Portarlington has made waves for the big-name recruits it has acquired during the off-season, but it’s a trio of youngsters that impressed in a practice match earlier this week.
The Demons, whose new faces include former AFL players Teia Miles, Connor Menadue and Jarryd Cachia, had their first hitout against opposition when they hosted Belmont Lions on Monday night.
Second-year coach Warren Finlayson was happy to nominate three of the club’s younger brigade that shone against the Lions.
“Blaide Dowie played a few senior games last year, but his intent around the ball, tackling pressure, managing the heat in the cauldron around stoppages, so I was impressed with him,” Finlayson said.
“Jack Baldi is a young guy playing his first senior games through the simulation period for the club. He was really clean around the stoppage, good delivery inside 50, which was good.
“Then we had Harry Sedgeman play. A young kid out on the wing, he ran up and down his line and learnt a lot, too, having Shane Wiffen out on the ground.”
Both ex-Hawk Miles and former Blue Cachia made appearances on Monday, but ex-Richmond and North Melbourne midfielder Menadue didn’t play.
Track watchers were impressed with Miles, who spent last year in the WAFL with Claremont.
“Teia’s really good at communicating with the boys and keeping things organised,” Finlayson said.
“Having been at the higher level, he’s really driving some standards around the footy club, and he just wants us to be better.
“His capacity to win the ball is fantastic. But then his capacity to play defence or play a role is going to really shine through.”
Highly rated key defender James Goetz, who has joined the club from Western Region powerhouse Altona after moving to the area, also took part.
“He’s had a bit of an interrupted pre-season due to work commitments,” Finlayson said.
“But, it’s good to have another wise head down there.”
Portarlington has official practice matches against GFNL club St Albans on March 3 before hitouts with Macedon (March 16) and Parkside (March 23) before opening the club’s 150th anniversary season against Newcomb at home on Good Friday.
X: @krockfootball
2024 LOCAL FOOTBALL PRACTICE MATCHES
ANAKIE
March 1 – vs. Belmont Lions @ Anakie Reserve
March 9 – vs. Albanvale @ Anakie Reserve
March 16 – vs. SMW Rovers @ Anakie Reserve
ANGLESEA
March 2 – vs. PEGS @ Ellimatta Reserve
March 16 – vs. St Bede’s Mentone @ Ellimatta Reserve
BANNOCKBURN
March 16 – vs. Bell Post Hill @ Myers Reserve
March 23 – vs. Gordon @ Victoria Park
BARWON HEADS
March 2 – vs. Yarraville @ Howard Harmer Oval
March 9 – vs. North Ballarat @ Mars Stadium
March 16 – vs. Point Cook @ Howard Harmer Oval
BELL PARK
March 14 – vs. Torquay @ North Torquay
March 23 – vs. Altona @ Altona
April 6 – vs. North Ballarat @ Hi Sushi Oval
BELL POST HILL
March 16 – vs. Bannockburn @ Victoria Park
March 23 – vs. Wyndhamvale @ Wyndhamvale
BELMONT LIONS
February 19 – vs. Belmont Lions @ Portarlington
March 1 – vs. Anakie @ Anakie
March 16 – vs. Learmonth @ Learmonth
COLAC
March 7 – vs. Torquay @ North Torquay
March 16 – vs. North Warrnambool @ Central Reserve
March 23 – vs. Terang Mortlake @ Central Reserve
CORIO
March 9 – vs. Sunshine Heights @ TBC
March 16 – vs. Irrewarra-Beeac @ All In One Oval – Corio
March 23 – vs. Otway Districts @ All In One Oval – Corio
DRYSDALE
February 24 – vs. Newcomb @ Deakin University
March 16 – vs. East Point @ East Point
March 23 – vs. Redan @ Redan
EAST GEELONG
March 7 – vs. Ocean Grove @ TBC
GEELONG AMATEUR
March 2 – vs. Spotswood @ Anakie
March 16 – vs. Williamstown CYMS @ TBC
GEELONG WEST (GDFNL)
March 2 – Irrewarra Beeac @ Evans Reserve
March 16 – Ballan @ Ballan
March 23 – Rokewood Corindhap @ Rokewood
GEELONG WEST (GFNL)
March 16 – vs. Modewarre (GFNL) @ TBC
April 6 – vs. Doutta Stars @ TBC
GROVEDALE
March 16 – Old Paradians @ TBC
March 23 – Point Cook Centrals @ TBC
INVERLEIGH
March 16 – vs. Newtown & Chilwell @ Elderslie Reserve
LARA
March 23 – vs. Werribee Districts @ Bisinella Oval
April 6 – vs. Darley @ Bisinella Oval
LEOPOLD
March 16 – vs. Keilor @ Keilor
March 23 – vs. South Barwon @ Anakiedx
April 6 – vs St Mary’s @ Deakin Uni
MODEWARRE
March 1 – vs. Queenscliff @ Community Bank Oval
March 8 – vs. St Albans @ North Torquay
March 16 – vs. Geelong West (GFNL) @ TBC
NEWCOMB
February 24 – vs. Drysdale @ Deakin University
March 3 – vs. Winchelsea @ Deakin
March 16 – vs. Hastings @ Deakin University
NEWTOWN & CHILWELL
March 16 – vs. Inverleigh @ Elderslie Reserve
NORTH GEELONG
March 10 – vs. Otway Districts @ Deakin Uni
March 23 – vs. Creswick @ Keith Barclay Oval
NORTH SHORE
March 16 – vs. Clunes @ TBC
March 23 – vs. St Albans @ Windsor Park
OCEAN GROVE
March 7 – vs. East Geelong @ TBC
March 16 – vs. Cobden @ TBC
PORTARLINGTON
February 19 – vs. Belmont Lions @ Portarlington
March 3 – vs. St Albans @ Anakie
March 16 – vs. Macedon @ Portarlington
March 23 – vs. Parkside @ Portarlington
QUEENSCLIFF
March 1 – vs. Modewarre @ Community Bank Oval
March 16 – vs. Sorrento @ Oakdene
SOUTH BARWON
March 17 – vs. Old Brighton @ Anakie Reserve
March 23 – vs. Leopold @ Anakie Reserve
ST ALBANS
March 3 – vs. Portarlington @ Anakie
March 8 – vs. Modewarre @ North Torquay
March 23 – vs. North Shore @ Windsor Park
ST JOSEPH’S
March 16 – vs. Werribee Districts @ TBC
March 23 – vs. Warrnambool @ TBC
ST MARY’S
March 2 – vs. Torquay @ North Torquay
March 17 – vs. Aberfeldie @ Anthony Costa Oval
March 23 – vs. North Ballarat @ Mars Stadium
April 6 – vs. Leopold @ Deakin Uni
THOMSON
TBC
TORQUAY
March 2 vs. St Mary’s @ North Torquay
March 7 – vs. Colac @ North Torquay
March 14 – vs. Bell Park @ North Torquay
WERRIBEE CENTRALS
March 16 – vs. Altona @ Galvin Park
March 23 – vs. Burnside Heights @ Burnside
WINCHELSEA
March 3 – vs. Newcomb @ Deakin
March 9 – vs. Alvie @ TBC
March 16 – vs. Yackandandah @ Yackandandah
