Warriors looking for edge

Modewarre is confident it can win at home against Anglesea  this Saturday to ensure it stays in the top five of the BFNL ladder, without relying on the result from the Drysdale – Geelong Amateurs game at Drysdale.

Second-placed Drysdale is certainly favoured against the sixth-placed Ammos, but an upset win could see Modewarre out of the five on percentage if they lose to Anglesea.

A likely Drysdale win would see Modewarre and Anglesea certain to play each other the following week in the Elimination Final, but Warriors coach Chris Carlon agreed that whoever wins this Saturday will have a slight psychological edge going into the Finals.

“We don’t really want to leave it to a result between Geelong Ammos and Drysdale, if we can possibly get the job done, but I think whoever wins (this week) will have the slight edge the following week, but finals are a different game,” Carlon said.

“I suppose the thing in our favour is that they’re playing Drysdale at Drysdale, whereas if it was a home game it would make it a little bit harder,” he said.

“We know that whatever happens this week if we’re good enough to get in next week, we’ll have to play just as well.

“I feel like Anglesea have been in real good form and we’ve won eight of our last ten, so it’s going to be a good test and hopefully if we get our player cards right we might get the job done.

“It definitely gives Anglesea something to think about if we did get over the top of them and that’s obviously what we’re aiming to do.

“Obviously it’s nice to be playing our last game at home and we’re pretty confident we’ll put in a great show.”

Carlon said the Warriors may be without centre-half-back Darby Schilder, due to a slight calf strain, but he is hopeful of the return of winger Damon Hemphill, who broke his foot in Round 1.

“(Hemphill) has played the last two weeks in the reserves in a comeback and we’ll see how fit he comes up after training tonight,” Carlon said.

Barwon Heads has enough of a buffer that even if they get beaten at home in an unlikely upset by Newcomb, they will retain their third place on the ladder and will play Drysdale in the following week’s Qualifying Final.