Anglesea blow Modewarre off the park with a 7.7 third term to win the BFL elimination final

A stunning 30 minutes of football where Anglesea produced 7.7 has seen the Roos break the back of Modewarre in the BFL elimination final.

A seven-goal third term barrage from Anglesea has wrenched a BFL elimination final away from Modewarre’s clutches as the Roos kicked clear by 32 points at Portarlington.

The Roos, without their leading goal kicker Dylan Pettingill, had earlier trimmed the Warriors’ lead to just a straight kick by the long break despite operating at far from peak form.

However, the game quickly went from in the balance to pretty much beyond doubt as Anglesea suddenly rammed home multiple goals in succession, slotting 7.7 in a stunning onslaught, leaving the Warriors shell-shocked and on the back foot.

Up the other end, Modewarre’s focal point Tom Hornsey – who was put behind the ball at times – was kept goalless in a crucial shutdown, although Scott Hughes (three goals) and Connor Joseph (two) had their moments, mostly in the first half.

Lewis Beers kicked the final goal of the game. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Warriors produced an early six-pointer in the final term through Patrick Fitzgerald but it didn’t trigger a Modewarre revival.

Swingman Daniel Midolo’s first effectively sealed the game before Lewis Beers’ second came right on the siren.

For the winners, Lachlan Smith and Jordan Keras were prolific and never far from the action.

Midolo, who played primarily in defence for the first half of the year, praised his side’s back six for shutting down the Warriors’ forwards options.

“Our back six was unbelievable. They were probably our strongest (group) on the ground,” Midolo said.

“It was a great win.
“We were a bit slow in the first half, once our midfield started getting its hands on the ball it started swinging in our favour.

Daniel Midolo’s fourth term major sealed the win for Anglesea. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Just before half time ... it felt like (Modewarre) were getting a bit tired.”

He said coach Keras called on his charges at half time to use their speed and make a big statement, which they truly did.

Earlier, the Roos would draw first blood through a brilliant shot from the pocket from Jack Baker but it would be their last forward entry of substance for the term

Anglesea simply couldn’t find a target inside its forward 50, whether through poor disposal or sound defence from the Warriors, with the likes of Oscar Cooke and Morgan Fenton intercepting attacks.

They also gave away two 50m penalties to provide Modewarre with further momentum, who moved the ball with a touch more precision and often sliced through the middle.

A superb snap on the left from Joseph opened Modewarre’s account, and then Hughes clutched a Hornsey roost to the teeth of goal for their second.

Scott Hughes gave Modewarre an option up forward. Picture: Mark Wilson

However, Anglesea would look a different beast in the second term, a great crumbing goal to Will Batson giving them the perfect start.

The nude nuts of Midolo and Baker had presence both in the air and at ground level but the Roos wasted a few chances to cut the margin.

However, Ash Caldwell should consider himself unlucky with his snap appearing to bend between the uprights, only to be declared a minor score in an echo of Ben Keays’ effort the previous night at the Adelaide Oval.

In perhaps Modewarre’s best piece of play, another Cooke intercept was run through the middle to orchestrate Hughes’ second.

However, the Warriors, who would outscore their rivals in the first and last quarters, simply couldn’t find that style of play consistently in the second half when it counted.

Originally published as Anglesea blow Modewarre off the park with a 7.7 third term to win the BFL elimination final