West Oval before running out 17-point winners, 9.14 (68) to 8.3 (51).
After leading by 30 points at half-time, the Tigers conceded six goals in the third quarter to trail by seven points at three-quarter time.
However, led by Lucas Boyd (four goals), Thomson kicked 4.6 to 1.0 in the final term to claim victory.
The margin was also 17 points as East Geelong outlasted Bannockburn at Richmond Crescent.
Trailing by three points at three-quarter time, the Eagles slammed on six goals to three in the final term to claim a 12.10 (82) to 9.11 (65) victory.
Zac Smith kicked five goals for East.
A consistent North Geelong made light work of Bell Post Hill at Myers Reserve, cruising to a 64-point win, 14.17 (101) to 5.7 (37).
Gun midfielder Rory Desnoy kicked four goals for the Magpies.
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