Hawks and Seagulls to collide as battle for double chance intensifies

Anglesea vs. Torquay @ Alcoa Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

ANGLESEA’S hopes of playing consecutive finals series may rest on three consecutive home games starting with Great Ocean Road rival Torquay on Saturday. The clash with the Tigers will then be followed by meetings with Geelong Amateur and Barwon Heads. “It’ll certainly give us a good indication where we can finish in that mix, and how we’re going to match-up, and what we need to get right,” coach Paul Nigro said. Anglesea is unbeaten since suffering consecutive losses to Torquay and Ocean Grove in rounds four and five, with its winning streak now at six after holding off Queenscliff by five points last week. The Tigers need to beat the Roos or face the prospect of being two games outside the top five with four rounds to play if Modewarre and Barwon Heads also win. Star quartet James Saker, Paul McMahon, Billy Henderson and Roscoe Holmes all missed the loss to Drysdale last week.

Last time they met: Round 4, 2019: Torquay 13.12 (90) def. Anglesea 7.8 (50) @ McCartney Oval.

Prediction: Anglesea by 11 points Barwon Heads vs. Drysdale @ Howard Harmer Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

DRYSDALE faces another ‘eight-point’ game when it travels to Howard Harmer Oval for a meeting with fellow double-chance aspirants Barwon Heads. The Hawks snapped a nine-year losing run against Torquay at McCartney Oval last week to remain second on the ladder and open up a two-game buffer on the sixth-placed Tigers. Jarrod Garth, who kicked five goals in last week’s win, needs just one goal to become the first Hawk since Tom Mullane-Grant in 2013 to register 50 majors in a season. In a good omen for Drysdale fans. The Hawks made the grand final that year. The Seagulls made light work of Portarlington to the tune of 105 points last week to now own the BFL’s best percentage. That may come in handy when spots inside the final five are being decided.

Last time they met: Round 6, 2019: Drysdale 10.10 (70) def. Barwon Heads 6.9 (45) @ Mortimer Oval
Prediction: Drysdale by 7 points Newcomb vs. Portarlington @ Newcomb Sand & Soil Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

NEWCOMB has gilt-edged opportunity to claim a fifth victory of the season when it hosts the winless Portarlington at Newcomb Sand & Soil Oval. The improvement of the Power has been one of the talking points of 2019 in the BFL. While it won’t result in a return to finals, it has laid a solid foundation for the future. For the Demons, interim coach Jamie Morgan will be hoping for a similar effort to the last meeting with Newcomb on Good Friday. On that occasion, Portarlington held a 13-point half-time lead before being overrun. The Demons may see this as a chance to avoid going without a victory in a season for the first time since 2013.

Last time they met: Round 3, 2019: Newcomb 11.17 (83) def. Portarlington 6.11 (47) @ Portarlington Recreation Reserve Prediction: Newcomb by 35 points Queenscliff vs. Geelong Amateur @ Queenscliff Recreation Reserve – Saturday, 2:10pm

WITH a team resembling close to full-strength, Queenscliff came from the clouds at three-quarter time to almost roll Anglesea in horrible conditions at home last week. Trailing by 28 points at the threequarter time break having kicked just two goals to that point of the match, the Coutas booted 3.5 in the final quarter to fall five points short of the finalsbound Roos. Captain Jake Hedley, former coach Tom Limb, and crafty forward Jayden Durran, who have all missed chunks of the season, were among Queenscliff’s best. Geelong Amateur held off a fast-finishing Ocean Grove by two points to maintain their half-a-game break on the rest of the competition. Star forward Mitch Day is set to return from a two-week suspension to take on the Coutas. He kicked four goals in Ammos’ 25-point win over Queenscliff in Round 5.

Last time they met: Round 5, 2019: Geelong Amateur 13.15 (93) def. Queenscliff 9.14 (68) @ KFC Oval
Prediction: Geelong Amateur by 17 points Ocean Grove vs. Modewarre @ Ray Menzies Oval – Saturday, 2:10 pm

MODEWARRE faces a tricky trip to Ray Menzies Oval as it looks to maintain its spot inside the top five. The Warriors replaced Torquay in fifth spot courtesy of last week’s 64-point win over Newcomb, that also came with a handy percentage boost. Ocean Grove went close to giving David King a win in his first match as caretaker coach. Trailing Geelong Amateur by 45 points at half time, the Grubbers held Ammos goalless after half time to get within two points of the ladder leaders. Small forward Josh McDonald, who has played just the four games in 2019, kicked five goals in Modewarre’s victory over the Power. It was his best performance in front of goal since kicking seven majors against Geelong Amateur in the final round of the 2018 home-andaway season. Tom Worpel and Mitch Fisher both kicked six goals when the Warriors defeated Ocean Grove by 64 points in Round 4.