Torquay overran an unresponsive Ocean Grove by 53 points in their Round 8 BFL senior clash at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval on Saturday.
The passive Grubbers were held goalless in a last quarter fade out.
Ocean Grove sits in eighth spot on the ladder with a 2-6 record after eight rounds.
It was five wins on the trot for an in-form second-placed Torquay with a 6-2 record.
Final scores Torquay 15.12 (102) and Ocean Grove 7.7 (49).
Ocean Grove coach Jordan Jones described the result as its most disappointing loss of 2019.
“It was the most disappointing loss because I felt like the group gave up on trying to win in the last quarter,” Jones told the Voice.
“We need to change our attitude and lift our training standards and be harder on one another to become better.”
Midway through the third term the coastal BFL clash looked set for an enthralling finish after the home side got within nine points of Torquay.
Ocean Grove outscored Torquay four goals to three majors in the third term.
The Grubbers went into the game without senior co-captain James Linton (hip injury) who also missed the Portarlington clash on 25 May.
Linton won’t play again in 2019 and his injury blow adds to the club’s long-term injury woes with playing coach Jordan Jones (knee) and Kieran McNally (shoulder) to miss the rest of season.
Experienced utility Aaron Baxter was an early causality in first term against the Tigers with an ankle injury.
Geelong Falcons listed player and Grubber young star Tom Richardson, a nine-goal hero against Portarlington in Round 7, did not play due to the Falcons’ NAB League clash against the Eastern Rangers on Sunday 2 June.
Grubber senior co-captain Justin Carey, a key defender, went forward, while rising backman Harry Walker bobbed up in attack and helped shift momentum in third term with a crucial goal.
Walker was named in Ocean Grove’s best while small forward Cory Connor snared two goals.
At the last break Ocean Grove was down by 15 points, however an experienced Torquay stormed home in the final term – Tiger Tyler Lovell outstanding as he finished game with three goals.
“They (Torquay) moved the footy well, but I know our best footy stacks up and the scoreboard doesn’t (always) reflect the actual result of the game,” Jones said.
Torquay’s Callum Currie booted four goals, while the classy Billy Henderson snared three.
It was a terrific victory by Torquay, which played at 34 points out of a maximum 40 points on the AFL Barwon team points allocation.
Ocean Grove played at a maximum 40 points.
Three Tiger cubs made their BFL senior debut including Kyle Beinefelt, James Reither and Cody Pettina.
Meantime Grubber key target Peter Hardy is set to return in the coming weeks after he had been overseas.
OCEAN Grove now meets Newcomb at Newcomb Sand and Soil Oval on Sunday 9 June.
The Power (3-5) defeated the Grubbers by four points in Round 1 and has lost its last five games.
Senior game starts at 2:10pm.
TORQUAY defeated Ocean Grove in a competitive tussle by 12 points in the reserves grade.
The Grubber loss meant they dipped to fifth spot on the ladder with a 5-3 record.
The Tigers maintained second position with a 7-1 record.
Final scores Torquay 8.7 (55) to Ocean Grove 6.7 (43).
The Grubbers has been competitive in all eight games this season – its biggest defeat was 15 points was against Drysdale in Round 2.
Ocean Grove forward Ryan Baker booted two goals.
OCEAN Grove thrashed Werribee Centrals by 70 points in their Under 19s Division 2 Bendigo Bank Cup Round 2 clash.
Final scores Ocean Grove 12.8 (80) to Werribee Centrals 1.4 (10).
Louis Beale snared four goals for the home side, while Fletcher Long booted three majors.
Ocean Grove sits on top of the Division 2 ladder with a 6-1 record, which includes results from its five grading games earlier in the season.
Ocean Grove Under 19s plays away to St Mary’s 2 at Anthony Costa Oval in a Round 3 fixture this Saturday.
SENIOR SCOREBOARD
TORQUAY 15.12 (102) def OCEAN GROVE 7.7 (49)
OCEAN GROVE
Goals: C. Connor 2, J. Carey, T. Hobbs, O. Monteith, J. Ward, H. Walker.
Best: H. Walker, M. Sutton, R. Hobbs, J. Carey, R. Lempa, J. Perkovic.
