Barwon Heads miss BFNL finals despite seven point win over Drysdale, after Anglesea-Queenscliff draw

Barwon Heads came into the final round needing a win – and an Anglesea loss – to make finals. And with minutes left in the season, it seemed they were bound for September – until they weren’t.

Meg Saultry

4 min read

August 17, 2025 - 5:08PM

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Barwon Heads players left dejected after the final siren despite a win. Picture: Alan Barber

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It was a case of history repeating itself as Barwon Heads fell two points shy of a Bellarine finals berth.

But unlike the 2024 season, when the Seagulls gave themselves no chance with a loss in the final round, Sam Schaller’s men did everything right come round 18 on Saturday, holding off a Drysdale comeback to secure a 11.9 (75) to 9.14 (68) win over the top 5 side.

But this time, it was the footy gods – and Anglesea – against them, as the Roos pulled off a nailbiting draw against Queenscliff with a late minor score to ensure it was them, the reigning grand finalists, through to September action in fifth at the expense of the Seagulls.

Schaller admitted it was a “funny feeling” come the final siren, knowing their win wasn't enough in the end.

“I was trying hard not to look at the scores in the other game, and there was a bit of roar that went up around our crowd late in the last quarter (when Queenscliff kicked a goal) and I knew that was a good sign,” Schaller said.

A crowd watches on late in the Barwon Heads-Drysdale game. Picture: Alan Barber

“Then it went a bit quiet and that wasn’t a great sign after that.

“Their (Anglesea) game finished a couple minutes before ours, so sort of knew maybe 90 seconds, two minutes before our game Anglesea managed get back that point and get a draw.”

It marked an interesting end to the BFNL home and away season, with no top 5 team winning in round 18, as bottom two clubs Ocean Grove and Newcomb delivered upsets against top two outfits Geelong Amateur and Torquay, while the Anglesea-Queenscliff draw was also enough for the Coutas to secure top 3 and a double-chance come finals over the Hawks.

Despite doing all they could on the final day to return to finals after two years, Schaller admitted they had themselves to blame with earlier dropped games in a league which has become increasingly competitive top to bottom in recent seasons.

“It’s two years in a row we’re two points out of the five and four or six off third and getting a double chance,” he said.

“We dropped a game against Modewarre this year that we’d probably expect to win … lost to Anglesea earlier in the year by a point as well.

“Probably at the time you don’t think it’s going to come back to hurt you as much as it does … but we got bit on the bum at 4.50pm on the last kick of the day.”

Barwon Heads coach Sam Schaller talks to his players at three quarter time. Picture: Alan Barber

After an off-season recruiting blitz generated plenty of excitement for what the Seagulls could potentially do this year, Schaller still believed there was positives to take out of the season despite missing finals for a second consecutive year.

“It was good to get some guys into the club, in particular guys who left as juniors and came back,” Schaller said.

“We were probably a bit younger than I anticipated.

“I probably would have expected us to make the finals, (but) I think we’re in a pretty good launching zone at the moment, we’ve got a lot of guys that have played 20-40 senior games of footy.

“We’ll go out and try bring a couple other guys into the club and hopefully fight our ways into the finals next year.”

Newly appointed senior co-coach Damian McMahon (middle) left looking despondent as the Seagulls miss finals. Picture: Alan Barber

Schaller will share the senior coaching reins with star player Damian McMahon – who kicked three goals against the Hawks – next season, McMahon an assistant playing midfield coach in his first year at the club after crossing from GFNL club St Marys.

“When I wanted to get Damo to the club, a lot of the conversations were centred around what his future in footy looked like moving forward and whether that would be with coaching,” Schaller said.

“He entertained the idea but wanted to see how this year went.

“He’s really enjoyed it and (has) taken to it like a duck to water.”

Around the grounds

Anglesea 12.9 (81) drew with Queenscliff 11.15 (81)

A single point in the 29th minute was enough to secure the reigning grand finalist’s place in finals.

The Roos were in danger of dropping out of the top 5 with a loss and Barwon Heads win, with the Coutas’ 28th minute goal almost securing that fate before the Roos mustered the minor score.

Torquay 8.11 (59) def. by Ocean Grove 11.7 (73)

In a number of shock upsets on the final day of the season, last-placed Grubbers came up with a 14-point win over the reigning premiers and top 2 Tigers.

The win – spearheaded by Kye Annand and Rory Phillips (four goals) – wasn’t enough to avoid the wooden spoon though, with second-last Newcomb also winning on the final day.

Geelong Amateur 9.14 (68) def. by Newcomb 10.10 (70)

Two clutch goals in the final minutes saw Power avoid the wooden spoon and down the minor premiers in one fell swoop.

Jacob Watson starred with five goals for the Power, while teen Charley Green was the Ammos’ best with four – the first-year senior player taking his home-and-away tally to 26 goals.

Mitch Day’s two majors were enough for the star Ammos recruit to take home the league’s goalkicking award – his 69 goals two clear of Anglesea’s Ayden Gras.