Portarlington has marked loyal servant Will Foott’s 150th appearance for the club with a stirring nine-point win over Barwon Heads in a performance that keeps alive the club’s hopes of ending a 32-year finals drought.
Trailing by 29 points at halftime, the accurate Demons roared back into the contest with the aid of the breeze in the third quarter, kicking 6.2 to 3.1 to reduce the deficit to 10 points at the final change.
However, it was that breeze Portarlington had to kick into during the last quarter, and they did so with aplomb in front of a raucous home crowd.
The Demons kicked five goals to the Seagulls’ two to claim a 17.5 (107) to 15.8 (98) result.
It was their first win over Barwon Heads since Round 2, 2010, snapping a 29-match losing streak against the visitors.
“Will’s a person that’s bled for the club and he’s had some really dark times there,” coach Sam Scott told K rock Football before heading to hospital to have treatment on a cut head.
“There was that motivation to put it all together for him today.
“I think it was coming, a really big scalp.
“We got one against Newcomb, but I think it was coming with how the boys have been able to put together parts of games.
“I think we were due.”
Scott says there was no panic despite the almost five-goal margin at the main break, with Portarlington’s accuracy (6.0) keeping it somewhat in the contest.
“In that second quarter, there was a bit of a breeze, and they put together four goals, and they really came hard for us,” he said.
“We went into halftime and, to the boys’ credit, the leaders just took hold of the situation and spoke about the belief.
“And we came back out and put it together.”
Despite still trailing at three-quarter time, Scott was confident local knowledge would prove beneficial.
“We know how to kick against the breeze at Port, which is just to hit up, and the boys did that so well,” Scott said
“Tom Panuccio started running and just took the game on with Max Ruiter.
“It really sparked us in that last quarter.”
Captain Mitch Turnbull was also important, finishing with five goals, while recruit Michael Herlihy and Hayden Eddy contributed three apiece.
The performance of Eddy, who was dropped to the reserves last week, came after battling illness during the week.
“His response today was amazing,” Scott said.
“The poor fella had gastro on Thursday and was pretty crook yesterday.
“We made the call this morning to play him, and we’re pretty happy we did that.”
The victory brings the Demons within two wins of the top five, 12 points behind fifth-placed Newcomb, which has had both of its byes this season.
However, Scott knows his team can’t afford to slip up against competition newcomers Surf Coast when they meet for a second time next week.
“I’ve lost a bit of sleep over that one, so it’s one that we really want,” Scott said.
“It’ll be straight back to work tomorrow.
“We’ll review their game and our game and look at ways that we can beat them.”
Veteran ruck Scott Greenough and key defender Nathan McHugh are both a chance to take on the Suns after being sidelined.
Barwon Heads’ loss has cost it third spot on the ladder heading into a double bye.
Jack Henderson kicked four goals and was named the Seagulls’ best player.
X: @krockfootball
