Anglesea has given itself two chances to play in its first Bellarine grand final since 2000 after overcoming a four-goal half-time deficit to defeat Drysdale by 27 points in the qualifying final at Portarlington’s Ron Evans Oval.
The Roos kept the Hawks to just two goals after the main break while kicking ten themselves to register a 14.12 (96) to 10.9 (69) victory.
Coach Jordan Keras spoke of his pride in earning a shot at minor premier Torquay in the second semi-final.
“I’m really proud of the boys,” he said.
“We still have somewhat of a young side, and I think, in a final, to be able to flip the game on its head like that when being down at half-time, it’s a massive confidence boost for our boys.
“And it’s a really important game in the context of the whole year.
“I couldn’t be happier.”
After reminding everyone of his undoubted talent with an eight-goal haul in the win over Geelong Amateur in Round 17, Dylan Pettingill was the most influential player on the ground.
Rested from last week’s loss to Ocean Grove, Pettingill, who missed last year’s finals campaign, kicked five goals from 16 disposals, including two of tthe he first three of contest.
“He continues to impress,” Keras said. “He’s very hard to stop one-on-one.
“In saying that, I think our players helped him out; I reckon we laced him out a couple of times nicely.
“And the other good part about Dyl, he took the best defender. Luke Preece had a really good go at him.
“It was nice to see ‘Hot Sauce’ get on top of him.”
Keras was also important, finishing with 31 disposals and 10 clearances, numbers mirrored by Lachie Smith.
However, a hamstring injury suffered by Jack Rice took some of the gloss off the win.
“It’s disappointing. But, apparently, it’s a minor hamstring,” Keras said.
“We’ll get Sam Leeds back next week, Max Simpson’s a chance, and Harrison Veale could come back any day from the (Canadian) fires, and, potentially, Courtney Wedderburn.”
For Drysdale, who were without captain Mitch McGuire due to injury, Cam Delaney, Ben Fennell and Joel Watson kicked two goals.
Fennell was the Hawks’ leading disposal winner with 25 to go with seven clearances, while defender Jack Jenkins had 24 possessions.
Drysdale will face the winner of today’s elimination between Geelong Amateur and Modewarre in next Sunday’s first semi-final.
BFNL: SCOREBOARD – FINALS WEEK ONE
In a K rock Football special event, the Geelong Amateur-Modewarre elimination final will be broadcast live via krockfootball.live from 1pm today (Sunday)
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