BEYOND THE BOUNDARY – AUGUST 5
No matter how the final three rounds of the Bellarine season play out, Drysdale coach Ben Carmichael will be proud of what his team accomplished in 2026.
Seemingly out of the finals hunt entering the league-wide bye with a 3-9 win-loss record, the Hawks have climbed to seventh on the ladder, one win behind fifth-placed Anglesea.
“I’m just really proud of the group, to be honest,” Carmichael said, with injuries limiting the influence of reigning Ash medallist Ben Fennell and captain Mitch McGuire.
“From where we were, where you probably start to think, ‘we probably just don’t want to finish on three wins or four wins’.
“But we’re starting to get a little bit of continuity within our list on the park.
“Those guys that we played at the start of the year are showing real improvement now, just with some of the better players around them that have come back in.
“Although… it’s been a frustrating year in terms of the way we started and the way the season was going, to still be alive is exciting.”
Drysdale is back in contention off the back of four consecutive wins, but it needs a lot to go right, including beating fellow finals hopefuls’ Portarlington this week and then the Roos the following week before having the bye in Round 20.
It can only afford Newcomb, which plays Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Torquay in the final three rounds, to win one more.
While the Hawks will need Anglesea to also lose to Torquay this weekend and Modewarre in Round 20.
However, Carmichael’s initial focus is getting one back on the Demons, who recorded their biggest win over Drysdale in 44 years in recording a 59-point Anzac Day win.
It is arguably the biggest contest between the two clubs since the 1994 preliminary final.
“The rivalry goes back a long way,” Carmichael, who will coach the Hawks for the 100th time this weekend, said.
“Obviously, two towns that are pretty close to each other. Back in the day, it was really, really fierce
“Probably over the last few years, they’ve been building, and this year, they’re starting to improve and they’ve really added some experience into their list.
“A lot of the guys that they’ve brought in have played good footy. They’ve got a really experienced list.
“At the start of the season, it probably wasn’t working as such for them.
“But you can see with a new group and a new system and a new coach, they’re starting to play some really good footy.
“We’ll have to be at our best.”
Drysdale has included Sam Willatt for the clash.
Portarlington welcomes back Riley Hayden at the expense of Mitch Howard.
Barwon Heads (4th, 9-6) has suffered a triple blow ahead of its clash with Geelong Amateur (2nd, 12-3) at Winter Reserve, the home of GDFNL club Belmont Lions.
Co-coach Damian McMahon (groin), captain Luke Davis (ankle) and experienced defender Kyle Polley (leg) will be missing.
However, they are expected to return for next week’s clash with Newcomb or the final round meeting against Ocean Grove.
Noah Young, Luca Vella and Teal Lamperd are the Seagulls’ inclusion.
Ammos, who are locked into a qualifying final against Torquay, welcome back Jesse Tardio from suspension as the replacement for the injured Riley Ferguson.
Likely minor premier Queenscliff (1st 14-2) has included Ned Coffey and Max Scott for its home meeting with Surf Coast (11th, 1-14).
The Coutas, who can seal a second semi-final berth with victory, have lost Jonty Rush to a hamstring injury, with Max Annandale being rested after making his first senior appearance for the club in five years last week.
The Suns will unveil debutant Finn Jakobson among four changes.
Phill Smith returns, with Cayden Geljon and Aaron O’Riley also included.
They replace Ross Young (managed), co-captains Dylan Flanigan (knee) and Joss Howlett (glute), and Mitch Wright (elbow).
Modewarre (9th, 5-11) has the bye.
More to come
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