Geelong Amateur has put itself in the box seat to start its BFNL finals campaign with the double chance after holding off a fast-finishing Barwon Heads by five points at KFC Oval, 14.14 (98) to 14.9 (93).
Leading by 21 points at three-quarter time, Amateur pushed that margin out to 27 points during time-on of the final term.
However, Barwon Heads kicked the last four goals of the contest, including one to co-coach Mitch Herbison just before the siren to make the final deficit less than a kick.
“We were four or five goals up for most the quarter, then a couple of free kicks got them back in it,” co-coach Riley Kershaw said.
The second-placed Pegs hold a six-point break on Anglesea and Modewarre, who sit third and fourth, respectively, with four rounds remaining.
Amateur’s run home features consecutive away games against Ocean Grove and Drysdale before hosting the Roos and Newcomb to round out the home-and-away season.
Despite the position they’re in, Kershaw knows nothing is guaranteed.
“You’ve just got to get four points each week at this level,” he said. “We can’t look too much further than that at the moment.
“We’re really satisfied in terms of the work we’ve put in.
“From Round 1 to here, we’re really comfortable with what we’ve built.
“But, I always refer back to, ‘you just never know in this league’.
“You easily end 0-4 in the run home; it’s really tricky in that sense.”
Paddy Dowling and Jai Sheahan combined for eight goals, with Dowling’s five goals being his fifth haul of five or more in his first season at the club.
Kershaw was also impressed by ruck Nick Nott’s performance against reigning Ash medallist Luke Davis and AFL draft hopeful Joe Pike, who was making his first appearance for the Seagulls in 2024.
“He was super – he weathered the storm, for sure,” Kershaw said.
“Davis is a really experienced ruckman, and Notty’s battled hard against him.
“And Joe Pike, I’d be surprised if he plays a game of local footy ever again.
“It was a big for Notty… we were super proud of him.”
A hamstring injury suffered by experienced midfielder Riley Ferguson took some of the shine off Geelong Amateur’s win.
“The initial diagnosis is that he will miss at least the next couple of weeks,” Kershaw said.
“There’s a few boys that are sore, but that’s what’s expected when you play Barwon Heads.”
Pike, who has played at the Geelong Falcons and with Geelong VFL this year, kicked four goals for the Seagulls, while veteran Herbison contributed three.
They face Portarlington at Ron Evans Oval in Round 15.
Torquay has marked the announcement of the re-signing of coach Dom Gleeson by further consolidating top spot on the ladder after holding off Anglesea by 18 points at McCartney Oval.
The Tigers, who were celebrating the 40th anniversary of their 1984 premiership, trailed by four points at half-time but kicked nine goals to five after the main break to claim a 16.11 (107) to 12.17 (89) victory.
The result has Torquay ten points clear of Geelong Amateur with four rounds remaining.
Will Tamassy kicked four goals for the Tigers, while star midfielder Matt Boag snuck forward at times and finished with three majors.
Dyl Pettingill made a positive return from injury for the Roos with five goals.
The double chance hopes of Modewarre remain alive following a convincing 75-point win over Ocean Grove at Community Bank Oval.
The Warriors moved into fourth spot, joining third-placed Anglesea on nine wins, with a 15.8 (98) to 3.5 (23) result.
Five goals meant Modewarre forward Connor Joseph single-handedly defeated the Grubbers.
Jackson O’Hanlon added three goals, and veteran great Josh Finch two.
Drysdale picked up some handy percentage in beating Portarlington by 72 points at Mortimer Oval, 16.16 (112) to 5.10 (40).
Reflecting the tightness of the finals race in the Bellarine, the Hawks sit sixth on the ladder but only a game behind third-placed Anglesea.
Tom Ruggles’ five goals were the highlight for Drysdale, which gained close to seven percent. Joel Watson was also influential with three goals.
The Demons had no multiple goalkickers.
Queenscliff overcame a 20-point half-time deficit to defeat Newcomb by 13 points and keep alive its slim finals hopes.
The Coutas wrested back control of the contest at Grinter Reserve with a 5.8 to 1.3 third quarter before running out winners, 12.16 (88) to 10.15 (75).
Fourth-gamer Jordan Monahan kicked four goals for Queenscliff, while Isaac McCabe added three majors.
Power star Jack Duke almost carried his team to victory with a seven-goal haul that took his tally for the season to a league-leading 57 and extended his lead to 13 on Geelong Amateur star Paddy Dowling.
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