Tigers will look to extend winning streak to seven matches this weekend

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

HOW crucial Dyson Bell-Warren’s match-winning after-the-siren goal against Modewarre will prove to be in the context of Anglesea’s 2019 season won’t be known for at least a couple of months. However, for the moment, it’s the difference between sitting inside the top five, just half-a-game behind thirdplaced Drysdale, or being sixth on the ladder and 10 points behind the Warriors. Bell-Warren held his nerve in slotting just his third goal of the season. “I was looking to pass because I was kind of on my distance range, but then the siren went,” Bell- Warren said. “It was strange. In my head it was dead silence but watching the footage back this morning, there was so much noise and carry-on and cars tooting I was just focused on kicking the ball straight, it sounds strange, but I flushed it. I got all of it, and it didn’t deviate basically.” Newcomb will enter the clash having lost six consecutive matches, including by 30 points to Ocean Grove last week.

Last time they met: Round 15, 2018: Anglesea 24.12 (156) def. Newcomb 6.10 (46) @ Alcoa Oval Prediction: Anglesea by 35 points

Modewarre vs. Queenscliff @ Community Bank Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

MODEWARRE will have to look no further than BFL great Josh Finch for inspiration in Saturday’s clash with Queenscliff. The four-time Ash medallist and Warriors premiership coach will play his 250th game in the clash with the Coutas. In a sign of the evenness at the top end of the BFL ladder, Modewarre has dropped from first to fourth after consecutive losses to Anglesea and Geelong Amateur. The defeat by the Roos was a heartbreaker for the Warriors, with Anglesea star Dyson Bell- Warren kicking a goal after the siren to secure a three-point win. Queenscliff was injury-ravaged again in last week’s loss to Drysdale, with Alex Snowdon (dislocated knee), Michael Smith (bicep) and Justin Maher (concussion) sidelined by quarter time, while Jack Exell suffered a broken collarbone in the final quarter. Coutas coach Steve Clark will take some confidence out of the fact his team won both contests with the reigning premier in 2018. Last time they met: Round 16, 2018: Queenscliff 13.10 (88) def. Modewarre 11.18 (84) @ Community Bank Oval

Prediction: Modewarre by 28 points Torquay vs. Portarlington @ McCartney Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

SECOND-placed Torquay will look to extend its winning streak to seven matches when it hosts the winless Portarlington at McCartney Oval on Saturday. The Tigers were very impressive in beating Barwon Heads by 24 points in Round 9 on the back of seven goals from off-season acquisition Cal Currie. Paul McMahon kicked two goals, but an injury is likely to see him miss the clash with the Demons. Portarlington was competitive in stages of last week’s loss to Geelong Amateur, but it didn’t have the class to go with the ladder leaders.

Last time they met: Round 18, 2018: Torquay 8.16 (64) def. Portarlington 7.5 (47) @ Ron Evans Oval Prediction: Torquay by 57 points

Drysdale vs. Geelong Amateur @ Mortimer Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

A BATTLE of the BFL’s two most in-form teams. Geelong Amateur enters the second half of the season as somewhat of a surprise ladder leader having not lost since Round 1. Drysdale has put together an impressive body of work since the start of May, with three wins and two losses – both by seven points to Torquay and Modewarre, respectively – to sit third on the ladder. Ammos, on the back of six goals from spearhead Mitch Day, had little trouble in brushing aside Portarlington to the tune of 81 points in Round 9. The Hawks were made to work by an injury-hit Queenscliff, with Jarrod Garth slamming home seven goals to take his tally to 35 from six matches. One of the highlights of Drysdale’s victory was the goal kicked by debutant Quinn Taylor. Taylor is the son of 1989 Ash medallist, Chris.

Last time they met: Round 14, 2018: Geelong Amateur 12.12 (84) def. Drysdale 9.5 (59) @ Mortimer Oval

Prediction: Drysdale by 7 points Ocean Grove vs. Barwon Heads @ Ray Menzies Oval – Saturday, 2:10pm

IT has taken until Round 10 for the first Battle of the Bridge of the year. Saturday’s clash marks the 106th meeting between Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads since the start of the Bellarine league in 1971. The Grubbers have a clear head-to-to advantage, 60-45, but it’s the Seagulls who have dominated recent clashes. Barwon Heads has won the last nine meetings with Ocean Grove, dating back to the final Battle at Memorial Park in Round 3, 2015. The injury-hit Seagulls have hit a mini-form slump, losing three of their last four matches, including consecutive defeats by Anglesea and Torquay. The decision by coach Jordy Jones to swing Justin Carey into attack proved a masterstroke as the Grubbers kept their slim finals hopes alive with a 30-point win over Newcomb. Carey finished with a matchdefining five goals.

Last time they met: Round 14, 2018: Barwon Heads 11.12 (78) def. Ocean Grove 7.10 (52) @ Ray Menzies Oval Prediction: Barwon Heads by 23 points