A four-goal haul from forward Jack Hargreaves including the match winner with a minute to go has propelled Drysdale into its first Bellarine Football League grand final in a decade.
The Hawks overturned their two-point qualifying final defeat to Barwon Heads with a nine-point win in the preliminary final at Newcomb’s Grinter Reserve on Saturday August 2.
With Drysdale three points up, the ball was hurried forward where Hargreaves won a one-on-one battle on the boundary and line kicked the sealer with the ball dribbling from shin to boot amid rapturous cheers from the Hawks’ faithful.
The Seagulls had their chances late in the game. Mitch Phelps was running into an open goal when he was penalised for running too far and Sammy Baker and Cooper Ward both missed shots on goal.
The match see-sawed all afternoon.
Barwon Heads led at every change, but Drysdale won 10.7(67) to 8.10(58) and will meet Torquay in the grand final.
Tom Ruggles booted three for Drysdale and was best afield while at the other end Jack Jenkins was superb and Hargreaves’ four goals were probably the difference.
The loss signalled the end to Barwon Heads’ season, but co-coaches Mitch Herbison and Sam Schaller have re-signed and will be at the helm in 2024 with the list still strong enough to contend again.
Kallum Hinchcliffe was the Heads’ best while Ryley Stuhldreier played one of his best games in his first season at the club and the classy Oli Wiltshire was dangerous with three goals.
Small forward Sammy Baker loomed as a potential match winner all game and kicked two goals as did Herbison.
The grand final is at Grinter Reserve, Newcomb on Saturday September 9 starting at 2pm.
