Portarlington wields killer versatility to kick 13 straight goals against Newcomb in 37-point win

Portarlington has exhibited its enviable flexibility against Newcomb as both sides combined for 18 consecutive goals in a eye-catching shootout.

New Portarlington coach Darren Findlay guided the Demons to his inaugural win on home turf. Picture: Mark Wilson

Portarlington Football Club underwent a multimillion-dollar transformation during the off-season, boasting sparkling new change rooms and an upgraded pavilion.

And you could argue the same evolution is happening on the field after the Demons’ deadly accurate display against an in-form Newcomb, exhibiting genuine star power across the lines.

Twelve months prior, the Demons downed the Power for their first win in nearly five years in the BFNL, triggering glorious relief more than anything else.

This time, however, it feels like Portarlington under new coach Darren Findlay could do some serious damage in 2025 with an array of forward line options at its disposal.

It was billed as one of the games of Round 3, and a sign the natural order of things in the Bellarine was shifting.

Stephen Walton and Max Ruiter embrace after the win. Picture: Mark Wilson

And for a half of footy it lived up to the hype, before Portarlington’s new wave of class took control of the game as if it was somehow inevitable.

While the club has obviously brought in some heavy duty talent in the past 12 months – most notably Teia Miles, Connor Menadue, Scott Greenhough and Jack Dorgan – Demons supporters are just as excited by the younger brigade with close to 10 players on Saturday aged under 21.

Port is now third on the BFNL ladder after a 60-point Good Saturday turnaround, going from 23 points down in the first term to winners by 37 after Newcomb had thrown a series of early punches.

In a sign of changing fortunes for two of the Bellarine’s perennial bottom two teams, they combined for 18 consecutive majors without a solitary point.

In fact, the home team’s first behind for the afternoon came seven minutes into the third term after a Miles set shot faded right.

Before then, Portarlington had kicked 13.0 to answer Newcomb’s early salvos.

The one thing this new-look Portarlington side boasts is killer versatility with a number of prime movers – Miles, Menadue, Dorgan and Greenhough in particular – able to switch forward and do just as much damage on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, captain Mitch Turnbull was an aerial threat and booted a couple of big time goals – there may be no better celebrator in the BFNL – while the classy Dorgan showed his dexterity with a soccer goal to open the third term.

Mitch Turnbull celebrates one of his four goals. Picture: Mark Wilson

Earlier, Newcomb’s tackling was again fierce, last week’s hero Josh Saltalamacchia roosted one from beyond 50 while the Power went coast to coast on a couple of occasions.

However, down by 17 points at the first break, the move of Miles forward of the ball had immediate and maximum impact as he booted three in less than four minutes – two due to umpiring decisions – with Charlie Harvey handed the unenviable task of keeping the former Hawk quiet.

The Power were later forced to throw Corey Ogle onto Miles as he kicked his fourth – a brilliant snap right by the Demons faithful in the pocket – for the quarter in a game-changing burst.

Meanwhile, Dorgan had an absolute picnic in the middle as the Demons time and again ripped it out of the centre with pace and accuracy.

Largely against the flow of play, a terrific set shot from the pocket from Joe Clarke gave the Power a five-point buffer in the 17th minute but it would be the last time they would lead in the match.

At half time, key forwards Jack Duke and Jacob Watson had ominously combined for six goals between them, and seemingly more to come.

However, only Duke would add a further major to that total as the Power were reduced 5.5 over two quarters with Kelly Pickard reeling in a number of huge defensive grabs.

At three quarter time, Findlay urged his Demons to continue to change angles, to play to their strengths and avoid trying the impossible.

Turnbull took several huge grabs in attacking 50. Picture: Mark Wilson

And by the middle of the fourth it had become rarefied air for Demons fans — watching their team turn the final screws on a big victory.

Greenhough was judged best on ground for the second game in a row, in a captivating duel with Jarrod Stafford.

The former Deer Park big man exhibited his mobility on a number of occasions while his tap work to Miles late in the game was sublime.

A tremendous Zac Kos tackle on man mountain Stafford summed up the home team’s hunger for the contest.

Demons mentor’s final coaching tilt

New Demons coach Darren Findlay thought he perhaps had one last coaching gig left him in.

And he might have picked the right horse to bet on after the Demons put Newcomb in their place after a promising 2-0 start to the BFNL season, including the scalp of the reigning premier.

Findlay, who travels from Point Cook to the Port for training and games, said he was lured back onto the tools through club servant Geoff Miles and the challenge of turning Portarlington into a force after many years mired in the lower reaches of the BFNL.

Findlay said he was blessed with options forward of the ball, with a four-goal, second term burst from Teia Miles flipping the game on its head.

“We’ve got a few things we can switch up, which is handy,” Findlay said.

“We can score quick, that’s part of how I coach to a degree.

“The connection of the players has been really good ... they’ve only played for three or four weeks together.”

Portarlington leave the ground after beating Newcomb by 37 points. Picture: Mark Wilson

The former VFL player said a 55-point loss to Barwon Heads in the opening round was not reflective of where his side was at – the Demons were outscored 8.10 to one goal in the third term – revealing five players were impacted by injury during the game.

“We were a bit stiff against Barwon Heads, we were up at half time and then five of our players got injured,” Findlay said, who hadn’t coached for four years before taking on the Portarlington job.

“We had about five go down in about five minutes. We were down to 17 men.

“We won the last quarter which was a goal I set them to do.”

Findlay was glad Miles had lured him down to the Port on a three-year deal.

“He enticed me out of retirement,” he said.

“I’d say it’s more Geoff than anything else.

“(I thought) maybe I had one more crack left in me, but I thought it’s got to be the right club, and it’s got to be the right fit for me.

“We’ve been down for so long, that was the challenge for me.”

With dance music blaring from within Port’s victorious changerooms, Findlay said footy had changed a lot but he was still in love with coaching: “It makes me feel a lot younger as well.”

Originally published as Portarlington wields killer versatility to kick 13 straight goals against Newcomb in 37-point win