After being on the wrong end of the biggest shock of the Bellarine season, Geelong Amateur has gone from having one foot in the qualifying final to still needing two wins to secure a top-five berth.
The 27-point loss to Ocean Grove didn’t knock Ammos out of the top three.
However, the defeat did allow Anglesea, Barwon Heads and tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) opponent, Drysdale, to close the gap with three rounds remaining.
“The league is too even to be comfortable at any point of the season,” Ammos co-coach Riley Kershaw said.
“We found that out the hard way last week, and we know the importance of this week and the weeks coming up.
“I think most of the coaches in the Bellarine would agree there are no easy weeks, and it’s highly documented throughout the league that you just can’t be complacent.
“This week’s no different – we’ve just got to focus on getting those four points.”
The Pegs have made five changes for the meeting with the fifth-placed Hawks.
The most significant loss is quality defender Daniel Grose, who suffered an ankle injury that is likely to sideline him until the second week of the finals if Ammos reaches that stage.
“His home-and-away season’s probably done,” Kershaw said.
“He’s clean torn a ligament in his ankle, so he’s on the sidelines for the next few weeks.
“He’s somewhat irreplaceable. But, at the same time, we’ve got the calibre of big guys that can be versatile in the positions they play.”
James Lee (ankle) and Sam Bain (unavailable) are also missing for Ammos, with ruck Nick Nott managed and Jack Gaspari omitted.
Cobram recruit Nick Clydesdale will debut after impressing in the reserves, Max Hungerford and Jai Sheahan return, Noah Edwards has been promoted for his second senior game and first since Round 6 last year, and Patrick Ryan has been recalled.
With Nott managed and Guy Hardiman sidelined Ryan will handle ruck duties for the Pegs.
“Jai Sheahan might give him a chopout at times, ‘Hungers’ (Hungerford) might give him a chopout at times,” Kershaw said.
“But Patty Ryan will be rucking for most of the day.”
Drysdale has made one change. Creative forward Jake Hargreaves returns from suspension to replace the unavailable Michael Case.
Barwon Heads has been forced into three changes for its crucial meeting with Modewarre at Howard Harmer Oval.
Premiership duo Michael Philp (ankle) and Brock Close (hamstring) are sidelined, while the Geelong Falcons have recalled Angus Ford.
After kicking two goals on debut last week, Lachie Blacket will return to the Seagulls’ under-16s.
They’ve been replaced by returning trio Tom Swift, Jye Bartley, and Charlie Walter, while Lachie Slorach will play his first senior game since Round 9.
The Warriors will take the same team into the match that pushed Torquay to 13 points.
Queenscliff will unveil debutant Seb Hill when it travels to McCartney Oval for a meeting with the unbeaten Torquay.
Recruited from GFNL club St Mary’s, Hill – who will be the club’s 11th debutant – has impressed in the Coutas reserves, who are finals-bound for the first time since 2022.
Bailey Prato returns after missing last week’s loss to Queenscliff.
Patrick Bradley will miss due to injury, and Isaac Conlan has been dropped.
As reported earlier this week, Torquay duo James Darke (broken hand) and Banjo Dyer (foot) are set for a stint on the sidelines.
At this stage, the Tigers have named Cooper Heard and Jacob Ireland as their replacements.
Newcomb has confirmed three changes for its meeting with Ocean Grove at Ray Menzies Oval.
The season is over for Charlie Harvey, whose injury issues limited him to just nine games, with James Molloy and Pat McGinley omitted.
They’ve been replaced by Tom Smith, Blake Ritchie and Darcy Huntly-Mitchell.
At this stage, the Grubbers have named an unchanged team after their upset win over Geelong Amateur.
Anglesea will welcome back Ike Hardman and Courtney Wedderburn as replacements for Dyl Pettingill and Will Batson for its meeting with Portarlington at Ron Evans Oval.
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