Double-chance alive in GDFL’s final round

A NEW minor premier will be crowned this weekend with Thomson and Bell Post Hill providing a possible Grand Final preview to conclude the Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) season.

First-placed Thomson’s (60 points, 202.68 per cent) percentage will provide a substantial boost to earning a finals week one bye whether they lose to second-seed Bell Post Hill (56 points, 188.41 per cent) or not this Saturday.

Paul Lynch’s Tigers, who failed to make the top five in 2022 with 10 wins, took the GDFL by storm in 2023 winning its first six games, and lost only twice in the subsequent 11 rounds.

A win against Justin Tarr’s Panthers at Myers Reserve would be Thomson’s 16th for the year.

A double-chance spot is still in the air for both Adam Donohue’s Inverleigh (52 points, 180.78 per cent) and Tom Cordner-Maas’s East Geelong (52 points, 160.72 per cent) with both sides in need of wins to establish critical form before finals.

The Hawks travel to Werribee Centrals (36 points, 101.34 per cent) for a clash against the Centurions without the worry of percentage, but a loss leaves the window open for East Geelong to leapfrog into third.

East Geelong heads to Belmont (24 points, 82.25 per cent) with hopes of earning its 14th win of the campaign.

Two-time reigning premiers Bannockburn (44 points, 123.06 per cent) secured its finals slot last week with a win over Corio (20 points, 74.43 per cent) and will face either Inverleigh or East Geelong in this year’s elimination final.

The Tigers conclude the season with a matchup against Geelong West (23 points, 101.87 per cent).

Winchelsea, Anakie, North Geelong and Corio all play in dead rubber contests.

Winchelsea (36 points, 120.87 per cent) can finish the year one spot outside the top five with a win over struggling Anakie (4 points, 21.48 per cent), while Geelong’s two northern suburb teams North Geelong (0 points, 21.48 per cent) and Corio (20 points, 74.43 per cent) meet at Osborne Park.

Likely finals week one matchups:
Qualifying final – Bell Post Hill v Inverleigh
Elimination final – East Geelong v Bannockburn