Angelsea coach Jordan Keras is content with his club is placed heading into the first bye of the Bellarine League season after an impressive 69-point win over Newcomb at Grinter Reserve.
The Roos sit fourth on the ladder, a game clear of sixth-placed Modewarre, with a 4-2 win-loss record following the 17.12 (112) to 6.9 (45) victory.
Their only losses have come against reigning grand finalists Drysdale and Torquay.
“We were disappointing against Drysdale but happy enough with Torquay,” Keras said.
“We think we’re going OK. We had a really hard first five weeks.
“We’ve got Portarlington, Ocean Grove, and Ammos (Geelong Amateur) to finish off the first half of the year.
“We think we’ll be in a strong position come the turn.”
Keras was pleased with how his team was able to take care of Newcomb, which had got within two goals of both Torquay and Drysdale, especially with a lack of rotations in the second half.
By the main break, Courtney Wedderburn (shoulder), Dylan Pettingill (groin), and Liam Holland (hamstring) were all done.
“It was a good hitout for our boys,” he said.
“We were down to one on the bench before half-time, so to run it out like that was pleasing.”
Keras kicked five goals, while vice-captain Lachie Smith, who kicked two goals, Jack Rice and Tom Presnell were important contributors.
“Sometimes, when you get challenged, being down on rotations, you find you’ve got to dig in a little bit more,” Keras said.
“We had a pretty even contribution across the board looking at the stats, and that means we’re not relying too much on any one individual.
“I think that’s what I’m most pleased about – everyone did their part, and we wore them down in the end and our fitness came out in the last half.”
Peter Gordyn was named Newcomb’s best in his 150th game for the club, with Josh Saltalamacchia also battling hard for the Power.
Jack Duke kicked two goals to give him 20 for the season.
“They really took it to us for a fair portion of the game,” Keras said.
“The scoreboard probably didn’t reflect exactly how well they went.”
Drysdale has retained the Hand Up Cup, beating Queenscliff by 60 points at Drysdale Recreation Reserve.
The Hawks were on top from the opening term, kicking five goals to one before claiming the four points, 16.14 (110) to 7.8 (50).
In his return from injury, Ben Fennell kicked three goals, as did tall forwards Cam Delaney and Ben Henderson.
Jo Cincotta and Lachie McKane kicked two goals apiece for the Coutas.
Barwon Heads conceded the contest’s first goal before handing Portarlington a 122-point hiding at Howard Harmer Oval.
The Seagulls were too classy for the Demons in registering a 21.21 (147) to 3.5 (23) victory.
Captain Lachie Wilson kicked four goals, and Charlie Hurst and James Syddall scored three in the percentage-boosting win.
Teia Miles, Jaryd Cachia, and Matt Fromholtz kicked the goals for the Demons, whose 2-0 start seems a distant memory.
A seven-goal-to-one third-quarter burst has proven the difference as Torquay overcame a first-half challenge to beat Modewarre by 38 points at George McCartney Oval.
Trailing by 18 points at the main break, the inaccurate Tigers kicked into gear to record a 12.27 (99) to 8.13 (61) victory.
Matt Boag and Jesse Dawson kicked three goals for Torquay, which enters the first bye undefeated.
Tom Hornsey booted three goals, and Connor Joseph managed two for the Warriors.
In the twilight clash at KFC Oval, Geelong Amateur had all the answers as it saw off Ocean Grove by 64 points, 17.16 (118) to 8.6 (54).
Paddy Dowling kicked a season-high seven goals to almost single-handedly beat the Grubbers by himself.
Brady Pritchard kicked three goals for Ocean Grove.
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