A trio of Bellarine league clubs will be the region’s first in practice match action this weekend.
Tomorrow (Saturday), Barwon Heads and Anglesea host Point Cook Centrals and North Ringwood, respectively, while Ocean Grove has a road trip to take on Hampden powerhouse Koroit.
Seagulls’ off-season acquisitions Damian McMahon (St Mary’s), Darcy Griffin (Maribyrnong Park), Ethan Lawler (Sebastapol) and Jake Whybrow (Altona) will all pull on the light blue for the first time.
Zach Walter will represent Barwon Heads for the first time since winning best-on-ground honours in the 2019 grand final, and Sam Witherden is right to go after a back issue wiped out his 2024 season.
“He had a little hit out for us in the match simulation with Belmont Lions last Thursday night, and that was his first football game for about 18 months,” Seagulls coach Sam Schaller said.
“He came through in flying colours.
“He’s with us full time now. He’s pulled the pin with Werribee, so I’m pretty excited to see what he can bring.”
However, one of the Bellarine’s breakout players of 2024 won’t be seen this season.
Schaller revealing Jye Bartley, who kicked 22 goals, has undergone ankle and foot surgery that will sideline him until 2026.
“He was just doing a bit of off-season work just kicking the footy around with a couple of mates and he landed awkwardly,” Schaller said.
“He got it looked at and it required surgery.
“He’s got a super amount of talent. The penny started to drop for him towards the back end of the year about just working a little bit harder on a few things.
“He’ll be missed because I was expecting him to sort of take that next step for this year.”
X: @krockfootball
