Warriors’ acid test

Coach wants scoring to match defensive pressure

TIGHT, contested football will continue to be a focus for Modewarre as it prepares for season-defining matches against Geelong Amateur and Torquay.

The Warriors are yet to crack the ton on the scoreboard but have made life tough for their opponents during the opening three rounds of the Bellarine Football League season.

Sitting in third with a 2-1 record, the Warriors face freewheeling Geelong Amateur (fifth) on Saturday, ahead of a huge clash against top side Torquay.

Warriors coach Chris Hickey has been pleased with his team’s strong defensive mindset but is keen for his charges to hit the scoreboard when opportunities present.

“We think that a really good contested brand of football will hold us in good stead, particularly with the winters we have in Geelong when the grounds get quite soft,” Hickey said.

“We want to be a side that can move the ball and score but we also want to be a side that can defend strongly when we need to.”

Modewarre has fielded a vastly different team from its 2019 model, with at least a dozen new faces in the line-up.

Jeremy Ollis, who returned to Mt Moriac Reserve after a season with Bell Park, has been huge for the Warriors, while veteran Josh Finch has also been a key contributor.

“He (Ollis) just loves footy. He’s always been held in high regard at Modewarre and he’s got really good leadership qualities, he leads from the front and he plays the way he trains,” Hickey said.

“He’s 100 per cent committed, he’s been a good mentor for the younger guys and I think he’ll coach in some capacity at some stage.”

New additions Callan Farrell and Angus Hill have also delivered following big preseason campaigns.

Hickey said there was plenty of upside for the Warriors as new and old members of the side got to know each other better.

“They are a pretty good bunch. We’re still learning about each other and how we play. Once we can get together and gel, we’ll hopefully improve,” he said.

“We’ve picked up some quality recruits and they’ve all acquitted themselves very well. We’ve just got to stay healthy and keep improving along the way. With a lot of new players, it can take a little bit of time to gel but we’re happy, being 2-1.”