Geelong Amateurco-coach Sam Lloyd has labelled Queenscliff “the team to beat” for the Bellarine premiership ahead of their blockbuster clash at KFC Oval on Saturday.
The Coutas occupy top spot on the ladder with a 12-2 win-loss record, one win clear of the Pegs, who have a game in hand after having their second bye of the season last week.
Queenscliff won the previous meeting between the two clubs in Round 3 by 35 points after piling on 6.7 to 2.0 in the final term at the Couta Bowl.
“We were actually even at three-quarter time, and then we just let their midfield get on top,” Lloyd recalled.
“(Che) Duran and (Lachie) Kidd had really good games, and they probably got on top of our midfield.
“I don’t know the exact stat, but the inside 50s wouldn’t have been too favourable towards us.
“We let them get away. They’re a quality side.”
However, Lloyd says despite having vision of their earlier-season meeting with Queenscliff, Ammos won’t be getting too caught up in that result.
“(It’s) probably not something you want to look into too much,” he said
“We probably weren’t playing as good a football as we would have liked back then.
The last six, seven, eight weeks, we’ve started playing the kind of football we want to.
“So, I don’t really want to read too much back into the last game because we probably don’t want to pick up any bad habits and we just want to focus on us more.”
One of the keys to Geelong Amateur’s eight-game winning streak has been the form of Lloyd.
In that period the former Richmond and Western Bulldogs forward has kicked 50 goals at an average of eight per match to take his season tally to 64 and a clear lead in the race for the ‘Chooka’ Piec Medal.
It’s also given him an outside chance of becoming the first player since teammate Mitch Day in 2015 to kick a century during the home-and-away season.
However, it’s not a feat that is on Lloyd’s radar.
“I think it’s a little bit of a beat-up, to be honest,” he said.
“There’s a few goals to go with only five rounds (remaining), and we’ve got Queenscliff, Torquay and Barwon Heads coming up.
“And with (Jessie) Tardio out, ‘Kersh’ (co-coach Riley Kershaw) will probably throw me in the midfield on Saturday and ruin any chance.”
Lloyd says he’s playing a similar role to the one that was good enough to see him top the ton with Murray league club Deniliquin as a 20-year-old before playing 89 games and kicking 114 goals at AFL level.
“I’ve probably gone back to a little bit of a role I used to play more as a younger guy,” he said.
“Something that’s probably more comfortable; how I started my footy.
“I’m probably the beneficiary of the team’s performance as well.
“Our inside 50s are pretty high, and I’ve just been lucky to get on the end of a few.
“And ‘Daysy’ (Day) started passing this year as well, which is good.”
Former St Mary’s captain Jacob Welsh will make his senior debut for Geelong Amateur, which has made four changes to the team that narrowly defeated Newcomb before its bye.
Co-captain Dan Weigl, former skipper Harry Kershaw and Xavier Muhor return.
They replace the suspended Jesse Tardio, injured duo Tom Zeitz and Daniel Grose, and Round 14 debutant Fidel Seignor.
Queenscliff welcomes back key defender Trent Thompson and the talented Jonty Rush at the expense of Charlie Brauer and Ned Coffey.
Brauer returns to the reserves due to a points squeeze.
Portarlington (6th, 7-7) has made two forced changes for arguably its biggest home-and-away match in 30 years when it hosts Torquay (3rd, 10-3) at Portarlington Recreation Reserve.
The Demons, who are chasing a fifth consecutive win for the first time since 1994, welcome back experienced duo Patrick Eastman and Braydon Poole, but will be without Tyler Cummins (unavailable) and Riley Hayden (injured).
The Tigers squad includes luckless key forward Lucas Anderson, the experienced Jesse Dawson, and potential debutant Judd Schubert.
Travis Boak is unavailable, while Ned Turner and Van Rahilly are out of the team that defeated Ocean Grove last week.
Torquay hasn’t lost to Portarlington since the final round of the 2007 season.
Anglesea (5th, 7-6) and Barwon Heads (4th, 8-5) have made four changes apiece for their crucial meeting at Ellimatta Reserve.
The Roos welcome back 2025 premiership co-captains Jack Walters and James Carr, former Essendon player Jason Ashby, and South Barwon recruit Joel Hogan.
They replace James Gray, Alex Braaksma, Seb Kent and Charlie Lawless.
The Seagulls have lost James Allen (hamstring) and Ben O’Sullivan (back) to injury, with Luca Vella and Teal Lamperd both unavailable.
However, the inclusions are more than handy, with premiership player Charlie Hurst, dynamic forward Mitch Jensen, and talented youngster Lachie Blacket returning.
Darby Graham has been recalled after a two-match stint in the reserves.
Reigning joint Ash medallist Ben Fennell is among two inclusions for Drysdale (8th, 5-9) as it looks to keep alive its slim finals hopes with a win over Ocean Grove (10th, 3-10) at Mortimer Oval.
The Hawks have also named Jackson Payne, but will be without star James Breust (calf) and Sam Willatt, who will be on coaching duties with Talent League Boys club Calder Cannons.
The Grubbers get back leading goalkicker Lorne Waldron and the experienced Anton Woods among five changes.
Charlie Every will play his first senior match since Round 1, while Will Cunningham and Charlie Confoy will debut.
They replace Zane Kneebone (foot), Tyson Ruck (knee), Kirby Riley (hip flexor), Tom Teague (ankle), and Ned Badrock (managed).
Newcomb (7th, 6-7) will welcome back Blake Ritchie and Charlie Harvey for its must-win meeting with Modewarre (9th, 4-10) at Community Bank Oval.
They replace Brad Whithead and Darby Davidson, who both debuted in last week’s loss to Queenscliff.
The return of Oscar Cooke will boost the Warriors, but defender Jordan Harrison is unavailable.
Surf Coast (11th, 1-13) has the bye.
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