South Morang got a vital win in the fight for a top four spot in the Northern Football League division 3.
With not much separating the top seven teams, every week will count come the end of the season.
For the Lions, the win against Panton Hill helped cement their spot in the top four after seven rounds.
Lions coach Gary Hall said it was a really good win against a side which is around them on the ladder. The Lions won 14.13 (97)-12.8 (80).
“It’s a little bit jam-packed, so every win is important,” Hall said.
“Panton Hill are a good side.
“It was a fairly even game throughout. We had a good second quarter and that really helped.
“It was pretty even after that. The young guys who have come in have stood up.
“We’re pretty happy given we have a few boys out with injuries.”
Hall said Alex Colaidis, Bailey Brown and James Mellerick, who was playing his first game back since he rolled his ankle in round one, were the best in an even performance.
The one downer was a knee injury to Mitchell Dickson. Hall said they were unsure how bad it was.
Hall joked they had midfielders curse at the club at the moment with a number of their key midfielders out injured.
“We were missing five or six players and most are midfielders and they are long-term injuries. A couple of our better defenders were out too.”
Hall said with the key players out injured the younger players are getting more opportunities and showing they aren’t out of place.
He said William Cookson and Joshua Renehan, who are both up from the under-17s, were two players showing what they could do.
“These days if you can’t play two or three positions, you’re not playing too many senior games,” he said.
The Lions this week face second bottom side Lalor. Hall said they won’t be taking it easy.
“I think that in this competition, if you’re not on your game you can be rolled.
“Definitely have to be on the ball each week.”
The Bloods enter the match on the back of a 25.14 (164)-2.4 (16) loss against Laurimar.
Mernda had to fight to get the win against Reservoir, winning 10.14 (74)-7.10 (52), while Heidelberg West defeated Kilmore 9.11 (65)-8.7 (55).
The struggles continue for Bundoora in division 1, with the Bulls no match for West Preston Lakeside. The Roosters winning 14.12 (96)-5.13 (43). Whittlesea remains on the bottom of the ladder, after losing to Heidelberg 14.9 (93)-7.7 (49).
In division 2, Thomastown defeated Fitzroy Stars 19.13 (127)-11.9 (75), while Epping got its second win, beating Watsonia 8.19 (67)-14.14 (98).
