Panthers bury demons of close encounters

Co-coaches Jack Brauman and Ron Pilgrim raise the GDFL premiership cup.

The Tigers suffered their first loss for the season, despite a first quarter blitz and a final term surge after the Panthers kicked clear by more than three goals.

Panthers assistant coach Joel Page said the 73-72 triumph at Thomson Recreation Reserve had helped bury some of the demons following heartbreakers in recent weeks: a two-point loss to Belmont last round while Werribee Centrals squeezed home by three in round 3.

Page said “a lack of discipline” had cost the Panthers in those matches but a returning Dylan Witney, and Boe Collins, were hugely influential in the club’s best win of the year so far.

“When you lose those close games you tend to lose a bit of belief as a group,” Page said.

“We’ve coughed up a few games we shouldn’t have.

“To get one of those wins is huge for us for our growth and the next part of our footy journey together.

“It was just a really gutsy performance. They got a jump at the start.”

The Panthers’ fifth win for the year nails down second spot on the GDFL ladder after seven rounds.

Page also said the club’s injury list was shortening with the return of Witney.

However, he estimated vice-captain Jordan Schrader-Sable was two months’ away with bone bruising to his ankle and a torn syndesmosis, while Jett Hermann was a 5-6 week proposition with a knee complaint.

“They’re all important players for us and we’re really keen to get them back,” he said.

“We’ve had a horrid run of injuries.

“But that’s footy though and somebody steps up and takes their spot.”

Page said the Panthers couldn’t win the ball on the inside in the first quarter against the Tigers and were getting thrashed at stoppages, outscored 5.5 to 1.2 for the term.

However, Thomson, coming off a massive 180-point win over Anakie the previous round, were kept scoreless in the second quarter as the Panthers piled on 4.6 to take a three-point lead at the main break.

“We put the pressure on our midfielders to step up and they did,” he said.

“Boe Collins and Dylan Witney had massive second quarters and were influential in getting us back in the game.”

And it was an even contest from there as the league’s leading goalkicker Darcy Troop produced four majors for the home team, taking him two clear of Panther Will Ford.

Ford and Collins slotted two apiece for the visitors.

In other round 7 matches, Winchelsea flogged Anakie by 239 points and Corio defeated North Geelong by 44 points.

Thomson next play fourth-placed Winchelsea while the Panthers tackle East Geelong, both on June 3.