This was a game Brunswick just had to win against St John’s at home. No ifs, buts or maybes. And we did, by 11 points in the end, but it was still anything but straightforward.

Early in the last quarter the lead was 36 points after a goal to Chris Ford and supporters’ minds were turning to a much needed percentage boost. But instead of putting the foot on the throat of the opposition we began to cruise, which St John’s gladly took advantage of, with a dominant last 20 minutes to give us an almighty scare.

Ultimately we held our nerve, with a vital fourth goal to best-on-ground Chris Horsley, and St John’s continued inaccuracy cost them.

What would prove to be the winning buffer to three-quarter time had been set up by a good conversion rate and some strong individual performances, led by Horsley, Ford, Geremie Ganino, Matt Shannon, Luke Johnson, Matt Dickson, George Hartney and Brett Sheehan. Then, as legs got heavy late, it was the midfield grunt of Horsley, Ganino and Johnson that carried us over the line.

We will need to bring a four-quarter effort against top-of-the-table PEGS next week, but we know from earlier in the year we can match them.