Drysdale’s defence shuts down Modewarre’s match-winning weapons

The BFNL’s second tightest back six has put the clamps on Modewarre in an impressive lockdown job, earning themselves another crack at Torquay in a big final.

Modewarre's Scott Morter kicked the Warriors’ first. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Drysdale super stopper Jack Jenkins cannot wait to get another crack at Torquay in a big final after he and his fellow Drysdale defenders put the clamps on Modewarre in a sterling semi-final shutdown on Sunday.

The Hawks had conceded an average of 46 points during a six-game winning run coming into the first week of finals, after recovering from a mid-season slump.

That was before a Dylan Pettingill-led Roos kicked 14.12 at the Port last Saturday in a strong sign a new-look Anglesea are poised to do some serious damage in August and September.

However, Drysdale, the second stingiest defence in the BFNL during the home and away season, returned to form as they restricted the Warriors to just 44 points and in-form forward Connor Joseph to just two goals.

Drysdale's Jack Jenkins leads Connor Joseph to the ball. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Jenkins was given the job again on Joseph, with the former Eagle kicking just three majors against the Hawks from their previous two games in 2024.

And he completed the assignment with flying colours yet again, with one of Joseph’s goals coming in junk time.

“We put a lot of work into him, he’s a really good player,” Jenkins said.

“You need to show him the respect he deserves or he’ll get off the chain and he’ll always kick straight.”

Drysdale's Joel Watson was once again dangerous, kicking four goals. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Following Pettingill around last Saturday, young Hawks backman Luke Preece played with a bit more freedom against the Warriors while Tim Delaney, Jack Preece, Andrew Crosbie and Bailey Hume worked beautifully in tandem.

Tainton and Preece are one and two for spoils this year, while the latter leads the league for intercept marks and is second for contested grabs.

Meanwhile, Jenkins is number one for back 50 tackles, ahead of teammate Jack Preece.

However the Hawks were served by some scattergun delivery inside 50 and the Warriors struggled to take a grab before half time in dangerous territory.

Jenkins said the Hawks “absolutely needed” to respond after last week’s 27-point loss to the Roos.

“We were on for the first half. They probably beat us around the contest late,” Jenkins said.

“We had to work on some defensive transition, we cleaned that up during the week and were able to deliver on that today.”

The Warriors had kicked its second highest score for the season last Sunday against a top five team, with Joseph, Scott Morter and Will Thrum combining for 11 goals.

However, Jenkins said they were ready and waiting.

“We put a lot of work into those guys, we know they’re quality players,” he said.

“It doesn’t just take one or two to get the job done, we have to really focus on playing a team defence.

Drysdale's Andrew Crosbie is a key member of the Hawks defence. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“We responded well from last week. We’ll double down for next week.”

Jenkins said there had been a few “peaks and troughs” for the Hawks in 2024, dropping four consecutive games in a mid-season slump but were starting to peak at the right time.

Central to that has been the form of electric Fennell – almost the Dustin Martin of the BFNL who loves to break a tackle, has a burst of pace and is always dangerous around goals – and he was everywhere on Sunday.

Unsurprisingly, the first possession of the day was a Fennell clearance as the Warriors missed the influence of Josh Finch.

“He’s a quality player, he’s got the flair and the poise, he’s an awesome player,” Jenkins said of Fennell who kicked three goals.

Drysdale's Ben Fennell is surrounded by Warriors. Picture: Mike Dugdale

“He’s a great fella, he fits in really well with our group, he does everything right to get his body right during the week and he throws it around on a Saturday.

“It’s always going to help us when (Finch) doesn’t play.”

While the midfield bulls of Flinn Chisholm and Mitch McGuire had a major say, young Chris Tainton and Mitch O’Dowd were also important in the 53-point win.

Meanwhile, Jenkins expected Preece to be right for Torquay after being escorted from the field with a shoulder issue in the third term following a heavy collision.

“He’ll get himself right for next week,” he said.

“We were able to free him up a little bit.

“He plays that role really well and took some nice grabs today.”

EARLIER

Drysdale has earned themselves another crack at Torquay in a big final after bouncing back from a week one loss to Anglesea to qualify for a preliminary final next Saturday at Leopold.

The Hawks, who lost last season’s decider to the Tigers, kicked six straight in the opening term to put the Warriors on the back foot almost immediately at the Port, eventually winning by 53 points.

Modewarre, who went into the match without its number one clearance player in Josh Finch, got belted out of the middle with yellow and brown bulls in Ben Fennell, Flinn Chisholm, James Breust and captain Mitch McGuire having a picnic while ruckman Matthew Piggott provided silver service at times to outside runners as the Hawks won 15.7 (97) to 6.8 (44).

Drysdale also created plenty of Warrior turnovers through constant pressure as Modewarre looked a touch soulless without four-time Les Ash medallist Finch due to a calf issue.

Modewarre got on the board first through the pacy Scott Morter but it was all the Hawks from then on, who quickly raced to a 30-point lead in a similar fashion to Torquay the day prior who kicked five straight in the opening term against Anglesea.

The Hawks were able to transition the ball with far more fluency, and their pressure was suffocating, especially in its forward 50 — an area it was demolished in last Saturday by the Roos.

After Morter’s opener it was a procession with the Hawks defence working brilliantly in tandem, as Luke Preece was back to his dynamic, rebounding self and Jack Jenkins did a number on Connor Joseph again.

With Fennell drifting forward, he snapped his first while Joel Watson accurately sent a banana from the pocket through the big sticks.

A deft left footer from Cam Delaney on the boundary found Watson again for his second, and the Hawks forward line was absolutely humming.

It was the complete opposite up the other end; the Warriors’ entries were messy and without system as Tom Hornsey was also kept goalless to half time.

Drysdale kept the door ajar though, booting five consecutive points plus a couple of out of bounds blunders in the second term, just like they did last week against the Roos.

A desperately needed major through Baxter Anderson cut the margin to 21 points, but it was like pointing a garden hose at a hurricane as Drysdale continued to press hard.

Delaney and Watson remained a threat in the air, while the Hawks caused turnovers in their attacking 50 – chopping off a couple of Oscar Cooke’s exits.

The young, in-form backman still pouched a large number of intercept marks, but his team found it difficult to find any up the other end.

Joseph started the third term stronger with a pair of grabs but failed to convert like he did so spectacularly seven days ago against the Ammos.

By contrast, Delaney beautifully harnessed the breeze while kicking for goal.

Warriors coach Mark Hovey shifted the magnets after half time, with Hornsey spending time in defence and Cooke moved into the middle, and they stemmed the bleeding to some degree, but they simply couldn’t make the most of their opportunities.

Preece came off the field midway through the third with a shoulder issue after a heavy collision, but returned to the field in a promising sign for coach Ben Carmichael.

Originally published as Drysdale’s defence shuts down Modewarre’s match-winning weapons