Barwon Heads regained the Battle of the Bridge bragging rights with a 37-point win against Ocean Grove in round 9 of Bellarine Football League on Saturday May 28.
The Seagulls booted five goals to none in the first term to lead by 32 points at the break, but from then on it was a close contest.
Still, Barwon Heads went on to record a 13.9(87) to 7.8(50) victory, its seventh of the season.
Ocean Grove coach Pete Davey said his team couldn’t get its hands on the ball in the first term.
“The first quarter was a reflection of how dominant they were in those first 30 minutes and obviously the score line shows that that’s where the game was decided,” he said.
“We just couldn’t get our hands on the footy and despite working back into the contest, they earned the right to control the tempo and were able to keep us at arm’s length.
“I was pleased that we didn’t throw in the towel at any point and even midway through the last when the game was over, we stayed in there and competed hard.”
Ocean Grove’s finals hopes are all but over and Davey said the second half of the season would be all about “education and experience”.
“From a senior games viewpoint, we’re actually less experienced than what we were last year and the silver lining to where we’re sitting is that we can blood more youth and continue to get games into our Under 20s,” he said.
“We would have done that anyway, but now we can do it without the stress of feeling like we have to win every game to try and finish fifth.”
Barwon Heads coach Daniel Donati said he had a feeling that his side was switched on before the game.
“Around the midfield is where it always starts,” he said.
“We got the ball out of the centre and kept in our front half. It was a really tight contest. They (Ocean Grove) had a big win against Port and have been very competitive in the last month.
“They’re really even. I don’t think the ladder gives them the credit they deserve really.”
Donati said he was looking forward to what the second half of the season brings for his third-placed Seagulls.
“I’m really happy with the first half of the season,” he said.
“If someone had said to me we’d be sitting in the top three sitting seven and two I’d have taken it. It’s the way we’ve improved every week and gelled as a side.
“They’re a great group and I can’t wait to see what the second half of the season provides.”
Davey said his side’s performance had its positives.
“I think we showed a bit of grit after quarter time, we competed better at the contest which was a real focus during the week,” he said.
“We had a number of boys playing roles that were unfamiliar to them so to see them take that challenge on and perform well was really pleasing.
“Young Campbell Snookes played nearly the whole game on the ball and for a 17 year old, I thought he was really composed.”
Davey also said there are areas his side needed to improve.
“We’ve fallen down structurally in key moments so far this year and that is a by-product of inexperience,” he said.
“Only coaching and time can fix that which again, goes back to our focus on getting as much education completed between now and around 18.”
