HEADS BIG VICTORY BOOSTS PERCENTAGE

Barwon Heads have defeated winless Portarlington away by 130 points to provide a timely 26% increase to our percentage as we consolidated our position in the top 5. Next week in around 8 Barwon Heads hosts fellow top 3 aspirant Modewarre in a crucial game.

Barwon Heads made 8 changes to the side that defeated Geelong Amateurs in Round 7. Into the side came Will Jacobs, Mitch Phelps, Seb Kent and Michael Philp returning from injury and Ryan Harvey and Lee Spiteri from being unavailable. Dom Booth was rewarded after solid form at Reserves level and recent recruit David Stretton was promoted for his senior debut after playing at Reserves level in around 7. Out of the side went the injured Mitch Herbison and Sam Witherden, whilst Nathan Brown, Cameron O’Leary, Otto Opperman and Archie Hildebrandt were rested and both Noah Young and Koban Treweek were unavailable.

Portarlington had the strong breeze in the first quarter but rarely ventured into their forward 50 as Barwon Heads controlled possession and continually had the ball in their forward 50. Seb Kent and Lachlan Slorach were prominent early and Charlie Nairn, Mitch Phelps, Slorach, Kyle Polley and Charlie Walter all kicked majors in the opening quarter as Portarlington were scoreless.

The second quarter continued in the same vein with Portarlington having plenty of numbers parked in their defence as Barwon Heads struggled to convert their dominance of general play. Inaccuracy in front of goal begun to become evident as the Demons continued to work hard to defend. Phelps, Nairn, Polley, Jacobs and Philp kicked goals as midfielders Harvey, Mitchell, Eddy, Stretton, Paulin and Close continued to win plenty of possession.

At half time Barwon Heads 10.12 led Portarlington who hadn’t scored.

The third quarter saw Portarlington again with the breeze but they were unable to threaten up forward as McLauchlan, Aulsebrook and Eddy joined the goalkickers list as Phelps added his third. At the last break Barwon Heads led 14.18 to a single behind.

The final quarter saw Barwon Heads add another six goals through Phelps, Jacobs, Everett, Stretton, Horbury and Paulin as coaches Troy Mitchell and Mitch Herbison through their players around. To Portarlington’s credit they were able to kick two goals late in the game.

Barwon Heads 20.23 (143) defeated Portarlington 2.1 (13)

GOALKICKERS : Phelps 4, Nairn 2, Jacobs 2, Polley 2, Slorach 1, Walter 1, Philp 1, McLauchlan 1, Aulsebrook 1, Eddy 1, Everett 1, Stretton 1, Horbury 1, Paulin 1

BEST PLAYERS : Slorach, Kent, Walter, Harvey, Jacobs, Spiteri

RESERVES WRAP

Barwon Heads reserves recorded a massive 190 point victory over an undermanned Portarlington to continue their unbeaten 2021 form.

Barwon Heads 31.11 (197) defeated Portarlington 1.1 (7)

GOALKICKERS : Hardiman 10, Allen 7, Pocock 4, B.Michell 3, Walsgott 3, L.Michell 2, Evans 1, Everett 1

BEST PLAYERS : Hardiman, B.Michell, Walsgott, D.O’Leary, Allen, Graham

COLTS PUSH UNDEFEATED BANNOCKBURN

Bannockburn 9.9 (63) defeated Barwon Heads 4.7 (31)

GOALKICKERS : Snookes 2, Vella 2

BEST PLAYERS : Barsby, McGregor-Dawson, McAteer, Middleton, Spowart