By MARK HEENAN
OCEAN Grove senior coach Wayne Walsh says the Grubbers’ BFL finals hopes are not out of reach despite an indifferent 3-7 record in 2016.
Walsh said the eighth-placed Grubbers would need to win six of their last eight games to make the BFL’s top five.
The Grubbers face five of their final eight games on the road and three of their next four fixtures away from Shell Road.
“Finals are not at all (out of reach),” Walsh told the Voice.
“If you look at the results from the weekend, we can win those games.
“If we can win six of our last eight games we can make the finals, it is as simple as that.
“We have had a tough run for a month … we think the draw sets us up OK.”
Ocean Grove has endured a difficult month with losses against third-placed Anglesea, current ladder leader Queenscliff and last season’s BFL grand finalists Torquay and Geelong Amateur in successive weeks.
The Grubbers have been competitive and in winning situations in games they have lost.
Ocean Grove suffered its worst defeat against Geelong Amateur in round three at Queens Park by 66 points, but four of its losses have been under 25 points or less this season.
“If you could say we have had ‘honourable defeats’ … but it is getting to the stage we have got to win games of football,” Walsh said.
“The next month is huge for us before the next break.
“If we can win all four games we put ourselves in a good spot going into the last four games.”
Ocean Grove will meet an improved Newcomb this Saturday at Grinter Reserve.
Senior game starts at 2.10pm.
GRUBBERS’ RUN HOME FOR 2016
ROUND 11 – Newcomb (away)
ROUND 12 – Modewarre (home)
ROUND 13 – Drysdale (away)
ROUND 14 – Portarlington (away)
ROUND 15 – Barwon Heads (home)
ROUND 16 – Torquay (away)
ROUND 17 – Anglesea (home)
ROUND 18 – Queenscliff (away)
