Hawks shift sights to mega-clash against Roos

DRYSDALE’S next hurdle to returning to the Bellarine Football League Grand Final begins tomorrow (Saturday, August 17) against a lethal Anglesea side on the hunt for its first flag since 1999.

The Hawks were potentially a loss away from missing out on the finals altogether last week, before coach Ben Carmichael’s side outkicked Modewarre five goals to nil in the fourth quarter to take second place.

“There was a stage in third quarter we were actually out of finals contention based on some of the results, so for us to finish the game the way we did was really pleasing from the group,” Carmichael said.

“In the back half of the year things are tracking along well, we played a few sides in the middle of the year that were playing exceptional football, but we steadied the ship after that and haven’t put a foot wrong since.

“We took a lot of lessons from those losses in the middle of the year and with such a young group, those experiences from the players will pay dividends at this end of the year.”

The Hawks and Roos have split their encounters in 2024, with Drysdale trouncing Anglesea by 56 points in Round 3 and the Roos evening the ledger with a 16-point victory in Round 12.

Drysdale lost four straight games between Round 9 and 12 but have since won six in a row.

Carmichael also noted the potency of Anglesea’s forward line, spearheaded by healthy goal-wizard Dylan Pettingill, who has kicked 28 goals in just eight games.

James Breust, who missed his Round 17 clash to unavailability, will be available for the Hawks this week to pair up with key forward Tom Ruggles.

Carmichael said there were no injury concerns, other than Flynn Chirgwin who is dealing with a quad strain.

Ben Fennell is also coming off a four-goal performance against Modewarre and will likely prove a handful for Anglesea in the first week of the finals.

Drysdale is already considering how it will counter Anglesea’s most dangerous players.

“We’ll put some time into Pettingill, as every other side has,” Carmichael said.

“Anglesea’s midfield is also really impressive, so if we can win the footy high and up the ground and limit their inside 50 entries, it’ll be really important to the way we play.”

Geelong Amateur and Modewarre will face off in Portarlington on Sunday, August 18 in the Elimination Final.

The winner of Sunday’s game will play the loser of Drysdale v Anglesea on August 25, with tomorrow’s winner to face Torquay on August 24.