Barwon Heads coach Sam Schaller has labelled Saturday’s 43-point win over Drysdale at Mortimer as the club’s best of the season so far.
The Seagulls were at risk of falling two games behind fifth spot if they were unable to overcome the Hawks.
However, they now sit only four points out of third position, and with a better percentage than fourth-placed Drysdale and fifth-placed Anglesea, with eight rounds to play.
“Where the season was and what was on the line, it was good to put in a very strong performance like that,” Schaller said.
“Their midfield, they’re probably the best, or if not, top-two stoppage team in the competition.
“So we had a big emphasis on that, and the boys rose to the occasion, and that was the driving force behind our win.”
After being jumped in recent losses to Queenscliff and Modewarre, Schaller was also keen for the Seagulls to start well.
“Last week against Queenscliff, we were probably four or five goals down at quarter time, and that was the margin for the rest of the game,” he said.
“We thought if we could start well, get the confidence going from there, it would hopefully hold us in good stead, which was true.”
2023 Ash medallist Luke Davis was crucial against the Drysdale ruck combination of Ben Henderson and Matt Pigott.
“He played in the ruck 100 per cent of the game time, and gave our mids first use,” Schaller said.
“He was good.”
Finn Cornell and Zach Walter also impressed, and Jack Henderson returned from injury to kick four goals ahead of another crucial clash in the Battle of the Breaks against Torquay next week.
Tom Ruggles kicked four goals for Drysdale despite struggling with illness. The Hawks, who were best served by Jack Jenkins and Flynn Chirgwin, host Queenscliff in Round 11.
Geelong Amateur has narrowly maintained its eight-point buffer on top of the ladder after escaping with a two-point win over Modewarre at Queens Park.
In a contest where the biggest margin was ten points when Cal Farrell goaled for the Warriors early in the last quarter, majors to Riley Ferguson and playing co-coach Sam Lloyd snatched back the lead for Ammos.
Modewarre veteran Tom Hornsey had two chances to snatch back the lead.
A hurried left-foot snap from tight in the pocket was never on target, while an opportunity just over a minute later from a similar position was also off the mark, and the Pegs held on for a 10.10 (70) to 10.8 (68) victory.
Lloyd finished with three goals and Tom Gorell two after being recalled from the reserves.
Hornsey, Farrell, and Seb Hutley each kicked two goals for the Warriors, who would likely need at least six wins to have any chance of playing finals in 2025.
Queenscliff has strung together six consecutive wins for the first time since 2018 after seeing off fellow double-chance aspirants Anglesea by 56 points to move a game clear in second place on the ladder.
The Coutas outscored the Roos in every quarter to post a 15.19 (109) to 8.5 (53) victory at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve.
Overlooked by the Geelong Falcons, Jordy Monahan kicked four goals and Isaac McCabe contributed three for the Coutas.
The solid form of Kai Keenan in the ruck also continued.
With Ayden Gras held to one goal by a miserly Queenscliff defence, Myles Brinkworth picked up some of the slack with three majors to be among the Roos’ best.
Portarlington has claimed a fourth win in a season for the first time in a decade after overcoming a slow start and a three-quarter time deficit to beat Newcomb by 18 points at Grinter Reserve.
The Demons trailed by 25 points at quarter-time, 18 at half-time, and nine at three-quarter time.
However, the visitors kicked the final four goals of the contest to claim a 13.14 (92) to 10.14 (74) victory.
In his first appearance in a month, Connor Menadue kicked five goals to be the difference between the two teams.
Jack Drought finished with three goals for the Power.
Torquay proved too strong for Ocean Grove at Ray Menzies Oval by 98 points, 19.10 (124) to 3.8 (26).
Will Montebello kicked four goals, while Tom Hooper and Chad Grossman, in his first senior appearance in more than two years, kicked three goals.
Jamieson Hallam and Gus Bourke battled hard for the Grubbers.
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