Anglesea has overcome before holding off a fast-finishing Newcomb to maintain fifth spot on the ladder ahead of the Power with a 12-point win in ideal conditions for football at Plastercom Oval.
After being jumped by the home team in the opening quarter, in their first appearance at the venue since winning last year’s grand final, to trail by 35 points at the first change, the Roos led by as much as the same margin during the final term, before Newcomb came storming home.
With coach Jordan Keras (hamstring), forward Jack Baker (calf), defender Joel Hogan (ribs) and Will Batson (ankle) all sidelined during the closing stages of the contest, a clutch goal from spearhead Ayden Gras proved telling at the 27-minute mark after four consecutive Newcomb goals had cut the margin to 12 points with three minutes remaining.
However, after the Power turned the ball over at halfback, Gras took a strong one-on-one mark about 20m out and calmly converted for his third goal of the day and extended the lead to 18 points.
Newcomb star Luke Justin then kicked a goal from a 50m penalty to again reduce the margin to 12 points.
However, the siren sounded moments after the centre ball-up that followed, with Anglesea claiming a 17.8 (110) to 16.2 (98) victory, their seventh of the season.
Despite the margin his team was staring down at quarter-time, Keras says there was no panic heading into the second term, where Anglesea outscored Newcomb six goals to one to cut the deficit to two points at the main break.
“We changed structurally around the ball,” he said.
“We brought a winger in, (and a) plus one, that didn’t work, so that was sort of congesting things and then making a little bit of chaos.
“We went stock man-on-man around the ground, which helped.
But our mids, when our mids get going, like really hunt the ball and have good method; I think ranking-wise or statistically, we’re the best mids in the comp.
“So that generated our territory, and then we got plenty inside 50s off the back of that.
“Definitely around the ball, it was a flip. It was almost like comparing apples with oranges (the) first and second quarter.”
Having already been tipped out of fifth spot after AFL Barwon removed four points for the bye on the ladder earlier in the week, Newcomb now finds itself a game behind Anglesea ahead of a challenging fortnight against Geelong Amateur and Queenscliff after the bye.
Proud of how his team stayed in the contest until the end, Power Tony Mirabella was also disappointed that they were unable to capitalise on their impressive start, which included six consecutive goals, including a goal of the year contender from Jacob Watson.
“I’d like to be beyond those losses at the moment,” he said.
I am proud that we fought it out to the end, and, probably, traditionally at the start of that last quarter, if they had kicked a couple, that’s probably a 50 (or) 60-point Newcomb loss.
“I am proud that we do have the resilience and the ability to jump back into games and challenge.”
“But we left too much out there in the second and third quarter to do, and that’s probably what’s disappointing for me.”
Key defender Josh Jaska was a standout for Anglesea, standing firm in the face of numerous Newcomb attacks, while Keras was his usual workhorse self in the midfield, and Lachie Smith also impressed with four goals.
Anglesea will enjoy the double bye before returning on July 18 for a meeting with Portarlington at Ellimatta Reserve.
Logan Wagener did his chances of becoming Newcomb’s first Les Ash medallist since Ricky O’Toole in 2007 with another powerhouse performance, almost lifting the Power over the line.
After keeping Gras goalless in the first half, co-captain Tom Webster was sent forward, kicking two last quarter goals, while Luke Justin also impressed despite receiving a cut head that saw him head to hospital post-game.
Torquay (3rd, 9-3) has kept itself in the minor premiership mix after handing Queenscliff (1st, 10-2) its first loss at home in 2026.
The Tigers also held the Coutas to their lowest score of the season in posting a 12.14 (86) to 7.14 (56) result.
Led by co-captain Ben McNamara, Torquay’s defence proved nigh on impenetrable in the first half, holding Queenscliff to just one goal.
At the other end, the Tigers had built a handy 29-point buffer, which the Coutas struggled to eat into for the rest of the afternoon, with only three late goals cutting the final margin that had ballooned to 47 points early in the final term.
Tynan Smith, Hugh Trigg, and Ned Turner each kicked three goals for Torquay.
Patrick Bradley also contributed three majors for Queenscliff, with Jordan Monahan going goalless for the first time this season.
Sam Lloyd remains an outside chance to become the oldest person to kick 100 goals in a Bellarine league season after the Geelong Amateur (2nd, 10-2) co-coach kicked six goals in a 51-point win over Drysdale (9th, 3-9) at KFC Oval, 12.9 (81) to 3.12 (30).
Lloyd now has 57 goals for the season, with his first of the afternoon giving him 100 in a Pegs’ guernsey.
Key defender Dan Weigl was also a standout for Ammos.
James Breust battled hard for the undermanned Hawks, who welcomed back captain Mitch McGuire.
Portarlington (7th, 5-7) ensured there would be no repeat of its shock loss to competition newcomers Surf Coast (11th, 1-11), posting a 54-point win at Summertime Pools Oval.
The Demons jumped to a 24-point lead at quarter time before posting a 16.20 (116) to 9.8 (62) victory, keeping alive their slim finals’ hopes into the final third of the season.
Captain Mitch Turnbull kicked another five goals for Port, whose best was late-starting recruit Michael Herlihy.
Former AFL player Aaron Black, in his first appearance since Round 7, and Harry Gravener each kicked two goals for the Suns.
Modewarre (8th, 3-9) continued to pour misery on a struggling Ocean Grove (10th, 3-9), handing out an 87-point hiding at Ray Menzies Oval, 20.16 (136) to 7.7 (49)
Ollie Butler, Tom Hornsey, and Scott Morter each kicked four goals for the Warriors.
Jack Thomson was the only multiple goalkicker for the Grubbers, finishing with two majors.
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