Seagulls test for Warriors

Modewarre (5th) vs. Barwon Heads (1st) @ Community Bank Oval, Saturday 2:10pm

MODEWARRE will get a chance to test its premiership credentials when it hosts ladderleader Barwon Heads at Community Bank Oval. The Warriors sit one game clear of Ocean Grove in fifth spot, which means it needs to beat one of the Seagulls or Geelong Amateur in the finals two rounds or risk missing the finals if the Grubbers beat Drysdale and Queenscliff. Modewarre ran Barwon Heads to 13 points when they met back in Round 10 and are seen by some as the Seagulls’ biggest threat to a first premiership in 25 years. The Warriors will need to find a match-up for Barwon Heads forward Mitch Phelps. He is coming off eight majors in the 84-point hiding of Anglesea, giving him 61 for the season, just two behind Roo Jordan Erskine.

Last meeting: Round 10, 2018: Barwon Heads 15.9 (99) def. Modewarre 13.8 (86) @ Howard Harmer Oval

Prediction: Barwon Heads by 19 points

 

Drysdale (8th) vs. Ocean Grove (6th) @ Mortimer Oval, Saturday 2:10pm

OCEAN Grove’s season hangs by a thread heading into Saturday’s clash with recent nemesis Drysdale. The Grubbers find themselves a game and a significant chunk of percentage behind fifth-placed Modewarre with two rounds remaining. That leaves Ocean Grove needing to beat Drysdale and Queenscliff in the last fortnight. If the Grubbers can beat the Hawks this week, and the Coutas lose to Anglesea, that will make the final round clash between the two a virtual elimination final. Ocean Grove suffered a 13-point loss to Drysdale when the two teams met back in Round 8. The Hawks will be looking to make it three-straight wins for the first time since Round 11, 2016.

Last meeting: Round 8, 2018: Drysdale 11.9 (75) def. Ocean Grove 8.14 (62) @ Ray Menzies Oval

Prediction: Ocean Grove by 11 points

 

Geelong Amateur (3rd) vs. Portarlington (9th) @ Queen’s Park, Saturday 2:10pm

Can lightning strike twice for Portarlington when its travels to Queen’s Park on Saturday? The Demons caused one of the greatest upsets in BFL history in Round 10 when it defeated Geelong Amateur by six points. They will enter this clash with confidence after a six-point win over Newcomb that should see them avoid consecutive wooden spoons. Ammos have been hit hard by injury throughout 2018, which makes them vulnerable this week. Blake Sutterby (kidney), James Korones (concussion) and Hamish Shepheard, who suffered a knock to his back, were all injured in last week’s loss to Queenscliff. However, captain Daniel Lovick, who suffered a broken foot in the loss to Portarlington, is a chance to return.

Last meeting: Round 10, 2018: Portarlington 8.10 (58) def. Newcomb 7.10 (52) @ Ron Evans Oval – Portarlington Recreation Reserve

Prediction: Geelong Amateur by 21 points

Queenscliff (4th) vs. Anglesea (2nd) @ Queenscliff Recreation Reserve, Saturday 2:10pm

QUEENSCLIFF has rocketed into double-chancecalculations on the back of five consecutive wins, including fellow finals contenders Modewarre and Geelong Amateur in the last fortnight. However, the Coutas are also no certainty to play finals if they can’t win at least one of their remaining two matches against either Anglesea or Ocean Grove. The potent forward line that helped Queenscliff to the finals in 2016 has been reassembled, withDaniel DeGois, Jason Graham, Cam Habgood and Jayden Durran getting a chance to click. Anglesea was handed an 84-point hiding by Barwon Heads, but should still start its finals campaign from a qualifying final.

Last meeting: Round 10, 2018: Anglesea 14.7(91) def. Queenscliff 11.13 (79) @ Alcoa Oval

Prediction: Anglesea by 15 points

Torquay (7th) vs. Newcomb (10th) @ Spring Creek Reserve, Saturday 2:10pm

THE only game of the round that doesn’t have an impact on the top five. Reigning premier Torquay can mathematically make the finals. However, they would need two massive wins over Newcomb and Portarlington, and have Modewarre on the end of two hidings and Ocean Grove go winless over the last fortnight. Newcomb will be disappointed at dropping last week’s wooden-spoon deciding match-up against Portarlington, despite Andrew Mead-Harding continuing his breakout season. He kicked six goals to take his tally to 43 for the season to third on the BFL goal kicking table.

Last meeting: Round 11, 2018: Torquay 18.18 (126) def. Newcomb 7.5 (47) @ Newcomb Sand & Soil Oval

Prediction: Torquay by 35 points