High-flying Hawks home in on finals

DRYSDALE co-coach and forward Tom Ruggles has declared the next month of Bellarine Football League action as one of the Hawks’ most important of 2023.

Ruggles, who announced his coaching resignation effective at the end of this season due to work commitments, says the Hawks could lock up its finals spot before the Round 14 clash with Barwon Heads.

Drysdale has won seven out of its past eight games, with the lone blemish coming against Torquay in Round 8.

Coupled with Anglesea’s shock Round 10 loss to Queenscliff last weekend, Drysdale holds a two-win gap in third place on the ladder.

“This time of the year is pretty tough to grind through, it’s a lot colder and all that, but it’s probably the most important month we have coming up [this season],” Ruggles said.

“We can obviously lock away that finals spot, and even that top three spot leading into finals, and having seen this season that teams like Queenscliff, Anglesea and even Ocean Grove, who we play this week, are not easybeats.

“The competition is very even at the moment, so we need to be on top of our game to lock those contests away.”

Drysdale plays away at Ocean Grove this week, before hosting Queenscliff and Modewarre in Rounds 12 and 13, all teams sitting on the fringe of the top five.

Ruggles led from the front over the weekend against northern Bellarine neighbours Portarlington, kicking 10 goals and raising his season total to 42, just four behind BFL leader Lucas Anderson from Torquay.

Drysdale co-coach Ben Carmichael says the team’s first quarters have been a major focus this season.

“We always put a focus on starting well, especially against sides like Portarlington, who if you start off slow with, they can hang around for a while.

“The first few weeks this season we had some tough opponents to begin with in Barwon Heads and Anglesea, but I think if we stick with the way we’re playing at the moment, we can continue to improve as the second half of the year goes on.”

The Hawks’ coach also inked a two-year extension with the Hawks.

“It’s been good to get that locked away with for another couple years, which I always intended to do,” he said.

“It’s not a job that you can do well in a short amount of time, so I’m just excited that I can get another couple of years under my belt.

“I’m really excited with the young group of players here at Drysdale.”

Drysdale and Ocean Grove begin play at 2.10pm this Saturday, June 17.