GEELONG AMATEUR (1st – 12-1 – 44 points, 159.93%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Drysdale, Mortimer Oval (W)
R15: Portarlington, KFC Oval (W)
R16: Torquay, KFC Oval (W)
R17: Ocean Grove, Steeline Ray Menzies Oval (W)
R18: Newcomb, KFC Oval (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Three games clear with five rounds to play, the Pegs are almost a certainty to claim the minor premiership. Drysdale at Drysdale without the suspended Mitch Day and Torquay at home will provide challenges. Co-coach Riley Kershaw and Sam Lloyd will have the luxury of managing the list how they want as Ammos chase their first flag in nine years.
PREDICTED FINISH: 1st -17-1
TORQUAY (2nd – 9-4 – 36 points, 156.95%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Modewarre, Community Bank Oval (W)
R15: Drysdale, McCartney Oval (W)
R16: Geelong Amateur, KFC Oval (L)
R17: Queenscliff, Queenscliff Recreation Reserve (W)
R18: Ocean Grove, McCartney Oval (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: After a less-than-convincing start to the season, the two-time reigning premiers’ quest for a club first hat-trick of premierships is back on track. Since a rare loss to Queenscliff at McCartney Oval in Round 8, the Tigers have strung together five consecutive wins. However, none of those teams occupy a spot inside the top five. False dawn? Or is master coach Dom Gleeson timing Torquay’s run to a fourth flag in his tenure to perfection? The return of Lucas Anderson from a serious knee injury is a handy addition to a young forward line. At the same time, experienced defender Billy Henderson has made two appearances in the reserves and could prove invaluable in the next two months.
PREDICTED FINISH: 2nd – 13-5
DRYSDALE (3rd – 9-4 – 36 points, 126.83%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Geelong Amateur, Mortimer Oval (L)
R15: Torquay, McCartney Oval (L)
R16: Ocean Grove, Mortimer Oval (W)
R17: Portarlington, Ron Evans Oval (W)
R18: Barwon Heads, APCO Cafe 24/7 Oval (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: A massive fortnight follows by the bye for Drysdale. The Hawks will welcome a Mitch Day-less Geelong Amateur to the Nest on Saturday, followed by a trip to Torquay. Lauchie Dalgelish is closing in on a return, while Nick Egan, Paddy Power, and Matt Gunn are set to return before finals. Percentage is likely to see Ben Carmichael’s charges start their finals campaign from an elimination final unless Queenscliff can’t take care of Anglesea in Round 18.
PREDICTED FINISH: 4th – 12-6
QUEENSCLIFF (4th – 8-5 – 32 points, 130.38%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Newcomb, Queenscliff Recreation Reserve (W)
R15: Modewarre, Queenscliff Recreation Reserve (W)
R16: Portarlington, Ron Evans Oval (W)
R17: Torquay, Queenscliff Recreation Reserve (L)
R18: Anglesea, Ellimatta Reserve (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Heath Jamieson has proven why he’s been arguably the best coach in the region in the past 15 years as the Coutas prepare for a return to the Bellarine finals for the first time since 2018. Recruit Izaak Grant’s absence after suffering a ruptured spleen against Ocean Grove hurts, with a home-and-away return unlikely. Jonty Rush is expected to be back for the meeting with Portarlington. On paper, Queenscliff looks to have the easiest run home of the qualifying final contenders. However, the evenness of the Bellarine means nothing’s a given. Might have to beat Anglesea in the final round to claim a qualifying final berth.
PREDICTED FINISH: 3rd – 12-6
BARWON HEADS (5th – 6-7 – 24 points, 108.13)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Ocean Grove, APCO Cafe 24/7 Oval (W)
R15: Anglesea, Ellimatta Reserve (W)
R16: Newcomb, PlasterCom Oval (W)
R17: Modewarre, APCO Cafe 24/7 Oval (W)
R18: Drysdale, APCO Cafe 24/7 Oval (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Four teams below them on the ladder and three games at home in the final five rounds have Barwon Heads in the box seat to return to finals action. While there will still be plenty to play out following their match-up with Anglesea in Round 15, a win at Ellimatta Reserve could be enough for the Seagulls. However, a loss to the Roos means Barwon Heads could need to beat Drysdale in the final round to sneak in. Either way, we expect the Seagulls and Hawks to meet in consecutive weeks. Could have access to veteran great Mitch Herbison in three matches outside of Geelong VFL coaching commitments.
PREDICTED FINISH: 5th – 10-8
ANGLESEA (6th – 6-7 – 24 points, 94.19%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Portarlington, Ron Evans Oval (L)
R15: Barwon Heads, Ellimatta Reserve (L)
R16: Modewarre, Community Bank Oval (L)
R17: Newcomb Ellimatta Reserve (W)
R18: Queenscliff, Ellimatta Reserve (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: After starting the season 6-2, last year’s runner-up has stumbled since the start of June, dropping five consecutive matches – including to wooden spoon-bound Ocean Grove – to be scrambling for a finals berth, with injuries proving hard for Jordy Keras to cover. Portarlington will be no pushover this weekend, with Anglesea escaping with a four-point win over the Demons in Round 6. If they can return home with the four points, they then face a crucial match-up with Barwon Heads that will likely determine the Roos’ fate.
PREDICTED FINISH: 7th – 7-11
MODEWARRE (7th – 5-8 – 20 points, 95.87%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Torquay, Community Bank Oval (L)
R15: Queenscliff, Queenscliff Recreation Reserve (L)
R16: Anglesea Community Bank Oval (W)
R17: Barwon Heads APCO Cafe 24/7 Oval (L)
R18: Portarlington, Community Bank Oval (W)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: When the phrase ‘mathematical chance’ starts being bandied about, then you know playing finals is nigh on impossible. While the Warriors sit only a game outside the top five, that gap is likely to widen in the next fortnight unless they can upset one of Torquay or Queenscliff. If they can’t, Barwon Heads could hold a three-game break with three rounds to play. Having pushed Geelong Amateur to two points and Torquay to 13 points, there will be some clubs happy to know the Warriors are on the outside looking in come late August.
PREDICTED FINISH: 6th – 7-11
PORTARLINGTON (8th – 5-8 – 20 points, 71.38)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Anglesea, Ron Evans Oval (W)
R15: Geelong Amateur, KFC Oval (L)
R16: Queenscliff, Ron Evans Oval (L)
R17: Drysdale, Ron Evans Oval (L)
R18: Modewarre, Community Bank Oval (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: A tough run home in what has so far been Portarlington’s best return in the win column since 2015 means a finals drought stretching back 31 years will continue. The Demons will fancy themselves at home against Anglesea this week after falling just three points short of the Roos in their Round 6 meeting. Port has never won at Queens Park, so rule out an upset there against Geelong Amateur, while Queenscliff and Drysdale will be ensuring no slip-ups in their chase for a qualifying final berth. Round out the season against Modewarre, in what could be a farewell game for Warriors legend Josh Finch.
PREDICTED FINISH: 8th – 6-12
NEWCOMB (9th – 3-10 – 12 points, 64.57%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Queenscliff, Queenscliff Recreation Reserve (L)
R15: Ocean Grove, Steeline Ray Menzies Oval (W)
R16: Barwon Heads, PlasterCom Oval (L)
R17: Anglesea, Ellimatta Reserve (L)
R18: Geelong Amateur, KFC Oval (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: We know Newcomb will do all it can to make life difficult for teams, but it’s likely the clash with Ocean Grove, which could decide the wooden spoon, is the only one where the Power claims the four points. Like most clubs, injuries have had an impact. However, it’s who Newcomb has been without at times during 2025 that has impacted the outcome at Grinter Reserve.
PREDICTED FINISH: 9th – 3-16
OCEAN GROVE (10th – 2-11 – 8 points, 56.10%)
REMAINING GAMES
R14: Barwon Heasds, APCO Cafe 24/7 Oval (L)
R15: Newcomb, Steeline Ray Menzies Oval (L)
R16: Drysdale, Mortimer Oval (L)
R17: Geelong Amateur, Steeline Ray Menzies Oval (L)
R18: Torquay, McCartney Oval (L)
K ROCK FOOTBALL SAYS: Unfortunately, a first wooden spoon since claiming the unwanted kitchen implement in the first year of the competition in 1971 will be delivered to Shell Road, Ocean Grove, at around 4:45 pm on Saturday, August 16. The Grubbers will hit this week’s Battle of the Bridge with the usual ferocity the twice-annual clash elicits. Dave Farrell and Nick Bourke’s men will also back themselves to knock off Newcomb the following week. However, even with victory over the Power, a percentage gap coupled with clashes with Drysdale, Geelong Amateur and Torquay to end the season means a 10th-placed finish.
PREDICTED FINISH: 10th – 2-16
