Barwon Heads’ season is on the line in a massive encounter against Anglesea
It’s the definition of a “must-win” game for a BFNL challenger on Saturday, as they look to atone for missing finals in 2024 and bank three victories in a row for the first time this year.
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Barwon Heads will be treating this Saturday’s Round 15 clash against Anglesea on its home deck as an “elimination final”, its senior coach says.
The Seagulls have hardly set the world on fire in 2025 – winning back-to-back games on two occasions – but currently sit in fifth position with four rounds to play on 28 points.
They have taken two big scalps this season, Queenscliff and Drysdale, but have lost all of their games to top five teams by an average margin of 41 points.
And it needs to beat the team this Saturday which won their previous encounter back in Round 5, Anglesea.
Also on 28 points in sixth, the Roos had dropped their past five before correcting the record after the mid-season break to down Portarlington last Saturday.
Some are predicting Anglesea, who have battled injury and unavailability this year – with bulk changes compared to 2024 – to finish the season strong and pinch fifth from the Seagulls.
Both have very similar runs home, with Newcomb and Modewarre to come over the next fortnight while the Seagulls have the Hawks in Round 18 and the Roos take on the league’s biggest improver in 2025, Queenscliff.
Which is why Heads coach Sam Schaller said this Saturday’s match at Ellimatta Reserve was the very definition of a must-win match, while missing last season’s finals remained a motivating factor.
“We’re building it up as an elimination final,” Schaller said.
“We’re not shying away, we’re not underestimating the importance of it, we’ll be going down there full steam ahead and leaving no stone unturned to win.
“Put our best foot forward to get back into the finals.
“Everyone knows we’re capable, not just getting there but doing a bit of damage along the way as well.
“They’ve obviously been eyeing off this game as well, I’m sure they’ll get a couple back into their team and ‘Jordy’ (Keras) will be pumping it up as well.
“It’s going to be a fantastic contest and we’ve just got to be ready to go from the start.”
The Roos possess two of the most damaging midfielders in the league in Keras (number one in the league for clearances by a considerable distance) and Lachlan Smith.
Schaller may consider a tag on Saturday, with Finn Cornell usually the first Seagulls considered for that kind of job.
Cornell played on Keras last time the teams met in a thrilling Round 5 encounter with the Roos getting home by a point at Howard Harmer Oval.
Schaller said key recruit Damian McMahon had also had to contend with shutdown opponents in 2025.
The Seagulls are expected to send Tom Swift to key forward Ayden Gras, who started the season like a freight train but is coming off a relatively quiet five-game block which has netted nine majors.
Meanwhile, Schaller said the reigning premier remained the team to beat – currently on a six-game winning streak – and could actually benefit from a season it hasn’t dominated like previous editions.
Coming into Round 15 the past three campaigns, the Tigers have been 14-1, 14-0 and 14-1.
However, this year, Geelong Amateur, Newcomb, Drysdale and Queenscliff have got their number, albeit at the start of the season.
“Until Torquay don’t win, I think they’re the team to beat,” Schaller said.
“They’ve got the luxury of doing a lot more hunting than being the hunted, something that Dom (Gleeson) can use to his advantage, something a little bit different.
“Torquay and Ammos are a little bit above the rest.
“But if they’re five or ten per cent off though, the other teams bring their one wood, they’re going to get the job done against them.”
On the injury front, Schaller is expecting Charlie Walter to be back in coming weeks after a foot issue while Kallum Hinchcliffe is a possible return in Round 16 after an abductor problem.
Cooper Ward suffered a season-ending knee injury against Drysdale in mid-June.
“We’re slowly getting some pretty healthy bodies out there,” he said.
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