St Joseph’s has extended its unbeaten streak in home-and-away games to 20 after an impressive second-half showing against Leopold resulted in a 48-point win at Lorne’s Stribling Reserve.
In front of a crowd that justified the two clubs’ decision to take the match “on the road”, Joeys handed the greasy conditions the better after the main break.
Last year’s unbeaten minor premier kicked eight goals to three to post a 15.15 (105) to 8.9 (57) victory heading into a mouth-watering Anzac Day match-up with reigning grand finalists South Barwon.
“We did play well, but it was a pretty hard tussle the first half or two-thirds of the game,” St Joseph’s coach Ron Watt told krockfootball.live.
“And then when we got a bit of score on the board, it was hard for them to come back, and it started raining.
So, I guess it might have petered out a little bit, but our ability to compete and contest, and I think (our) transition from attack to defence, was really pleasing.”
Despite the smaller dimensions of Stribling Reserve, Joey’s small forwards, Jack Mullen and Hunter Lewis, both found plenty of space, kicking four and three goals respectively.
Key forward Joel Edwards was also critical with four goals.
However, it was the performance of young defender Zac Knights that the men from Drew Oval widely lauded.
He was given the task of quelling Leopold captain Marcus Thompson, and carried out the role with aplomb.
“Good players in the opposition hurt you if you let them get too much ball,” Watt said.
“We were still happy if Marcus got his 20 touches, but it’s where he got them and under what sort of pressure.”
Although disappointed with the outcome, new Leopold coach Luke Kelly isn’t too concerned.
The Lions made a late start to pre-season and played just the one practice match.
“How we build this year and how we build us, it’s going to take a little bit of time,” Kelly said.
“We’re introducing probably about half a dozen new players to last year’s grand final side.
“We debuted two guys today, which was really pleasing.
“You hope to find your feet a little bit quicker than that today, but I thought there were glimpses today.
“But in the end, we played a pretty sharp opponent that taught us a lesson around what the level and the standard is needed for four quarters.”
Further souring the result for Leopold was a knee injury suffered by midfielder Tom Feely.
He was helped from the ground by medical staff during the first half and spent the rest of the match watching from the bench on crutches.
Kelly is confident Feely has avoided any serious damage, but is facing several weeks on the sidelines.
“He’ll go away and get an MRI and have a look,” Kelly said.
“The ice is on the medial side, which is half positive if there is a positive in that, but we’ll wait to see.”
Connor Giddings was the most influential forward for the Lions, kicking four goals.
However, his fourth – and Leopold’s fifth – came four minutes into the second quarter before they entered a goal drought that lasted until 23 minutes into the third term.
The Lions’ next game is against Colac, which enters the clash with a 2-0 record, at Memorial Park.
X: @krockfootball
Leopold 4.1, 5.8, 7.9, 8.9 (57)
St Joseph’s 4.2, 7.3, 13.8, 15.15 (105)
GOALS: Leopold: C. Giddings 4, S. Scott 1, B. Clark 1, L. Justin 1, T. Porter 1
GOALS: St Joseph’s: J. Mullen 4, J. Edwards 4, H. Lewis 3, O. Morrison 2, J. Gow 2
BEST: Leopold: T. Thompson, H. Jennings, M. Thompson, M. Burgess, C. Giddings, N. Ash
BEST: St Joseph’s: Z. Knights, J. Gow, J. Mullen, L. Webb, J. Edwards, K. Betson
