Ocean Grove Voice takes a look at some of the big stories for 2024.
Ocean Grove goalkeeper Georgia Berry played the entire second half of Saturday’s Bellarine Netball League A Grade grand final with a broken wrist.
Berry, who won Ocean Grove’s A Grade best and fairest on Friday September 13, fell during the second term of the game and now has her arm in plaster, but continued to do her job on star shooter Ruby Watson despite being in pain.
It was worth it because for the second consecutive season Ocean Grove took on an undefeated Geelong Amateur and for the second time in a row it has prevailed.
In a pulsating game at Leopold on Saturday September 7, the Grubbers won 53 to 48 with inspirational skipper Emily Moroney named best on court.
Ocean Grove coach Mel Holmes said the final few minutes of the game was about continuing to “build pressure”.
“No-one panicked,” she said.
“Our aim was to apply pressure all over the court otherwise it gets into a situation where it’s goal for goal. I think at one stage they (Ammos) were taking 10 passes to get the ball coming in and that was due to the pressure.”
While stars such as Zanna Woods and Bec O’Neill, who Holmes described both as “flawless” had massive games, she praised her entire squad.
Arlee Bennett, Courtney Leith, Mia Smith and Anna Smith didn’t get any game time on grand final day, but were instrumental in helping their team get there in the first place.
“Some of the pictures of just when the buzzer went and the pure joy on their faces – that comes from a display of pure love for each other,” she said.
“They’ve helped us get there, they are all part of this.
“It was pure joy from the whole club. The win was obviously amazing for us but for the whole club. The support we received from everyone was amazing.”
Both sides started strongly, but Ammos were slightly the better side in the first term and took a two-goal buffer into the break.
Grove hit back in the second term to lead by two at half-time and it looked like anyone’s game.
Scores were level halfway through the third term and for the rest of the quarter, things remained tight.
Grove got out to a three-goal lead just before the buzzer, but Ammos goaler Ruby Watson scored truly with seconds remaining and it was a two-goal lead to Ocean Grove.
Three minutes into the last and suddenly scores were level after three consecutive Ammos goals.
Three goals in a row to Bec O’Neill gave Grove some breathing space to lead by three five minutes in.
With less than seven minutes to go, scores were again level and the big crowd was getting louder.
When Darcy McFarlane scored with four minutes left, Grove was up by two, but O’Neill and the ultra impressive Zanna Woods suddenly increased the margin to four with three minutes on the clock.
Grove started to play some keepings off to run down the clock and when Woods scored with 46 seconds left, the Grubbers had the game won being six goals up.
O’Neill scored 38 goals from 39 attempts in a masterclass while Woods was simply incredible doing a huge amount of work around the ring along with 15 goals of her own.
“It wasn’t until later in the season that we had the full team,” Holmes said.
“I knew I had the right people and built the culture and the trust. It almost waiting for our moment to gel.”
A GRADE
Ocean Grove 53 def Geelong Amateur 48. Best: Ocean Grove – Emily Moroney, Zanna Woods, Rebecca O’Neill. Geelong Amateur – Kaitlyn Sheringham, Romy Harwood, Georgia Duncan.
B GRADE
Geelong Amateur 45 def Torquay 30. Best: Geelong Amateur – Georgia Howell, Kayla Donnellon, Grace Gaspari. Torquay – not supplied.
C GRADE
Ocean Grove 30 def Modewarre 23. Best: Ocean Grove – Sofia Dickeson, Kellie Morrish, Matilda Kelly. Modewarre – Jessica Carpenter, Georgina Cameron, Lilly Hine.
D GRADE
Ocean Grove 25 def Geelong Amateur 24. Best: Ocean Grove – not supplied. Geelong Amateur – Tyler Mcsparron, Tiaha Holdsworth, Emily Dixon.
E GRADE
Geelong Amateur 31 def Ocean Grove 19. Best: Geelong Amateur – Eden Holdsworth, Remy Olsen, Tarni Levick. Ocean Grove – Emma Barry, Emilie Punton, Keely Boswell.
19 & UNDER
Barwon Heads 33 def Drysdale 27. No best players supplied.
17 & UNDER DIVISION 1
Portarlington 31 def Geelong Amateur 28. Best: Portarlington – Poppy Hart, Juliet Evans, Phoebe Zahl. Geelong Amateur – Loni Williams, Louise Shaw, Eden Beretta.
17 & UNDER DIVISION 2
Geelong Amateur 39 def Ocean Grove 11. Best: Geelong Amateur – Rikki McMaster, Zoe Naughtin, Evie Dawson. Ocean Grove – Olivia Grogan, Piper Needham.
15 & UNDER DIVISION 1
Geelong Amateur 34 def Portarlington 17. Best: Geelong Amateur – Caitlin Totton, Sophie Taylor, Bailey Shaw. Portarlington – not supplied.
15 & UNDER DIVISION 2
Geelong Amateur 21 def Torquay 19. Best: Geelong Amateur – Harper Beretta, Diva Wardhana, Grace Jarman. Torquay – Sienna Schmidt, Sadie Derbyshire, Tara Asbell.
13 & UNDER DIVISION 1
Torquay 30 def Queenscliff 19. Best: Torquay – Harper Edwards, Violet Miers, Harriett O’Dwyer. Queenscliff – not supplied.
13 & UNDER DIVISION 2
Torquay 25 def Ocean Grove 12. Best: Torquay – Isla McKeag, Ila Cashmore, Poppy Cuolahan. Ocean Grove – Lilian Spolding, Sophia Jankowski, Willow Annand.
