The Bellarine Football Netball League’s season so far
The BFNL president says it’s the most even season in a decade and we’ve rated every team’s performance at the bye.
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It’s been a bumper season of Bellarine footy after six rounds with record level crowds and some intriguing results.
In fact, league president Mick Fitzgerald believed it was the most even season in a decade, with Newcomb’s effort in Round 2, where they got within 11 points of the reigning premier, proving with a healthy list to chose from, any side is a realistic chance of getting the four points.
“It’s probably as close as its been in 10 years,” Fitzgerald said.
“Obviously Torquay have sort of cleared out at the top, but there’s a bunch of sides realistically from second down to 10th, that are all very capable and on their day have the potential to win.
“It’s very healthy and crowds have been enormous.
“It’s an 18-game season and it can be a bit of a war of attrition, as long as you’re heading in the right direction things can certainly turn in your favour in the back half of the season.
“A lot of clubs are positioning for that.”
The season got off to a heartwarming start on Easter Thursday with Portarlington winning its first game since July, 2019 with a bumper crowd in attendance.
However, league observers and this reporter believes there was an even bigger throng at the Port on Anzac Day which surprised even the host club’s committee, Fitzgerald said.
“It’s certainly the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen at Portarlington, even finals actually, it was just huge,” Fitzgerald said.
“I know (president Steve Cogger) was expecting a reasonable crowd but not that big.
“It was bigger than they’d ever seen. They’re doing a great job.”
Fitzgerald said those numbers were also particularly strong across the league’s “showcase weekend” of Easter, with close to record levels.
BFNL report card
Torquay – A+
Hard to find fault with a team which has won every game, and when tested by Modewarre in Round 6, it made the kind of emphatic statement you’d expect from a club which has barely lost a game since the pandemic.
The only major downer has been the loss of key forward Lucas Anderson to an ACL in Round 4.
However, the Tigers have still managed to be the league’s second most prolific team, with a wealth of forward line options.
The Tigers will look to cement its league-leading credentials with Queenscliff and Portarlington to come after the break.
Drysdale – A
Bar an opening round loss to the reigning premiers, the Hawks have been close to spotless themselves.
Despite superstar Ben Fennell missing three games with an ankle injury, Drysdale has made a habit of producing some monster second halves, kicking 13.15 to 5.6 against Anglesea in Round 3, 13.8 to 2.5 against Portarlington on Anzac Day and 9.7 to 3.4 versus Queenscliff last Saturday.
New recruit Cam Delaney has also given Ben Carmichael another look up forward with 11 goals from four games, as has Joel Watson with 14.
Geelong Amateur – A
Finishing six points off the top five last year, the Ammos have produced the kind of lift in productivity that was expected via the addition of A Grade quality in Tom Gribble, Paddy Dowling and Blake Sutterby.
Dowling, who admitted he struggled through 2023 with St Mary’s before chasing a fresh start, shot to the top of the goal kicking charts with eight majors in Round 6, taking him to 22 for the year.
However, the Ammos would have been disappointed with letting four points slip against Barwon Heads, leading by 29 points at the final break before the Seagulls pinched a draw.
In fact, Heads could have easily won it with two shots on goal in the dying minutes.
A 62-point loss to Torquay in Round 4 also showed what’s required to contend for a premiership this year.
Anglesea – B+
The Roos have had a better run at it this year following a lengthy injury list in 2023.
Bright spots have been a strong opening showing, beating Barwon Heads by six straight kicks and a competitive showing against the reigning premiers.
However, a disappointing second half against Drysdale – albeit they were injury-hit again – would have stung.
The Roos have not done much wrong so far, with one more win than this time last year.
Coach Jordan Keras, who was frustrated by the size of last season’s casualty ward, goes to the break with some personal satisfaction: five goals against Newcomb.
Barwon Heads – B
A fairly middling start to the season for last year’s preliminary finalists who have played good footy in patches.
However, it’s a long season and the Seagulls are comfortably placed inside the five after some injuries impacted their start.
Heads, the league’s highest scoring team, have belted Ocean Grove and Portarlington in recent weeks while a 14-point loss to Drysdale showed they’re not far off the pace.
Sammy Baker, Cooper Ward and Mitch Herbison all find a place within the league’s top 20 goalkickers.
Modewarre – B
The Warriors’ season got off to a hellish start, losing captain Tom Worpel with a knee injury before a ball was bounced.
Despite Josh Hovey and Jeremy Ollis also being sidelined in recent weeks, Modewarre banked three in a row against Queenscliff, Portarlington and Ocean Grove to steady its season and be 3-3 by the break.
It was 2-4 at this stage last year.
However, being blown off the park by Torquay after half time in Round 6 showed there’s still plenty of work to do.
Queenscliff – B
The Coutas have quietly gone about their work and have been competitive in every game bar one: a 60-point thumping from Drysdale in Round 6.
Under new coach Heath Jamieson, Queenscliff would have taken confidence and belief in Round 2 with just seven points between his side and the Ammos.
This time last year, Queenscliff was in exactly the same position, 2-4.
But a huge test comes after the break with Torquay and Barwon Heads in consecutive weeks, which will be a big indicator on how much the club has improved on last year’s seventh place under Rory Nicol.
Portarlington – B+
The Demons’ season started magnificently with back-to-back wins over Newcomb and then Ocean Grove by comfortable margins.
However, Port’s season has been curtailed by injury to some key ingredients, including Jaryd Cachia, Connor Menadue and captain Mitch Turnbull.
Menadue has not been seen since Round 1, Cachia was sidelined for three games after the opening round and Turnbull’s hamstring is reportedly a long term issue.
While the Demons pushed Modewarre in Round 4, its three other games have resembled the results of recent seasons losing to Drysdale, Barwon Heads and the Ammos by an average margin of more than 100 points.
That being said, Port fans would have gleefully accepted two wins after six rounds before the season began.
Newcomb – C+
It’s been a funny six rounds for the Power, after its season got off to an ordinary start, beaten by Portarlington in Round 1 — the Demons’s first win since July, 2019.
However, when testing itself against the best, the picture looks far rosier.
Tony Mirabella’s charges were incredibly competitive against the league’s two best teams, going down by just 11 and eight points respectively to Torquay and Drysdale.
With Newcomb leading by 14 points at half time against the Hawks, we’re tipping the Power to regroup after a fortnight’s rest and get their first win sooner rather than later with gettable matches against Ocean Grove and Modewarre to come.
Up forward, Jack Duke has been a shining light, second in the competition for majors with 20 goals — only dethroned by an eight-goal haul from Paddy Dowling in Round 6.
Ocean Grove – D
While finishing eighth last year following a 5-13 season, the Grubbers would be disappointed to be 0-6 at the break, having recorded two wins by this time last year, even if they were over bottom two teams in Newcomb and Portarlington.
The league’s lowest scoring team with the smallest percentage, Ocean Grove is simply lacking firepower at the moment with just one player within the competition’s top 25 for goalkickers in Brady Pritchard (14).
The Grubbers have struggled to stay in games, beaten by an average of 45 points.
And in the opening rounds, Ocean Grove squandered half time leads, with a 16-point buffer turning into a five goal loss against Portarlington.
However, opportunities are there in the first month after the break with Newcomb and Portarlington to follow, albeit on the road, to relaunch its season.
Originally published as The Bellarine Football Netball League’s season so far
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