Geelong Amateur has been left to rue what it could have been after sharing the points in a thrilling draw with Barwon Heads at Howard Harmer Oval.
After leading by as much as 42 points during the second quarter and 29 points at three-quarter time, Ammos was well-placed to snap a seven-game winless run against the Seagulls that dates back to pre-Covid.
Ultimately, they were lucky to escape with two points, as the scores finished locked, 12.7 (79) to 11.13 (79).
It was the first draw in 60 meetings between the clubs.
“They had all the momentum, but their pressure was enormous in the second half, and the last quarter, especially,” Amateur co-coach Dan Holroyd said.
“But, watching back some of the footage this (Sunday) morning, the equalising goal probably didn’t sit too well with us.
“A free kick that was maybe missed prior to it (the goal), and then one got paid for (them) was a little bit dubious.
“I’m not going to stew on that because when a game is as tight margin as that, you can look at a hundred different instances and go, ‘What if?’.
“At a crucial point of the game, it hurts a little bit more. But, they created enough chances.
“I can’t complain too much; they could have easily won it.”
The move of vice-captain Kyle Polley from defence to attack, forward Sammy Baker into the midfield, and Charlie Perks to half-back sparked Barwon Heads into action in the final term.
When Cooper Ward levelled the scores, just over a minute remained on the clock.
Following a free kick to the Seagulls in the middle of the ground, the ball spent most of the final 60 seconds parked in their forward 50.
Co-coach Mitch Herbison and Ward both had snaps on goal that missed, while an attempt by Herbison to spoil the ball through for what would have been the winning rushed behind just before Ward’s attempt was just off the mark.
Barwon Heads co-coach Sam Schaller was content with the two points but also left to ponder what could have been if the Seagulls had been in gear from the start.
“I think our players knew that after the game,” he said.
“Even though we felt like we pinched two points, it was a pretty sombre feeling in the changerooms.
“Anytime you can kick 6.7 in a quarter, you feel like you’re playing pretty good footy.”
“We just need to replicate that for longer.”
Schaller confirmed Harry King will have scans on a knee injury, but the Seagulls are confident it is not too serious.
They will be forced into one change for next week’s meeting with Portarlington, with Ward to return to Talent League duty with the Geelong Falcons.
That’s likely to open the door for Angus Ford to return from the under-18s.
Geelong Amateur got through the match unscathed and could get back Nick Nott, Max Hungerford and Jarrad Jans for a twilight clash with Ocean Grove.
Torquay has seen off a spirited challenge from Anglesea to maintain its unbeaten start to its premiership defence.
The Tigers, who started life for the rest of 2024 without star forward Lucas Anderson. were made to work by the Roos for a 19-point win, 13.10 (88) to 9.15 (69).
Harry McLeod kicked a career-best three goals for Torquay, with Matt Boag, Reef Page and Geelong Falcon Will Montebello finishing with two.
Captain Ben McNamara and Tom Diamond were among the Tigers’ best.
The returning Tom Couch scored four goals for the Seas, and Noah McGregor-Dawson and Kobe Iversen-Smith also impressed.
An eight-goal to three second-quarter burst has laid the foundation for an impressive 68-point Queenscliff win over Newcomb.
With the scores level at quarter-time, the Coutas went on a rampage in the second term to set up their 22.13 (145) to 11.11 (77) victory.
With Will Baker and Isaac McCabe kicking five goals apiece, it was Queenscliff’s highest score since Round 8, 2021.
Lachie Kidd was also a standout for the Coutas.
In his first game for the Power, Beau Adams kicked three goals, as did Andrew Steele.
Big man Jarrod Stafford was best for Tony Mirabella’s men.
Modewarre held off Ocean Grove’s second-half fightback to record a 16-point win and climb into the top five.
The Warriors’ impressive 6.3 to 1.0 opening quarter provided a solid base for a 12.9 (81) to 9.11 (65) victory at Ray Menzies Oval.
The forward line combination of Tom Hornsey (five goals) and Connor Joseph (four) proved too much for the Grubbers to handle.
Four-time Ash medallist Josh Finch also continued his good form.
Kye Annand and Brady Pritchard each kicked three goals for Ocean Grove, with reigning best-and-fairest Max Sutton and Ed Dayman their best.
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