GDFL or BFL?

By Tim Michell

It's a debate that continues to take prominence - Who would win should the Bellarine Football League take on the Geelong & District Football League? With the GDFL winning at the weekend, we may be just two years away from seeing the two sides play off in what many people would argue could determine which league is looked upon as second to the GFL. What needs to be taken into consideration is that the Bellarine Football League has not fielded its best interleague side for close to four or five years now, and while this is no fault of anyone involved with the GDFL, I would still be confident as the BFL observer that the Football Geelong affiliated league could triumph should the two sides play.

While it was great to see the GDFL back in interleague and winning, the BFL would be at full strength should the two sides play off, which would make it difficult for the District League to come out victorious. There is no doubt that the GDFL is getting stronger every year, which means the BFL needs to have all it's players commit to interleague in a similar way that Adam Skrobolak and his fellow coaches for the GDFL did.One thing is for sure though, I can't wait for the build up and anticipation if the two sides do meet.

What are your thoughts? Send us an email: thefinalsiren@live.com.au

GDFL Interleague Wrap: Courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser

THE Geelong and District Football League marked its return to VCFL interleague football with a commanding 39-point victory over the Heathcote and District Football League.

In the GDFL's first interleague match since 2004, the Raiders moved a step closer to a showdown with the Bellarine league after running out 18.13 (121) to 11.16 (82) victors at Myers Reserve. GDFL coach Adam Skrobalak said he was pleased with the way his players were able to work cohesively after coming together in a short space of time.

"As the game went we got better and better, we started to play as a team which made a big difference at the end," Skrobalak said.

Both teams felt each other out in the opening term as a sluggish start ensued.

The home side was down one player when Thomson forward Jackson Macleod was helped off the ground by the trainers, after receiving a heavy knock to his head.

After an uninspiring opening, Heathcote made the most of its opportunities up forward, with Tyler Jones and co-captain Adrian Dohnt kicking late goals to give the visitors a 13-point quarter time lead.

The scrappy affair continued in the opening stages of the second term, before the home side was able to break away from the deadlock, kicking seven of the next eight goals to steal the ascendency.

East Geelong defender Simon Prymke capped off a strong second term by the Raiders, unleashing from outside the 50m arc on the siren to open up a 21-point buffer at halftime.

Heathcote came out the better of the two sides after half time, controlling the third term to close the margin to nine points.

The GDFL responded, with North Geelong forward Paul Breguet kicking three final term goals to seal the result for the Raiders. Breguet also provided one for the highlights reel late in the final term when he jumped over a pack in the goal square to take a massive hanger.

The GDFL will now face the Western Border Football League next season as it continues to push for a rise up the rankings.

Final Scores:

GDFL 18.13 (121)

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Heathcote DFL 11.16 (82)

Geelong & District FL

Goal Kickers: P. Breguet 5, B. O''TOOLE 3, B. FURTULLA 2, S. Lewis 2, D. Fitzsimmons , A. Leak , B. Grgic , R. O''Toole , S. Prymke , T. Johns
Best Players: S. Lewis, C. Trotter, S. Prymke, D. Mathisen, N. Lovell, T. Johns

Heathcote & District FL

Goal Kickers: A. DOHNT 3, B. Chapman 2, B. McCleary 2, S. Davis , L. Featherstone , K. Oliver , L. Crossman
Best Players: B. McCleary, I. Kay, T. Hill, D. Carroll, A. DOHNT, B. King

BFL Interleague Wrap: Courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser

THE Bellarine Football League will need to wait another year to begin its quest for respect at representative level after a final quarter blitz handed Murray a 39-point victory in Bendigo.

While the Bellarine squad was as talented as it has been for the past three seasons, the Sharks were no match for a rampant Murray side that executed with precision both by foot and by hand.

Despite being disappointed by the result, BFL coach Dave McNamara could not fault the commitment of his players.

"We came up here to win and we didn't get the job done. We had our chances and we didn't take them," he said.

Bellarine hit the ground running in the opening quarter, with Barwon Heads midfielder Jeremy Power and Bull Bennett Medallist Tom Limb controlling play through the centre of the ground.

For all their dominance in the opening stanza, the Sharks failed to convert on the scoreboard.

Four goals to two in the second quarter saw the Murray side claim the ascendancy heading into half time, with ex-Hawthorn and Geelong forward Tim Hargreaves looming as a dangerous option up in attack.

Bellarine's coaching panel was working overtime to hault Murray's momentum, with McNamara forced to contend with losing star forward Lucas Murphy to a hamstring injury midway through the term.

Murray's dominance continued in the third term as captain Duane Hueston and James Scambler caused headaches for an undersiege Bellarine defence.

But a goal to Anglesea forward Marcus Smith after the three-quarter time siren saw the BFL within eight points heading into the final term.

Forward coach Heath Jamieson implored the Bellarine side to take risks and utilise their run, but it was all to no avail as Murray's class shone through.

The Northern Victorian league ran rampant in the final quarter, booting seven goals to ice a deserved win that leaves the Bellarine's interleague reputation in question.

"The skills weren't really there and some of the marks that got dropped were almost unexplainable. It was just one of those days where we really didn't play to our ability," McNamara said.

The result means the league has now lost its last four interleague matches and has not won in the competition since 2007.

The Sharks will now face off against the Sunraysia Football League next year after slipping to 11th in the VCFL rankings.

Final Scores:

Murray FL 15.14 (104)

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Bellarine FL 9.11 (65)

Murray FL

Goal Kickers: T. Hargreaves 3, D. Hueston 3, A. Grigg 2, L. James 2, J. Scambler 2, A. Douglas , C. Edmonston , J. Lucas
Best Players: T. Saunders, S. Robinson, K. Boyer, T. Hargreaves, R. Hudson, J. Lucas

Bellarine FL

Goal Kickers: J. Finch 3, M. Smith 2, L. Murphy , B. Lynch , C. Mamalis , E. Grout
Best Players: T. Limb, J. Power, B. Dowie, T. Edwards, J. Dalton, P. Davis

GFL Interleague Wrap: Courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser

AN opening quarter no-show from the Geelong Football League on Saturday cost the representative side a chance to play for bragging rights as country Victoria's top league next year.

Geelong was simply blown out of the water early by a more ferocious and precise Ballarat Football League side at Ballarat's Eastern Oval, which slammed on seven opening term goals to take a 35-point lead into the first break.

From that point Geelong had the ascendancy for the majority of the game, but its inability to convert on-field dominance into scoreboard pressure eventually proved telling.

Ballarat managed to stave off the tenacious visitors in the end to win 13.12 (90) to 10.18 (78).

To add insult to injury - or injury to insult in this case - Lara coach Ben Harris was rushed to hospital in the second quarter with a broken arm after colliding heavily with Ballarat's Sam Giblett and will miss up to six weeks.

GFL coach Terry Bright said he was bitterly disappointed with the end result and admitted the lethargic first quarter and final term inaccuracy cost his side the match.

"We really fumbled and bumbled in the first quarter and didn't take our chances," Bright said after the match.

"And you look at the last quarter we kicked one goal eight (behinds), whereas if we'd kicked eight goals one (behind) we would have won easily. At the end of the day they were just too good for us."

Bell Park midfielder Nick Batchelor won best-on-ground honours for Geelong and was prolific in the second half.

St Joseph's utility Luke Forbes hovered ominously across half-forward and, although he booted three goals, will undoubtedly be left ruing missed chances.

Bright refused to make excuses for his side's loss, despite missing some key position players, including Corey Bauer and Clinton Wells.

The loss means the GFL has blown a chance to take on the Goulburn Valley league next year for the state's number one ranking.

The GVFL beat Ovens & Murray on Saturday.

Bright said the loss would hurt everyone associated with the league.

"There was huge importance on this match," he said.

"We've always talked about how the GFL is such a strong league and we're proud of that. I'm sure if any of these guys play representative footy again, they'll be better for it."

Final Scores:

Ballarat FL 13.12 (90)

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Geelong FL 10.18 (78)

Ballarat FL

Goal Kickers: S. Harkin 3, R. Knowles 2, W. McGregor 2, D. Jordan 2, D. Ross-Smith , B. Taylor , J. McNamara , I. Smith
Best Players: W. McGregor, B. Chambers, J. Edwards, D. Weymouth, R. Waight, D. Jordan

Geelong FL

Goal Kickers: L. Forbes 3, T. Woodmason 2, M. Buchanan 2, B. Armstrong , D. Clarke , J. Graham
Best Players: A. McLean, M. Buchanan, D. Clarke, B. Armstrong, T. Woodmason, J. Larcombe

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