Panthers on the prowl

BELL Post Hill’s senior coach has credited pressure and hardness as the primary factors for his team’s terrific start to the 2023 Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) season.

The Panthers secured their fifth win of the season over the weekend to put themselves into second spot on the GDFL ladder, defeating the team one spot above them in the Thomson Tigers by one point (72-73).

Panthers seniors coach Justin Tarr said his side was “wrapped” to come away with the Round 7 win over the Tigers, with an additional week to rest over the second leg of the split round this weekend before taking on East Geelong in Round 8.

“Coming off a tough loss to Belmont the week before who played really well, we needed to bounce back,” Tarr said.

“To be fair, we didn’t start too well in the first quarter, but I was really pleased with how the boys managed to turn it around particularly in that second quarter keeping Thomson scoreless.”

Led from the front by marquee forward Will Ford (two goals), as well as the efforts of returned Panther Boe Collins (two goals) and Dylan Witney (30+ touches).

Bell Post Hill scored two points less than Thomson in the second half but managed to hold on by a single point at the final siren, handing the Tigers their first loss of the season.

“Boe played pretty well getting tagged the whole game, his pressure is always important, and he managed to get forward and kick two goals as well,” Tarr added.

“Dylan was definitely a massive performer for us and pretty much dragged us over the line on the day.”

Ford (23 goals) tallied a pair of goals last weekend but has remained near the top of the goal-kicking standings in 2023 on the back of a career season in 2022, but Tarr is adamant his best footy is still ahead of him.

“He’s gotten a lot stronger in the off-season and has put on a bit of muscle, and while he’s kicking the ball very well and drawing a lot of attention from opposition defences, his best footy is still ahead this season,” he said.

“Once we get up and going and start kicking the ball properly, there’ll be more goals to come.”

Bell Post Hill return to the field on June 3 against an impressive looking East Geelong hot on the Panthers’ heels in the ladder.

A win for player-coach Tom Cordner-Maas and his Eagles this weekend (May 27) against Belmont would put East Geelong on par with Thomson for top spot with six wins and one loss.