Panthers knock off West from finals contention

BELL Post Hill has a date with Bannockburn in next week’s GDFL Semi Final defeating Geelong West by seven goals earlier today (Sunday, August 21) at St Albans Reserve, 14.10.94 to 7.7.49.

A six-goal second term from Bell Post Hill edged the Panthers out to a six-goal halftime lead at St Albans Reserve, with Will Ford wreaking havoc in the forward line.

The Giants brought the margin back to less than three goals with a quarter to play, but Bell Post Hill’s second surge in the fourth ended Geelong West’s season with an eventual 45-point victory.

Ford concluded the day with five goals next to his name further buffered by vice-captain Nick Costello’s pair of majors.

Seven other Panthers chimed in, with Josh Andrews, Jayden Ettridge, Sam Harmer, Matthew James, Beau McNamara , Jordan Schrader-Sabell and Dylan Witney all adding to the team’s offensive output.

Geelong West’s Blake Dye managed to kick four goals but was left isolated in front of goals. Only Josh Viney and Justin White rounded out Geelong West’s scoring efforts.

The Panthers and the Tigers will settle which team is the bigger cat when the two sides return to St Albans next Sunday in the GDFL semi, while a fifth-place finish is what Geelong West will need to settle for until 2023.