Barwon Heads’ important win over fellow Bellarine finals aspirants Modewarre has been tarnished by a knee injury suffered by off-season addition Reid Adams.
The former St Joseph’s star will undergo a scan early this week, with fears he has ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament for a third time in his career.
Footage late in the first quarter shows Adams roving a ruck tap from teammate Luke Davis before bursting from the contest.
However, as he kicks the ball, an opponent dives across his leg in an attempt to smother the ball.
Played was delayed for around three minutes while Adams was stretchered from the ground.
“It’s really unfortunate,” co-coach Sam Schaller said. “Talking to our physio and the initial test, the worst is an ACL.
“He’ll get some scans tomorrow.
“Fingers crossed, it’s a lateral (ligament). But all signs are pointing towards the worst, which is pretty heartbreaking considering he’s come back to footy and already had two of them (knee reconstructions) as well.
Despite Adams’ absence for the final three quarters, the Seagulls came from 10 points down at half-time to claim a 16.11 (107) to 10.11 (71) result at Mount Moriac Reserve.
Led by four goals apiece from co-coach Mitch Herbison and the experienced Brock Close, Barwon Heads outscored the Warriors 11.7 to 4.3 in the second half.
The victory maintains the Seagulls’ spot inside the top five but extends their gap on Modewarre to six points.
“We put a bit of emphasis on it, especially heading out there,” Schaller said.
“It’s always tough for any team to go out there and win, and to come away with the four points gives us a bit of breathing room, and we can focus on jumping into that top three.”
After missing the pre-bye win over Portarlington, captain Kyle Polley returned to blanket star Warriors forward Tom Hornsey, who went goalless.
“He kept him very, very quiet; he was awesome,” Schaller said.
“So reliable to be able to put him away and let the others go to work.”
Geelong Falcon Marley Cornell (foot) will join Adams in having scans this week.
Connor Joseph was the lone multiple goalkicker for Modewarre, which faces a must-win meeting with Newcomb next week.
Elsewhere, Newcomb has snapped a nine-game losing streak stretching back to Round 15 last year in beating fellow winless team Ocean Grove at Grinter Reserve.
Jack Duke regained a share of the lead in the race for the Bellarine goalkicking title, with seven majors taking him to 27 for the season and 100 for the club since arriving at the start of 2022.
The Power led at every change to claim a 14.12 (96) to 11.13 (79) victory.
Connor Asquith kicked four goals for the Grubbers.
Geelong Amateur replaced Drysdale in second spot after outlasting last year’s grand finalists to record a 23-point win at KFC Oval.
Trailing by three points at three-quarter time, and with star midfielder Blake Sutterby sidelined with an ankle issue, Ammos banged on five goals and kept the Hawks to one in the final term to claim a 13.11 (89) to 9.12 (66).
Paddy Dowling continued his impressive run with a five-goal haul, taking him to 27 for the season, while fellow former GFNL star Jai Sheahan contributed two.
Jake Hargreaves managed four goals for the Hawks.
Torquay remains unbeaten, but not without a fight against Queenscliff.
The Tigers held off the enthusiastic Coutas by 23 points, 14.14 (98) to 11.9 (75), further reflecting the gulf between the top and bottom in the Bellarine is closing.
Jesse Dawson, Cooper Heard, Baxter Mensch and Reef Page each kicked two goals for Torquay.
Former captain Jake Hedley kicked a season-high four goals for Queenscliff.
A six-goal cameo from returning star Connor Menadue hasn’t been enough for Portarlington to pull off a monumental upset off Anglesea at Ellimatta Reserve.
Playing his first game since injuring a hamstring in Round 2, the former Richmond and North Melbourne midfielder was outstanding.
However, the Roos, after trailing by 18 points at quarter time, held off a final-quarter burst by the visitors to win 16.13 (109) to 15.10 (100).
Jarod Bacon, Jack Baker and Simon Umbers each kicked three goals for Anglesea, which now has an eight-point buffer on sixth-placed Modewarre.
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