BFL Finals 2023: Barwon Heads beat Drysdale in qualifying final

From dominant goal scorer to sideline spectator, Mitch Herbison could do little but watch as his teammates held on in an instant classic against Drysdale.

BFL Qualifying Final: Drysdale v Barwon Heads. No 37. Cameron Brauer for Barwon Heads.

Barwon Heads co-coach Mitch Herbison says there were a few nervous moments as he watched his side hold on to a memorable two-point qualifying final victory over Drysdale.

The key forward has been battling a knee issue in recent weeks, and while he expects to be fit for the second week of the BFL finals, Herbison had to coach from the sidelines.

He said there were times he thought the Hawks were about to take the game away from the Seagulls, but a four-goal effort to Brock Close led the defending premiers home 11.6 (72) to 10.10 (70) in blustery conditions.

“It was a really tough match, there were plenty of times where I thought that the game could easily go either way,” he said.

“I’m really proud of the boys and the fight they showed, we probably didn’t play as well as we should’ve (going into the wind) in the second quarter but we did it a bit better late.

“We just had to take time off the clock and kill the ball a bit, and that worked.”

BFL Qualifying Final: Drysdale v Barwon Heads. No 6. Kyle Polley for Barwon Heads.

Barwon Heads will now face Torquay for a spot in the grand final, while Drysdale will take on the winner of Modewarre and Anglesea’s clash on Sunday.

Close booted four goals to lead the game, while Jake Hargreaves booted three majors for the Hawks.

The Seagulls were able to open up with a strong six-goal-to-one opening quarter, but conceded six straight majors in the second term to trail at the main break.

But a flurry of goals in the third term, paired with a restrictive effort in the fourth where the Hawks only kicked one goal, gave Barwon Heads another tight finals win over Drysdale, having beaten them twice in finals in 2022.

Herbison said Close was “very impressive” in the win.

“I thought he had a great game, he was really dominant in the forward line,” he said.

“It was a really difficult game for key forwards, there was a real wind to contend with but he was able to read the ball and create a number of chances.”

Originally published as BFL Finals 2023: Barwon Heads beat Drysdale in qualifying final