Barwon Heads coach is confident Portarlington can continue its ascension after promising signs in 2024

A BFNL senior mentor believes a cellar dweller of recent seasons can put pressure on the top five if it maintains a healthy list following a massive recruiting drive.

Former Newtown & Chilwell footballer Zach Walter lead the league for contested possessions and clearances in Round 1 at his new club Barwon Heads.

Barwon Heads coach Sam Schaller is expecting Portarlington to be a big BFNL improver if it can maintain a healthy list in 2025.

The Demons, which had a massive off-season, securing Deer Park’s Scott Greenhough and Jack Dorgan amongst a host of others, was two points up at halftime in the opening round match against the Seagulls at Howard Harmer Oval last Saturday.

However, Barwon Heads, who had also enjoyed a prolific recruiting drive of its own snaring Damian McMahon and Zach Walter from St Mary’s and Newtown & Chilwell respectively, put its foot to the floor with an 8.10 to one goal third term with James Syddall booting three of his four in the quarter.

It was an ominous statement from a team which struggled in 2024 due to injury and unavailability to ultimately miss the finals for the first time since 2016.

After his prolific BFNL season of 2024, Portarlington’s Teia Miles led the league in Round 1 for disposals and marks. Picture: Mark Wilson

“There was no ranting, we just understood what we needed to get better at, it was more of a collective, our midfield in general got busy,” Schaller said of his side’s response after half time.

“We probably got our hands on the footy more and looked a bit more dangerous than any one player grabbing it by the scruff of the neck.”

Meanwhile, the Demons’ best on was Leopold recruit Nick Lane while Teia Miles continued his possession-fest that was 2024 with a league-high 37 disposals and 16 marks.

Schaller saw enough to think the Demons will improve on their ninth place last year with three wins.

“If they stay healthy, they’ll definitely win a handful of games minimum, they were really impressive and played a nice brand of footy as well,” Schaller said.

“They’re got some really quality players across all three lines.

“(If healthy) I definitely expect them to get out of that bottom two and even just touching the bottom of the five I reckon.”

However, the Seagulls will now turn their attention to Queenscliff, a team they’ve had some close encounters with in recent seasons, and at a location which saw one of the league’s biggest controversies in 2024.

Won that Round 17 clash by just four points at the Couta Bowl.

Queenscliff would later request AFL Barwon to review the tape, with the Coutas believing an extra goal had been incorrectly added to the visitors’ tally during the second term.

Meanwhile, Queenscliff got home by three points in 2023, also in Round 17 of that year with big man Joseph Cincotta booting three.

Barwon Heads’ Brock Close is not expected to play until the middle of the season. Picture: Alan Barber

Coutas coach Heath Jamieson told this masthead during the pre-season he was expecting a strong season from Cincotta, who missed Round 1 against Newcomb.

“There’s a lot of kids who like to play for each other,” Schaller said of the young Queenscliff outfit.

“They’ll be up and about, they’ll want to have their first win.

“They’ve got a couple of handy players like Izaac Grant (from Hepburn) whose come into their club, and Lachie Kidd, and Sol Bowtell.

“They’ve got some really damaging players, we’ll have to put some work into those guys.”

Speaking of which, Reid Adams retired after a season-ending ACL last year while forward Brock Close, who is currently travelling, not expected to play until the middle of the year at the earliest.

But the Seagulls have been bolstered by the return of defender Sam Witherden, who had back surgery on the cusp of the 2024 season, only for Barwon Heads to put him on ice for the remainder of the year, barring one reserves fixture.

St Mary's stars Sam Dobson and Damian McMahon celebrate a goal in a final against South Barwon in 2023. Picture: Mark Wilson

“It looks like it’s been the right decision, he’s had a pre-season up at Werribee again and he’s looking really good, really confident and strong in his body,” Schaller said.

Meanwhile, it was a big opening round for the debutants in the BFNL last Saturday, with three newbies across Torquay and Barwon Heads having massive afternoons.

Against Portarlington, Walter accumulated league-highs with 14 clearances and 26 contested possessions while McMahon was also front and centre with 27 kicks to finish second in the competition for the opening round — equal with Torquay debutant and former Lion, Oliver Tate.

“It was good to get all the new guys out there together,” Schaller said of the new mix.

“Just another step forward for those guys with their chemistry.

“We probably didn’t put together our best performance but we understand it’s probably going to be a week-by-week thing to start gelling together fully.”

2023 Ash medallist Luke Davis also had 13 clearances against the Demons.

Originally published as Barwon Heads coach is confident Portarlington can continue its ascension after promising signs in 2024