Weekend to set BFNL finals fields

THE Bellarine Football Netball League’s (BFNL) final round of the home and away season takes place this weekend, with several important results still to determine the make-up of this year’s finals series.

This year’s minor premiers have already been decided, with Torquay claiming the first week bye in the football and Geelong Amateur earning the week off in the netball in week 1 of the finals.

In the football, Anglesea has already locked away a top three finish and earned a double chance in the final ahead of this weekend’s stoush with Ocean Grove.

The Roos, who will make the top three for the first time since 2018 and sit in second with 48 points, are likely to rest several players for their clash against the Grubbers.

Third placed Drysdale (44 points), fourth placed Modewarre (44 points), fifth placed Barwon Heads (42 points) and Geelong Amateur (42 points) could all potentially miss out on finals this season.

Mitch McGuire’s Drysdale and Jeremy Ollis’ Modewarre will go toe-to-toe in the match of the round with the winner to earn entry to the finals and the loser to await anxiously for other results to decide their fate.

Geelong Amateur can earn a spot in the top five with a win over Newcomb at home, while Barwon Heads take on reigning premiers Torquay at Howard Harmer Oval.

In the netball, the top five has already been decided, but what remains is who will face who in the first qualifying final and the elimination final at Portarlington Recreation Reserve on August 17 and August 18.

Geelong Amateur will await the winner of the first qualifying final in week 2 of the finals, which will feature reigning premiers and second placed Ocean Grove.

The remaining three competing sides Queenscliff (42 points), Newcomb (42 points) and Torquay (40 points) will all be desperate for Round 18 wins to earn the double chance.

Sonia Harris’ Torquay travels to Barwon Heads to take on the Seagulls, a team it defeated by 11 goals in Round 9.

Led by two-time league Best and Fairest Kaitlin Gladman, Queenscliff are heavy favourites travelling to Portarlington to take on the ninth placed Demons, while Newcomb will need to hand Geelong Amateur its first loss of the season to ensure it can claim a top three berth.

Both Week 1 and Week 2 of the BFNL finals will take place at Portarlington Recreation Reserve.