Geelong Amateur co-captain Harry Kershaw doesn’t believe the stop-start nature of the club’s finals campaign will have an impact heading into Saturday’s Bellarine decider against Anglesea.
The Pegs enjoyed a week off to start the finals series after claiming their first minor premiership since 2019, before earning another break after taking care of Torquay in the second semi-final.
Kershaw says with the club’s reserve grade ream following the same path, preparation has been tailored for Ammos to peak at the right time as they chase their flag since 2016.
“I think it’s been really handy having both seniors and reserves playing because Saturdays off, we’ve been able to have a full-blown practice match, essentially,” he said.
“Leading into the first one against Torquay, really intense training sessions, which was just short, sharp intensity.
“And then a few sore boys after the Torquay game, which was a bit of a lighter week last week.
“And then we just had another practice game on Saturday.
“We’re not really out of match fitness; (we’ve) had the two teams to compete against each other, which has been great.”
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Even after Anglesea snuck into the top five courtesy of a final-round draw with eventual first semi-final victims Queenscliff, a Roos-Ammos decider appeared to be the most unlikely match-up.
However, Kershaw isn’t surprised Anglesea has won its way through in an effort to replicate Torquay’s 2006 run, when the Tigers became the first and, so far, only Bellarine team to win a premiership from an elimination final.
“They competed for the flag last year and just fell short, and we’ve had probably the tightest games consistently over the season with them, just getting over them both times,” he said.
“So, no real surprises at all, to be honest.”
Kershaw missed out on being part of Geelong Amateur’s historic hat-trick of flags between 2014-16 while at the Geelong Falcons and VFL club Werribee.
He played in the Pegs’ team that lost to Torquay in 2017, and admits he didn’t think he’d be waiting another eight years for a crack at premiership glory.
“When I first came back, we were going for a four-peat, and I just thought it’s almost something that was expected; you just get to play local footy, grannies and all that sort of stuff,” Kershaw said.
“But, it’s been a long time between drinks for me. I’m just excited to get out there, and being able to lead the club, and doing that for the last couple of years, has been an honour.
“To repay the club members and the volunteers with a flag would be unreal.”
X: @krockfootball
