Ocean Grove pushed premiership contender Modewarre all the way in round 7 of Bellarine Football League on Saturday, but coach Pete Davey was far from pleased with an honourable loss.
The Grubbers sit ninth on the ladder with just one win and finals are becoming increasingly unlikely with every defeat.
They led at every change on Saturday, but were behind by nine points when the final siren sounded at Mount Moriac Reserve. Final scores Modewarre 9.14(68) to Ocean Grove 9.5(59).
Ed Dayman booted four goals for the Grubbers while livewire forward James Paterson contributed three.
Dayman, Joe McDonald, Max Sutton, Glenn Campbell, Josh Horton and Kye Annand were named best players.
“We spoke during the day about not being pleased with a brave performance or a good effort if it didn’t yield a result,” Davey said.
“While it gave confidence that we’re getting back to playing the Ocean Grove footy that we expect, we weren’t pleased at all with the result.”
After winning an elimination final last year before the season was abruptly ended by COVID, Ocean Grove is in grave danger of missing the finals.
The Grubbers are three games behind fifth-placed Queenscliff and sixth-placed Geelong Amateur, but have a good percentage of 103.31. Queenscliff’s percentage is 106.53 and Ammos’ is 103.78.
“We said at the start of the year that our goal was to improve and if we did that, finals would look after themselves,” Davey said.
“We haven’t improved to this point and that’s largely why we’re in the position we’re in.
“From here on we can’t look ahead to August finals as our elimination finals are basically upon us.”
Costly losses to Newcomb (by three points), Queenscliff (11 points) and Modda (nine points) haven’t helped Ocean Grove’s cause, but Davey was making no excuses.
“We’ve lost close games due to a combination of failing to convert on forward 50 entries and making mistakes or being undisciplined in critical moments,” Davey said.
“Had we been better in those moments, we’d be sitting in a very different position. The upside is that if we execute better and defend better, we know we can compete with anybody so it’s not all doom and gloom.
“There is belief within our players and coaches that we can work our way out of the position we’re in.”
Despite the final scoreline, Davey was pleased with several aspects of his team’s game.
“Our forward 50 entries were much better than they have been all year and as a result, our forward line functioned the most efficiently it has so far this year, for the first 85 minutes anyway,” he said.
“We had a very even contribution across the board which has also been missing to date – it was much more like the Ocean Grove ‘team’ footy that we pride ourselves on.”
However, Davey admitted a lack of discipline hurt his charges.
“We gave up a goal from a 50 metre penalty in the first quarter and our general structure fell down from midway through the last quarter,” he said.
“Had we been better in those moments, even with a few other things going against us, we would have walked away with the four points.”
Ocean Grove faces a must-win game at Queens Park Oval, Highton, against Geelong Amateur in round 8 before a huge Battle of the Bridge clash against Barwon Heads to round out the halfway mark of the season.
“Playing as close to 100 minutes of Ocean Grove football as possible is the weekly goal,” Davey said.
“Each game is essentially made up of four, 30 minute games and we are aiming to win as many of those ‘mini games’ as possible.”
Ocean Grove suffered a heart-breaking three-point loss in the reserves. Final scores Modewarre 8.8(56) to Ocean Grove 8.5(53).
Similar to the senior team, the Grubbers were in front at every change, except the most important one. Lachlan Slater and Jack Rawlings were named best for Ocean Grove.
Ocean Grove is in sixth spot on the ladder with four wins, behind on a small amount of percentage from Newcomb and Geelong Amateur.
