Old rivalry renewed with Great Ocean Road battle

Anglesea (3rd) vs. Torquay (7th) @ Alcoa Oval, Saturday 2:10pm
GREAT Ocean Road battles don’t come as important as Saturday’s meeting between Anglesea and Torquay. For the Roos, they need to keep winning to hold fourth-placed Ocean Grove at bay, while the Tigers are virtually playing elimination finals for the remainder of the season. If the reigning premier can’t overcome Anglesea for the second time in 2018, it is likely to be two games and percentage adrift of fifth-placed Modewarre heading into the final four rounds. Tom Diamond was the star for Torquay when it claimed a nine-point win in Round 4 at Spring Creek Reserve. Also crucial to the final result was the Tigers’ backline holding star Roos duo Jordan Erskine and Dale Carson to just three goals between them. If Torquay can do that again, then an upset is on the cards.

Last meeting: Round 4, 2018: Torquay 12.9 (81) def. Anglesea 10.12 (72) @ Spring Creek Reserve

Prediction: Anglesea by 17 points

Drysdale (8th) vs. Geelong Amateur (2nd) @ Mortimer Oval, Saturday 2:10pm
GEELONG Amateur can go a long way to ensuring it starts its final campaign out of a qualifying final when it travels out to Drysdale. If Ammos, as expected, take care of the Hawks, and Barwon Heads continues its impressive form against Ocean Grove, they will have a two-game break on the Grubbers with four rounds remaining. The return of star forward Mitch Day has proved timely for Amateur. He has kicked 16 goals in two games, including seven majors in the win over Torquay before the bye. Despite playing just the five matches in 2018, he leads Ammos’ goal kicking, further underling his importance.

Last meeting: Round 6, 2018: Geelong Amateur 14.16 (100) def. Drysdale 8.5 (53) @ Queens Park

Prediction: Geelong Amateur by 37 points

Newcomb (9th) vs. Modewarre (5th) @ Newcomb Sand & Soil Oval, Saturday 2:10pm
MODEWARRE faces a tricky assignment when it travels to Newcomb to start the final part of the home-and-away season. The Warriors dismantled the Power to the tune of 126 points when the two teams met back in Round 2. On that occasion, Josh Bouwman and Josh McDonald both starred with six goals. However, Newcomb has been much improved since and will be no pushover on its home deck. Power forward Andrew Mead-Harding has been one of the revelations of season 2018. He has 32 goals for the season, the most since Leigh Morrison booted 35 in 2011.

Last meeting: Round 2, 2018: Modewarre 26.23 (179) def. Newcomb 8.5 (53) @ Community Bank Oval

Prediction: Modewarre by 51 points

Queenscliff (6th) vs. Portarlington (10th) @ Queenscliff Recreation Reserve, Saturday 2:10pm
QUEENSCLIFF didn’t have it all its way when it came away from Portarlington with a 15-point win back in Round 3. Coutas coach Steve Clark is well aware of the danger the Demons can pose if they bring a style of football similar to what they produced in upsetting Geelong Amateur last month. With Modewarre expected to beat Newcomb, Queenscliff will be hoping to take care of Portarlington and have Barwon Heads defeat Ocean Grove. If that happens, the Coutas, Warriors and Grubbers will all share 8-6 win-loss records with four rounds to play.

Last meeting: Round 3, 2018: Queenscliff 12.20 (92) def. Portarlington 12.5 (77) @ Ron Evans Oval – Portarlington Recreation Reserve

Prediction: Queenscliff by 29 points

Ocean Grove (4th) vs. Barwon Heads (1st) @ Ray Menzies Oval, Saturday 2:10pm
ONE of local football’s fiercest rivalries will be renewed when Ocean Grove hosts Barwon Heads at Ray Menzies Oval. The Seagulls have dominated recent clashes against the Grubbers, winning the past eight meetings, including by 21 points in Round 3, with BFL leading goal kicker Mitch Phelps booting four goals. While much of the focus has been on the Anglesea duo of Jordan Erskine and Dale Carson kicking 84 goals between them, Phelps and Barwon Heads co-coach Mitch Herbison are just as dangerous, combining for 79 majors. At the other end of the ground, Jake Carmody needs four goals to bring up his 100th since joining Ocean Grove from Colac at the start of 2017.

Last meeting: Round 3, 2018: Barwon Heads 12.6 (78) def. Ocean Grove 8.9 (57) @ Howard Harmer Oval