Queenscliff coach Heath Jamieson has praised his team’s fighting qualities after it overcame a withering third-quarter burst from Anglesea to maintain top spot on the Bellarine ladder with a 12-point win at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve.
The Coutas claimed their seventh win of the season, 14.9 (93) to 12.9 (81), after kicking three of the last four goals of the contest, having conceded the lead to the reigning premier early in the final term.
“Today was just a really good, hard, tough, contested game of footy,” Jamieson said.
“We really rate Anglesea, and I think that they’ve started to show glimpses of their form of last year in the final series, and I thought today Anglesea was super.
“I’m pretty proud of the boys to get the result because I think they threw absolutely everything at us and we withstood it, which makes me pretty happy.”
Leading by 25 points at half-time, Queenscliff saw its advantage disappear when Jai Anderson goaled for the Roos just before time on in the third term.
When co-captain Dale Kerr hit the scoreboard for Angelsea two minutes later, the visitors had all the momentum.
However, consecutive goals from Coutas talisman Izaac Grant just before the three-quarter time siren proved crucial to the final result.
“Those two goals probably really helped us get the result in the end,” Jamieson said.
“But early in that third quarter, Anglesea showed us how good they could be when you put limited pressure on.
“We really got opened up out the front of the stoppage, and it hadn’t happened too much.
“They’ve got a pretty crack midfield; guys like (Max) Virgona were just streaming out the front with a beautiful left foot.
“They were giving their forwards some really good looks in the third quarter and made us pay.”
Captain Caleb Whitley was outstanding in piloting the Queenscliff defence.
“Week in, week out, he just puts himself in the hole of the other sides’ forward lines,” Jamieson said.
“He’s just courageous, never shirks the issue and just took some telling marks all day.
“I know Jordy (Keras) put a fair bit of time into him.
“They had a defensive forward playing on him, but it didn’t stop him from having a huge impact on the game.”
Grant, and Jonty Rush each kicked four goals for Queenscliff, which faces a tricky chip to Modewarre ahead of its bye on the first weekend of June.
However, they will be without the luckless Max Scott for the trip to Mt Moriac, after he suffered another hamstring injury.
Ayden Gras kicked four goals for the Roos, while Kerr and Keras contributed two apiece. Premiership co-captain Jack Walters was named best for the visitors, who host grand final opponent Geelong Amateur next week.
Ocean Grove has hung on for a thrilling one-point win over Portarlington, 9.8 (62) to 8.13 (61) to secure its second victory of the season and move off the bottom of the ladder.
However, the Grubbers did it the hard way at Steeline Ray Menzies Oval.
Leading by 13 points 25 minutes into the final term, that deficit was cut to the final margin following consecutive goals to Demons duo Brock Williamson and Matt Fromholtz.
But, the home team was able to hang on and beat Portarlington at home for the first time since 2023
Geelong Falcons-listed Jack Thomson kicked three goals for Ocean Grove, with Hugo Walsh and Luke Jarrad the Grubbers’ best.
Fromholtz and Williamson finish with two goals for the Demons, whose finals drought looks set to extend to 33 years.
Teenage debutant Ollie Castro has made a debut to remember for Drysdale, as the Hawks secured a thrilling two-point win over Modewarre at Mortimer Oval, 17.8 (110) to 16.12 (108).
Castro, who is listed with Talent League club Western Jets, kicked five goals in his first appearance in brown and gold since crossing from Spotswood.
He was well supported by Joel Watson’s three goals, with James Breust a standout in his 100th appearance for Drysdale.
Connor Joseph and Tom Scott each kicked four majors for the Warriors.
Torquay returned to the winners’ list in handing Barwon Heads its first loss at home in 2026, leaving APCO Cafe 24/7 Oval with a 30-point victory, 17.14 (116) to 12.14 (86), retaining the Battle of the Breaks surfboard.
After leading by 34 points at half-time, the Tigers saw their lead reduced to just five points at three-quarter time.
However, an early goal from Tynan Smith, followed by consecutive majors from Hugh Trigg, who finished with five for the day, helped settle the contest.
Tom Diamond was also a standout for Torquay, kicking four goals.
For the Seagulls, Jack Henderson managed five goals to take his season tally to 20.
Newcomb forward Jack Duke is continuing to prove that age is just a number, with the 38-year-old kicking seven goals in the Power’s 83-point win over Surf Coast at PlasterCom Oval.
After a tight first quarter, the Power pulled away for a 23.11 (149) to 10.6 (66) victory.
Blake Ritchie contributed four goals as Newcomb consolidated its spot inside the Bellarine top five.
Tyler Barker and Luke Cartelli were named the Suns’ best.
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