Portarlington coach Warren Finlayson remains confident his team can find a fourth win in a season for the first time since 2015, despite Connor Menadue suffering another hamstring injury and the retirements of Jaryd Cachia and Nathan Pigott.
Former Richmond and North Melbourne AFL player Menadue was forced from the field midway through the final term of the Demons’ six-point loss to Modewarre with his third hamstring injury this season.
With Portarlington enjoying a league-wide bye, Finlayson is hopeful Menadue will return for the season’s final three or four games.
“He’ll rehab now with our medical team, and away from the footy club, he’s got some experienced people in his corner, which has enabled him to get back each time,” Finlayson said.
“It would be ideal for us if we could have him for those last few games, and we can finish strong.”
Cachia, one of three recruits with AFL experience who joined Portarlington this year, and Pigott last played against Queenscliff in Round 9.
“Jaryd was struck down by injury, and there came a time in his thought process that, ‘my time in footy is done now’,” Finlayson said.
“He’s got a few ventures that he’s focused on outside of footy.
“We wish him all the best and thank him for his contribution, both on the field in the few games he’s played but even off the field as well.
“For some of our young mids, learning from him was a really great experience for them, and we truly value that.”
Pigott has held down a key defensive role since arriving at the club ahead of the 2023 season after a lengthy break from football.
“He a had a couple of challenges in the last couple of rounds he played,” Finlayson said.
“He had a week off and decided ‘it might be time for me to let one of the young fellas have a crack at playing key position back’.
“He’s still involved in the footy club; his family’s involved in the footy club, so we do see him.
“His contribution to the senior team at Portarlington, having played full-back for a year-and-a-half in some really challenging games, he held his head high every week and delivered a lot of learning for our younger group.”
Portarlington might only have three wins to their name, but the signs of improvement are obvious.
After seven losses by more than 100 points last year, there has just been one triple-figure margin this season.
While four of their defeats in 2024 have been by 18 points or less, including Anglesea by nine points and Modewarre by six.
Turning narrow losses into wins will be a focus for the Demons in the final five rounds.
“We just want to make sure that if the game is there to be won, we’re performing the right way and sticking to the process that we’ve implemented in the Anglesea and Modewarre games and the games against Newcomb and Ocean Grove earlier in the year,” Finlayson said.
“When we play the top-end teams, we want to make sure we’re in the game for as long as possible and giving ourselves every chance to cause an upset.
“There’s been a few in the league this year, so we want to make the most of those chances.”
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