Modewarre flexed its BFL finals credentials to defeat a youthful Ocean Grove by 49 points at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval in their Round 14 clash on 20 July.
Final scores Modewarre 15.15 (105) to Ocean Grove 9.2 (56).
Last year’s BFL premiers, Modewarre, kicked with the aid of a three-to-four goal breeze at the southern end in the first term and led by 22 points at quarter time against a goalless Grubbers.
The home side fought back after quarter time and reduced the deficit back to 11 points at the main break thanks to a wind assisted four-goal second term performance.
Ocean Grove senior interim coach David King said the inexperienced Grubbers faced an arduous task taking on a two-metre tall John Meesen, Warriors co-coach, who gave his star on-ballers first use of ball.
King confirmed young Grubber makeshift ruck Tom Hobbs, who gave away several inches in height to Meesen, competed well against his highly fancied opponent.
“Meesen, he was the dominant player on the ground and dominant ruckman, he gave them first use of the footy,” King told the Voice.
“I thought Tommy Hobbs was fantastic all day to compete – he played his role.
“The thing about Meesen is actually good at his feet – he can actually tap it to players (Josh) Finch and Cody Grant and (Matty) McKim.
“If they (Modewarre on-ballers) don’t get it he (Meesen) seems to follow up which is a credit to him, he is a big man and he can actually follow his own work like an onballer.”
Modewarre dominated third term and kept Ocean Grove scoreless with ball winners Oliver Butler, Matty McKim the star players.
The visitors led by a whopping 59 points at the final break and had 24 inside 50s compared with the Grubbers six entries in the third term albeit Modda kicked with wind advantage.
The home side reduced the deficit in the fourth term and booted five goals.
Modewarre trio Jake Kilmartin, Thomas Worpel and Lindsay Phillips all snared three goals.
For the Grubbers, power forward Jake Ward booted four goals and increased his tally to 24 in 2019.
Peter Hardy finished with two goals for Ocean Grove.
MEANTIME Grubber veteran Kelly Williams played his first senior game since Round 18 last year.
Williams, a senior best-and-fairest winner at Ocean Grove, was named in the Grubbers’ best players.
“I put it on him on Monday and said if you are right you will play and he has played (five games in the reserves) and he is a class A and he is a 150 plus game player,” King said.
FORMER Colac junior player Mitch Cirillo made his senior debut for the Grubbers against Modda.
Cirillo played 12 Ocean Grove reserves games in 2019 before making his senior debut.
RESERVES
Ocean Grove maintained a top five spot in their reserves grade clash despite going down by 12 points against Modewarre
Final scores Modewarre 7.16 (58) to Ocean Grove 7.4 (46).
Modda jumped out of the blocks and led by 29 points at quarter time thanks to a five-goal first term.
The Grubbers responded in second term and booted four goals and trailed by 13 points at half time.
The home side got within six points of Modewarre in the final quarter.
Grubber playing coach Cheyne Kelly booted two goals.
Fifth-placed Ocean Grove had a 8-6 win loss from 14 rounds.
BFL SENIOR SCOREBOARD
MODEWARRE 15.15 (105) def OCEAN GROVE 9.2 (56)
OCEAN GROVE
Goals: J. Ward 4, P. Hardy 2, J. Perkovic, R. Maloney, R. Symonds.
Best: J. Ward, R. Hobbs, T. Hobbs, J. Owen, R. Maloney, K. Williams.
