Winless after three rounds, including being the first victim of the competition’s newcomers, one could forgive Portarlington mentor Sam Scott for wondering why he’d ventured into the coaching caper.
However, some sage advice from a couple of local coaching greats, followed by the Demons’ first win over Drysdale in eight years, and the man affectionately known as ‘Box’ is looking at footy through a different lens.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Paul Lynch and obviously with ‘Buddha’ (Garry Hocking), and they just reached out to just say, ‘just keep backing yourself’, which was good to hear, because it’s all new to me, and I really don’t like losing,” Scott said.
“Sometimes you reflect internally pretty quickly, which is a good thing to do.
“But, when you take something on, you want success straight away. Losing to the Surf Coast Suns hurt a little bit, just being the first club to lose to them.
“It was really great to get one this weekend.”
After a 10-minute arm wrestle to open the contest, Portarlington took early control with goals from captain Mitch Turnbull and then Scott, before Kelly Pickard’s major in time-on of the first quarter extended the margin to 21 points.
Like the opening stanza, the second term failed to produce a goal in the first 10 minutes, before Jack Baldi and a second from Scott pushed the margin to 29 points to give the Demons control heading into half-time.
Both teams could only manage a solitary goal apiece in the third quarter, leaving the margin at 34 points at the final change, before Portarlington went into celebration mode with a four-goal to nothing last term, winning 12.21 (93) to 4.10 (34).
It was the Demons’ biggest win over Drysdale since 1982, and the Hawks’ lowest score in 114 BFNL meetings between the two clubs.
“It was such a massive day for the footy section with our under-18s, our reserve and our seniors winning,” Scott said.
“Plus, we also had our A grade, B grade, and C grade netballers win as well, so it was a huge day for the club.”
Josh Jones returned to the line-up and kept Drysdale livewire Jake Hargreaves goalless, with Grovedale recruit Nathan McHugh also important in the Demons’ defence.
But it was veteran ruck Scott Greenhough who claimed the K.C. Purnell Medal as best-on-ground for his dominant display against an obviously understrength Drysdale big man department.
The only concern for the Demons was a groin issue that limited Will Foott’s game time, and has him in doubt to take on Modewarre on Saturday.
Newcomb sits third on the ladder after overcoming a slow start to beat Ocean Grove by 67 points in a twilight clash at Plastercom Oval, 17.19 (121) to 8.6 (54).
The Power trailed by 10 points at quarter time, but clicked into gear in the second term, kicking 8.8 to 2.1.
Josh Saltlamacchia kicked four goals for Newcomb, and co-captain Dion Johnstone contributed three.
Recruit Lorne Waldron’s solid start to the 2026 season continued for the Grubbers. He kicked four goals to take his tally to 12.
Today, to conclude Round 4, Anglesea and Torquay clash at Ellimatta Reserve, and Surf Coast welcomes Queenscliff to Summertime Pools Oval.
Both matches start at 2:10pm.
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