Heads up for prelim
Pressure praised
BARWON Heads will meet Torquay for a place in the BFL grand final after the Seagulls cruised past Modewarre in a scrappy semi-final at Spring Creek Reserve.
The Seagulls came through the 62-point win unscathed, and will meet the Tigers at Drysdale with the winner to progress into the decider to meet triple-reigning premier Geelong Amateur.
Barwon Heads playingcoach Mitch Herbison said the way his side played against Modewarre would see it competitive against the Tigers.
“Yeah, I think it’s a good starting point. If we bring that pressure and intensity around the contest, then it will go a long way,” Herbison said.
“Obviously Torquay are a quality side and they’ve got some great players in their line-up, so we’ve got to do a lot right next week to get the job done.”
And should the Seagulls overcome the Tigers, he said there was no reason why his side could not turn around its 12-point qualifying final defeat.
“I think the results have been pretty tight the last few times we’ve all played each other, so obviously Ammos have earnt themselves a grand final berth yet again and it’s up to us and Torquay to battle it out next week for a grand final,” Herbison said.
The Seagulls jumped the start and opened a 23-point buffer at the first change, and held sway by 14 points at halftime.
But it was the third term that saw Barwon Heads seal a spot in week three of finals, keeping Modewarre goalless to stretch to a 53-point lead that proved insurmountable.
“The scoreboard probably didn’t give a fair indication of the hard contest that was brought today,” Herbison said.
“We had to work every quarter. The conditions weren’t great for that freeflowing game style, but it was a great effort from the boys and it was a four-quarter performance that we were after.”
Max Melzer and Cam O’Leary booted three goals each for the Seagulls, while Corey Enright’s inclusion was pivotal.
Herbison said it was that four-quarter effort that let the Seagulls down in its loss to Ammos.
“I think we were a bit more consistent today,” he said. “Our pressure last week was good for a half, but today we were able to sustain that for a longer period of time.
“We knew it was going to be a tough start to the game; it was more about us sustaining it for four quarters.
“It wasn’t a game for someone to go out and get 35 touches and kick four goals; it was just that scrappy day and I think we had 22 contributors today, which was great.
“It was a pretty tough contest and a few boys will be pretty sore, I’m sure, but unscathed and ready to go for next week.”