Geelong Amateur has beaten three of last year’s finalists after four rounds

Geelong Amateur faced the BFNL’s toughest start to the season. But boasting new offensive weapons, they’ve aced the challenge so far after four rounds.

If they weren’t before Geelong Amateur is officially the team to beat after a superb 4-0 start to the BFNL season.

The Ammos, whose season fell apart late in 2024 – losing four of its last five games including an elimination final to Modewarre – had the Bellarine’s toughest start to the season, facing three finalists from last year plus Barwon Heads and now Drysdale to come.

But with new co-coach Sam Lloyd coming on board, and key pieces Mitch Day and Dan Weigl arriving from Lara among others, the Ammos have aced the test so far, winning all four games by an average of 31 points and breaching the 100-point mark on three occasions with new offensive weapons.

Geelong Amateur's Mitchell Day kicked his third bag of five or more on Saturday. Picture: Alan Barber

Ammos co-coach Riley Kershaw was happy with the start but generously pointed to Barwon Heads’ inaccuracy on Saturday, booting 13.20, and missing some key players, including Angus Ford (Geelong Falcons), Sam Witherden (hamstring) and James Syddall (knee) to injury and unavailability.

“Around the contest they were super strong, they had a few out yesterday, so they let us off the hook to be honest, pretty inaccurate,” Kershaw said.

“It could have been a different story if they’d kicked a bit straighter.

“We’d expect them to be a very big piece of the puzzle (in 2025).”

Meanwhile, Mitch Herbison, who will not play every game for the Seagulls due to coaching commitments with Geelong’s VFL team, booted six.

Herbison produced a pair of three-goal displays against the Ammos last season and collected six in Round 16, 2022.

“Every time we play that bloke he kicks goals,” he said.

“We’ve got to work out a way to stop him.”

Geelong Amateur coach Riley Kershaw believes Barwon Heads let them off the hook on Saturday. Picture: Alan Barber

When pressed if last year’s fade out provided extra motivation, Kershaw said he did find himself thinking about what might have been — the Ammos were the only team to beat the reigning premiers last year during the home and away season.

“Internally, maybe myself, you do keep receipts, I’m assuming some of the boys would as well, but at the end of the day it’s sort of a new group, we’ve got a new structure in place, Sam being a playing coach,” he said.

“I’ve got Darren Milburn in the box with me, and Ian Cruttenden.

“Even our spine and our playing group is a little bit different.

“Because of the change, it’s easy to put it in the rearview, which is good.

“But I’d be lying to say you don’t think about how disappointing it was towards the end of last year.”

Day is only one goal behind Anglesea’s Ayden Gras on the goalkicking table with 18 majors following his third haul of five or more on Saturday against Barwon Heads.

With Paddy Dowling returning to St Mary’s after one season, which produced 51 goals, Lloyd has complemented Day’s domination to be fourth on the table with 14 majors.

“Those two in particular are just really really good one-on-one players,” he said.

“I definitely wouldn’t want to be caught with them inside the 50 as a defender, that’s for sure.”

With Newcomb producing its third win of the season – downing Ocean Grove on Anzac Day by 44 points with Jack Duke booting five – and expecting Portarlington to be build on last year’s improvement, Kershaw believed the BFNL was becoming far more competitive.

“That’s the beauty of the comp, you can’t go into next week knowing you’re going to get four points ... the comp is so even,” he said.

Meanwhile, Modewarre tasted victory for the first time this BFNL season with a 43-point defeat of Queenscliff at Mount Moriac Reserve.

Barwon Heads’ Luke Davis takes an absolute hanger against Geelong Amateur. Picture: Alan Barber

Tom Hornsey booted five with support from Scott Morter (three), Will Thrum (two) and Ryan Williams (two) — playing in his first senior game this season after coming back through the reserves.

Torquay continues to get its season back on track, downing Anglesea in a grand final rematch by 33 points at Ellimatta Reserve, with William Montebello and Jesse Dawson both booting five goals while Cooper Heard slotted three.

Originally published as Geelong Amateur has beaten three of last year’s finalists after four rounds