Joeys one round away from minor premiership double

ELEVEN games in the space of one afternoon will determine the Geelong Football Netball League’s ladder for this year, with position standings and finals berths still in play heading into Round 18.

The two-horse race at the top of the GFL ladder has been confirmed for several rounds now, with St Mary’s (64 points) still a chance to steal the minor premiership from St Joseph’s (68 points).

St Mary’s would need to defeat Bell Park at Hamlyn Park, and hope Colac can defeat Joeys at Herne Hill Reserve to move past St Joseph’s on percentage and earn a week off.

Leopold (52 points) will have a top three finish regardless of its result against Newtown & Chilwell (24 points) with a healthy percentage over a fourth-seeded Bell Park (48 points).

The Dragons are on the cusp of entering the GFL finals for the first time since 2017, with a win over St Mary’s all it needs to cement its finals place.

However, if Bell Park loses, it would remain in the top five pending either South Barwon (44 points) or Colac (44 points) losing their respective fixtures.

South Barwon will play Geelong West (24 points) in a must-win game for Mark Neeld’s side, which is eager to return to the finals after last year’s Grand Final defeat.

AFL Barwon has the four bottom sides meeting on the last day of the season with each looking to end 2024 with a positive result.

Ninth-placed Grovedale (16 points) host 11th-placed North Shore (eight points),while Lara (12 points) and bottom side St Albans (four points) head to Lara Recreation Reserve.

In the GNL, the top five has already been decided, with 16 points separating the fifth and sixth seeds.

St Joseph’s has locked away the minor premiership and will receive a first week bye, but a win over two-time reigning premiers Colac (48 points) would provide momentum heading into the second week.

Colac will definitely play Geelong West (48 points) in next Sunday’s Elimination Final, but the Giants will get a potential finals preview against South Barwon (60 points), who will finish inside the top three and earn a double chance.

Fellow top three side Newtown & Chilwell (60 points) host sixth-placed Leopold (32 points) at Elderslie Reserve, while Lara (20 points) faces St Albans (14 points).

Bell Park (28 points) and St Mary’s (18 points) conclude the season at Hamlyn Park.