Anakie showdown critical for Bell Post Hill

BELL Post Hill will venture to Anakie for a classic eight-point game in the GDFL at 2pm tomorrow (Saturday, June 14).

The Panthers are on 20 premiership points with Bannockburn, Anakie and Thomson hot on their heels with 16 each.

Coach Ash Whitney said he felt it would be a tight tussle for fourth and fifth spots at season’s end and he knew what was at stake this weekend.

“They beat Werribee Centrals, who I rated pretty highly.

“They knocked them off and then they beat Belmont, even though Belmont had a few out on the weekend, they knocked them off.

“So they’re playing some good footy as well. There are no easy games, everyone can beat anyone on their day so we’ll have to come with the right mindset.”

Anakie is the only team to defeat Belmont Lions this year, beating them by 17 points in Round 8.

Bell Post Hill beat Geelong West Giants 11.13 (79) to 5.6 (36) at home before last weekend’s league bye.

They got away in the second half, outscoring the Giants 38-10.

Whitney said the side was good without being great and was just pleased to bank another win in a tight competition.

He shared some insight into how the Panthers were travelling this season.

“It’s a tough one. I just feel like we’re a little bit inconsistent at the moment,” he said.

“We have a game where we defend really well, defend the ground well and our contested footy is really there and then we’ll have another game where we don’t defend the ground really well but our attacking side of the game is there.

“So we’re just a little bit off but just doing enough at the moment to be winning games.”

The team’s injury list includes full-back Dan Banister (hamstring) and centre half-forward Lachie Wilson (strained calf).