You could argue that Bell Post Hill has a reasonably tough run finishing off the Geelong & District Football League home and away season.
But you could also say that any team facing the fourth-placed Panthers is in for a tough time as well.
Fresh from wins against Belmont Lions and Thomson, Bell Post Hill has East Geelong (1st), Inverleigh (6th) and Corio (12th) to come to round off the season before finals begin.
“A massive test this week,” coach Ash Witney said.
“For me, when they’re up and going, Belmont and East Geelong are the top two sides. To get East Geelong at this time of year, you can kind of see where we are at in the finals if we’re lucky enough to make it.
“Then we’ve got another side that could be featuring in finals as well in Inverleigh so it’s a good challenge. The next two weeks we’ll see where we’re at.
“They (East Geelong) came out and embarrassed us a bit when we played them earlier in the year at their ground. They really smashed us at the contest and killed us in uncontested footy and then won the footy on the outside and once they get the ball on the inside to their outside, they’ve got some prime movers in their side.
“Even Corio we played them at their ground early on in the year and they got in behind our defence a couple of times and scored pretty easily, too.”
Witney said Saturday’s 27-point win against the reigning premiers was done on the back of winning more contested ball.
“We were probably second to the footy in the first quarter, but we ended up getting the game back on our terms,” he said.
“We were first to the footy, contested work. Our ball movement was still a little bit off, so there’s still a little bit to work on there.”
The Panthers kept the Tigers to just two goals after quarter time and were able to hit the scoreboard often enough themselves to run out handy winners.
“I think it’s starting to click a little bit down there and it was probably one of our weaker points and an area we struggled early on in the year,” Witney said.
“But it’s just starting to click a little bit better in there. Andrew Casey is a forwards coach down there who’s been putting in a lot of work with the boys at training and just the one-on-one chats with them.
“Each bloke is starting to know their role. They don’t have to kick goals. Sometimes you’ve just got to run and lead up at the footy to make space behind you. So the boys are all playing their role and it doesn’t matter who gets the goals, just as long as the team does I suppose.”
ANAKIE kept its slim finals hopes alive with a 14-point win against Winchelsea. Luke Dahlhaus played another starring role for the Roos while big man Oscar Barter was also instrumental.
NORTH Geelong defeated Corio by 94 points with John Fazio booting six goals and Luke Parker five.
EAST Geelong was impressive in a 53-point win against fellow contender Belmont. Ryan Lempa was best while Caleb Ezard booted four majors.
GEELONG West Giants won a low-scoring game against Bannockburn by 16 points with Alex Buckwell and Jacson Collins contributing to the victory.
INVERELIGH remained well and truly in the finals hunt with a thrilling one-point win against Werribee Centrals. Midfielder Casey Meehan was best while Noah Skeskov, Josh Viney and Mason Dickson each slotted through three goals.
