Seagulls must beat Warriors to stay in touch with top five

Barwon Heads vs. Modewarre @ Howard Harmer Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

LAST year’s grand finalists will meet for the second time in 2019 in what shapes as a crucial clash for both clubs. Modewarre sits third on the ladder, a game behind ladder leader Torquay and two points adrift of second-placed Geelong Amateur. Barwon Heads, which returned to the winner’s list in beating Ocean Grove by 85 points in last week’s Battle of the Bridge, could find itself a game-and-a-half outside the top five after Round 11 if it can’t overcome the Warriors as it did in Round 1. Star recruit Tim McIntyre will miss the rest of the season after scans on Monday confirmed the former Adelaide Crow suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against the Grubbers. Barwon Heads co-coach Mitch Herbison starred with four goals in the 45-point win in Round 1.

Last time they met: Round 1, 2019: Barwon Heads 14.15. (99) def. Modewarre 8.6 (54) @ Community Bank Oval

Prediction: Modewarre by 11 points Portarlington vs. Anglesea @ Portarlington Recreation Reserve – Saturday, 2:10pm

ANGLESEA spearhead Jordan Erskine will get a gilt-edged opportunity to eat into the 40 goals he requires in the final eight rounds of the season to become the first Roo to top the ton since Jim Kelly in 1987 against the struggling Portarlington. Erskine, who is coming off a 12-goal haul in the 29-point win over Newcomb, jagged 10 majors when Anglesea handed the Demons a 138-point hiding in Round 1. Portarlington will have a new coach in charge when it faces the Roos, with Jesse Smith calling time following last week’s loss to Torquay after the original announcement from the Demons had him coaching out the 2019 season. An appointment was still to be confirmed at the time of going to print. However, former player and current assistant coach Jamie Morgan loomed as the likely replacement.

Last time they met: Round 1, 2019: Anglesea 24.17 (161) def. Portarlington 3.5 (23)
Prediction: Anglesea by 85 points

Queenscliff vs. Newcomb @ Queenscliff Recreation Reserve – Saturday, 2:10pm

BOTH clubs will view this as a golden opportunity to claim a rare win. An injury-depleted Queenscliff has won just once – a 112-point hiding of winless Portarlington in Round 8 – since Round 3. Round 3 was also when Newcomb last tasted victory. The exposed form says the Power should start favourite to claim a fourth win in a season for the first time since winning its last premiership in 2007. They were more than competitive against a Jordan Erskine-inspired Anglesea last week. The 29-point defeat was their fourth by 30 points or less in what has been a much-improved 2019 season. 2018 revelation Andrew Mead-Harding produced arguably his best performance of the year with four goals.

Last time they met: Round 2, 2019: Newcomb 13.8 (86) def. Queenscliff 11.16 (82) @ Newcomb Sand & Soil Oval

Prediction: Newcomb by 21 points Ocean Grove vs. Drysdale @ Ray Menzies Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

DRYSDALE will be boosted by the return of star forward Jarrod Garth but will have fellow former Bell Park star Chris Lynch playing his last game for 2019 when it travels down Grubb Road for clash with Ocean Grove. Garth missed last week’s crucial
13-point win over Geelong Amateur due to work commitments but had kicked 25 goals in the three games prior. Lynch, who joined the Hawks along with Garth from Bell Park, heads overseas next week and won’t return until after the finals. Ocean Grove couldn’t back up its solid win over Newcomb in Round 9 in the Battle of the Bridge, with Barwon Heads storming to a comfortable 85-point victory. When the two teams met back in Round 2, Mat Hebbard (five goals) and Mitch McGuire were the stars as Drysdale claimed a 28-point win. Last time they met: Round 2, 2019: Drysdale
14.13 (97) def. Ocean Grove 11.3 (69).

Prediction: Drysdale by 48 points Geelong Amateur vs. Torquay @ KFC Oval – Queen’s Park – Sunday, 2:10pm

A BUMPER crowd is expected at KFC Oval for a mouth-watering standalone clash between the BFL’s top two teams. Torquay will enter the contest off the back of eight consecutive wins, including a 99-point hiding of Portarlington in Round 10. Geelong Amateur surrendered top spot after it was unable to go the distance with Drysdale last week, snapping an eight-game unbeaten run that stretched back to Ammos’ loss to the Tigers in Round 1. Despite the 13-point loss, Mitch Day still managed five goals to take his tally to 36 for the season. His match-up is likely to be star Torquay defender James Saker in what should be a crucial battle. The Tigers, who became the seventh club to sit atop the ladder this season, will be keen to stay there for another week.

Last time they met: Round 1, 2019: Torquay 20.11 (131) def. Geelong Amateur 9.14 (68)
Prediction: Torquay by 15 points