“WE CAN CULL GULLS”
THEY came from the clouds last season — and Modewarre is daring to dream of another premiership run after disposing of Ocean Grove in Sunday’s elimination final.
“Well, it’s finals,” Warriors coach Josh Finch said of the possibility of taking another scalp in Barwon Heads this weekend.
“You’ve got to beat the best to be the best. They’re a good team and they’ve been a top-three side all year.
“They’ve got some good players, so we’ll have to move on pretty quickly, reflect on how we can get better and put our attention straight into Barwon Heads and where we can beat them.”
In a similar vein to last season, when they came from fourth to challenge Geelong Amateur in the grand final, the Warriors put the Grubbers to the sword on the wide expanses of Portarlington Recreation Reserve.
In scenes reminiscent of its solid elimination final win over Torquay in 2016, Modewarre will now take plenty of confidence into its clash against Barwon Heads, who lost a nailbiter to Ammos on Saturday.
“The guys played with good spirit and they play with mateship, and sometimes it puts you in good stead in the finals,” Finch said.
But the Warriors will have a few headaches in the lead-up to the clash against the Seagulls at Spring Creek Reserve on Sunday.
Tom Worpel will face a test after suffering a heavy concussion in a knock from Ocean Grove ball magnet James Linton, while star big man Daniel Sturzaker faces the AFL Barwon tribunal charged with intentionally striking Travis Gavin.
Gun spearhead Luke Forbes is battling knee soreness, but is expected to play.
Forbes, who booted four goals in the 47-point win over Ocean Grove, has formed a potent one-two punch with hulking forward Chris Mamalis.
“We haven’t had that all year,” Finch said of the Forbes-Mamalis combination.
“It’s been trial and error. We had them against Newcomb in Round 14 and in the last game of the year, but it’s the only times we’ve had them function in the same forward line.
“So it’s pleasing that they functioned really well together last week and the same again (against Ocean Grove).
“They worked really hard to create space for each other and create scores.”