Panthers clip Eagles to book place in Prelim Final

BELL Post Hill has bounced back from last weekend’s defeat to eliminate East Geelong from the Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) premiership race, 12.8.80 to 10.12.72.

The Panthers were efficient in this afternoon’s (Sunday, September 3) First Semi-Final against the Eagles, knocking in 12 of their 20 scoring efforts for goals, unlike last week’s loss to Inverleigh where they scored just four majors along with nine behinds.

Both sides traded majors in the opening stanza with East Geelong holding a slim 20-22 lead at quarter-time, but Bell Post Hill made the first major move in the second.

Justin Tarr’s side kicked five out of six goals in the second quarter to put the Panthers in the driver’s seat, leading 51-38 at half-time.

Both teams then fought through a temporary lull in the third quarter with only three combined goals kicked between the two sides, but Bell Post Hill still boasted a sizeable lead at the final break, leading 66-47 with a quarter to play.

A huge goal by Bell Post Hill captain Jack Yates late in the final term put the Eagles to bed, despite a late charge by East Geelong outkicking the Panthers four goals to two in the fourth.

The Panthers then held on for a gutsy eight-point Week 2 win at St Albans Reserve.

The GDFL’s leading goal-kicker Will Ford was brilliant in a bounce-back performance booting a game-high four goals, following a goalless outing in last week’s Qualifying Final against the Hawks.

Nick Costello and Daniel Maher kicked a pair each, while Tim Barton, Sam Harmer, Beau McNamara and Yates all added to the Panthers’ score sheet.

Barton, Tom Bryans, Yates, Maher, and McNamara were named best on ground for Bell Post Hill, whereas Billy Andrew, Ben Crombie, Harris Monahan, Ryan Lempa, Tim McLennan, and John McIntyre were named the same for the Eagles.

Caleb Ezard, Hugh Menzies, and Zac Smith scored two goals each for the Eagles. Andrew, Sam King, and Timothy Lee each kicked one goal as well.

East Geelong’s pursuit of a Preliminary Final berth will fall one game short.

Bell Post Hill goes one game further than it did in 2022, meeting minor premiers Thomson in next Saturday’s (September 9) Preliminary Final back at St Albans Reserve.

The winner of that game will play Inverleigh in the GDFL 2023 Grand Final.