Geelong Amateur’s rapid rise from losing an elimination final to making the Bellarine Football League grand final in the space of 12 months has come off the back of higher expectations according to co-captain Harry Kershaw.
Part of that expectation stemmed from an aggressive recruiting drive that resulted in co-coach Sam Lloyd, Lara duo Mitch Day and Dan Weigl, big man Hamish Shepheard and midfielders Lachie Rielly and Joe Maishman coming to the club.
But internal expectations were already high through natural progression.
“The expectations are definitely different this year and when you are coming in from day one or preseason, obviously everyone wants to win a flag,” Kershaw said.
“And there’s a fair few new players as well, fresh faces, which really has ignited a bit of a flame in the group.”
Key forward Day and defender Weigl, former Ammos juniors, have been particularly impressive.
“I’ve played with Daisy (Day) before and he’s just the ultimate competitor,” Kershaw said.
“He’s the nicest guy as well. He’s just very unselfish. For a bloke that kicks hundreds of goals, he’s just the most unselfish bloke out there.
“Weigs (Weigl) has never really played in senior footy finals before (one in the past 12 years), which he brought up the other day.
“He comes with so much experience and so much knowledge, but you wouldn’t know that he’s only played one final. He’s just so composed and he’s a footy nuffy at heart. He loves diving into all the edits and all that sort of stuff.”
Kershaw is not surprised that his side’s grand final opponent on Saturday, Anglesea, is in the decider after coming from fifth on the ladder.
“They competed for the flag last year and just fell short, and we’ve had probably the tightest games consistently over the season with them, just getting over them both times,” he said.
“So, no real surprises at all, to be honest. I think they’re really strong through three levels essentially – forwards, mids and backs. Obviously you’ve got to have a strong team to make a granny.
“That midfield is exceptional with the likes of Jordan (Keras) and Lingy (Harrison Ling) going through there and that’s somewhere we’ll have to really knuckle down and match them.
“Up forward they’ve got (Ayden) Gras, who is probably almost equal to Daisy in the goal kicking. So we should see some good match-ups there.”
Kershaw last played in a grand final in 2017, when Ammos lost to Torquay.
“When I first came back, we were going for a four-peat, and I just thought it’s almost something that was expected – you just get to play local footy, grannies and all that sort of stuff,” he said.
“But, it’s been a long time between drinks for me. I’m just excited to get out there, and being able to lead the club, and doing that for the last couple of years, has been an honour.
“To repay the club members and the volunteers with a flag would be unreal.”
Kershaw said first year co-coach and former Richmond and Western Bulldogs player Sam Lloyd has had a strong influence on the team along with Riley Kershaw.
“Obviously he’s a gun player, which helps a lot, but he definitely is the one who just bonds really well with the playing group,” he said.
“Being a player himself, he just bonds super well and gels with the whole group and he connects with the younger blokes as well.
“So the younger blokes, who are probably in their first finals campaign, he fills them with a lot of confidence and it’s really a simple and defined game plan that he wants to roll out.”
A final round tie against Queenscliff allowed Anglesea to sneak into the finals, but the Seas have basically been playing elimination finals for at least six weeks.
Co-captain Jack Walters said having to keep winning well before the finals even started had created a do or die mindset.
“I think coming into every single game with the mindset that you have to win and you have to perform, it’s allowed a lot of our players to rise to the occasion and that’s really brought out the best in a lot of players,” he said.
“Going in knowing that you must win, it’s been beneficial for us all and I think it’s been a real drive for us going into the finals and preparing for the finals right. We had to win our last three or four games to even get in there.”
Walters missed last season’s losing grand final while still recovering from his second ACL injury. He said he tried to get back on the field, but ultimately had to watch from the sidelines. He said he was thankful to be given an opportunity on the big stage.
“It’s definitely tough…I’d been through the experience before, so that definitely helped with the rehab side of things,” Walters said.
“But watching footy’s never easy, no matter who you are, especially when you’re winning and your team’s having success – as great as it is – you still want to be a part of it.
“It was difficult at times. All I wanted to do was get back and play, and I was able to do that and this year the body’s held up well, so that was my main focus.”
Walters said being underdogs for the grand final suited his side.
“We finished fifth, so we’ve really come into the finals as underdogs across every game, which we love – we take it in our stride,” he said.
“We might be the underdogs, but we still believe that we’re the best team in the comp, and we still believe that we’re good enough to win it.”
Coach Jordan Keras is leading the Roos in their second consecutive grand final and Walters said the dynamic midfielder had instilled belief among the squad even when the prospect of making finals was unknown.
“I think one thing about Jordan that he brings to our group is that belief and that confidence,” he said.
“We knew that the game plan that all our coaches are trying to instill holds up in finals and especially against good teams, so that belief was really driven from him and then buying in from the players.
“And we got on this little run of wins and that really increased the belief. He’s been pivotal in driving that confidence factor.”
GRAND FINALS
Saturday September 13, Grinter Reserve, Newcomb
Seniors: Geelong Amateur vs Anglesea, 2.10pm
Reserves: Geelong Amateur vs Torquay, 11.30am
Under 18 Division 2: Barwon Heads vs Colac, 9.15am
