Injuries and an inability to outrun a composed Barwon Heads outfit led to the reserves falling to a 9.11 (65) to 4.3 (27) defeat, their first of the season.

The Seagulls had the benefit of a supportive breeze in the first quarter to open up an 18-point advantage at quarter-time, before the Seas responded in the second term to trail by nine points at the long break.

But the injuries began to mount by the third quarter, as Alex Clemens, Nat Leach, Matt McGuane, and Riley Fowler were unable to get back onto the field and left the hosts with just one rotation for the remainder of the game.