Modewarre could be without Bellarine great Josh Finch for tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) qualifying final-deciding final round meeting with Drysdale at Community Bank Oval.
The four-time Les Ash medallist is an assistant coach with Geelong’s AFLW team, which has a match simulation against Collingwood scheduled for GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
If the Warriors were to beat the Hawks and book a meeting with Anglesea to start the Bellarine finals, Finch would find himself with another clash, with the Cats facing Essendon in a practice match at Windy Hill.
“It’s an awkward situation to be in, and, clearly, my priority would be to be playing if (Geelong) allows me to,” Finch told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“I’ll just have to work that through that when I know more.”
After slumping to a 3-4 record following a 36-point loss to Barwon Heads in Round 7, Modewarre has posted eight wins from the following ten games.
The Warriors’ only losses in that period have been by 15 points to Queenscliff and 13 points to raging premiership favourites Torquay.
“We were OK against Ammos (in) Round 1, and we got touched up Round 2, and we realised we had to get to work – no dramas there.
“Our depth at the club this year’s probably been tested at times.
“I’ve felt like our best 22 is capable of beating everyone in the competition.
“We’ve beaten the sides around us and above us, barring Torquay.
“And we challenged them the first time we played them, and the second time, for that matter, as well.”
Finch, who co-coached Modewarre to its lone BFNL premiership in 2018 alongside good mate John Meesen, says the return of Mark Hovey as coach has been crucial to the Warriors being in the position they are.
“Hoves has been a great addition to the club. And the coaching staff, Bocca’s (former player Brendan Wemyss) an assistant coach, and Jason Armistead.
“They’ve kept it simple. But, their philosophy and what they’ve got out of our younger players has been pleasing to see, especially as someone who’s been around the club for so long.
“Their priority in developing our younger players has been exceptional to watch.”
Further incentive for Modewarre to end the home-and-away season with a win is a milestone for Jeremy Ollis.
The captain will play game 200 as he returns from a corky that kept him out of last week’s win over Newcomb.
Big man Zack May is also back, while Josh Hovey has been named in the squad after getting through the reserves last week in what was his first game since Round 3.
Drysdale has made two changes.
James Breust returns after being managed out of last week’s win over Ocean Grove, with Flynn Chirgwin returning from injury for his first appearance since Round 14.
They replace suspended duo Andrew Crosbie and omitted Mitch Clark.
Geelong Amateur has made several key inclusions for its must-win meeting with Newcomb at KFC Oval.
Ammos must win and have Torquay beat Barwon Heads to book an elimination final berth.
Star midfielder Riley Ferguson, former Cat Oscar Brownless, and Geelong Falcon Tom Gorell return.
Will Mithen is also back following the end of Geelong College’s season, while Xavier Muhor has been recalled from the reserves.
They replace the injured Sam Bain (calf), and omitted quartet Riley Mattner, Nick Maishman, Patrick Ryan, and Jake Heard.
The Power has included Corey Ogle at the expense of Beau Adams.
Barwon Heads has been boosted by the inclusion of Tom Swift, Brock Close and Geelong Falcon Angus Ford for its cutthroat meeting with Torquay at Howard Harmer Oval.
They replace the omitted trio of Ben O’Sullivan, James Wills and Darby Graham.
A win for the Seagulls will guarantee an elimination final berth. However, a loss and a Geelong Amateur win over Newcomb would see Barwon Heads outside the top five at the end of the home-and-away season for the first time since 2016.
The Tigers have named Will Tamassy, Harry McLeod and Clay Page in their squad.
Portarlington has lost Teia Miles to injury but will welcome back fellow former AFL player Connor Menadue for its 150th-anniversary celebration meeting with Queenscliff at Ron Evans Oval.
Miles suffered a fractured arm in the Round 17 loss to Torquay but is battling an ankle issue and osteitis pubis.
Menadue hasn’t played since the Round 13 loss to Modewarre.
In what looms as Warren Finlayson’s final game in charge of the Demons, veteran Shane Wiffen returns along with Harry Sedgeman after being sidelined last week.
For Baldi, it will be his first senior game since Round 8.
Portarlington will wear a special guernsey featuring the surname of every player who has made a senior or reserve appearance for the club in its history.
Among three changes, the Coutas will unveil debutants Luke Philp and Harry Travers.
Will Baker returns for his first game since Round 12.
They replace the retired Jake Hedley, injured big man Michael Randone, and Jordan Monahan, who has returned to the under-18s.
Qualifying final-bound Anglesea has made eight changes for the final-round clash with Ocean Grove at Ellimatta Reserve.
Captain James Carr (unavailable), vice-captain Liam Holland (knee soreness), James Baker (knee), Dyl Pettingill (managed), Max Simpson (ankle), Sam Leeds (unavailable), Kobe Iversen-Smith (ankle), and Fergus Huntington (managed) are all sidelined.
However, Baker is the only one of that group in doubt for a qualifying final clash against the winner of the Drysdale-Modewarre meeting.
Among the eight inclusions are under-18 graduates Patrick Gray and Cam Hutchinson for their senior debuts.
Courtney Wedderburn returns from suspension, Will Batson and Geelong Falcon Charlie Lawless are back from injury, and Matt Connell, Josh King, and Tom Presnell have been recalled from the reserves.
Jamieson Hallam will become the Grubbers’ latest debutant after impressing in the under-18s.
He replaces the unavailable Glenn Campbell.
X: @krockfootball
