By Mark Heenan
Ocean Grove star forward and star recruit Jake Carmody booted seven goals in the Grubbers’ comfortable 48-point win over Drysdale on 30 April at Mortimer Oval.
It was the Grubbers second victory in successive weeks after its comprehensive 97-point win a week earlier under lights against Newcomb in round four.
The solid win saw Ocean Grove maintain fourth spot with a 3-2 record after five rounds.
Final scores Ocean Grove 21.17 (143) to Drysdale 14.11 (95).
Alongside Carmody, Ocean Grove playing assistant coach and gun midfielder Brent Macleod recovered from a corked calf over Newcomb to finish with six majors.
The round-five clash saw the senior comeback of Grubber captain and star leader Kelly Williams.
Williams had an interrupted pre-season due to a back injury with his first official hit-out in the club’s reserves game against Newcomb on 22 April.
Williams said it was nice to contribute in the eight-goal win.
“Instead of helping on the sidelines, where you get more nervous watching a game, it was good to contribute on the field,” Williams told the Voice.
“It has been a slow process, but it has been the back that has kept me out. It had kept re-occurring just as I thought I was coming good at least three of four times.”
Star Grubber on-baller James Linton booted two goals, while Daniel Maloney and Daniel Freeman both kicked two majors.
An eight-goal third quarter helped put the victory beyond doubt for Ocean Grove, silky Grubber utility Corey Walter gathered plenty of the footy and was named in best players.
Drysdale was competitive early though it lost the services of captain Daniel Jull, who was sent to hospital after he was knocked out.
The Hawks had a five-day break after the club’s won traditional Anzac Day clash against Portarlington on 25 April.
Drysdale power forward Josh Rushton kicked five goals for the home side, while Jakob Kiddle booted three goals.
In the reserves clash Drysdale defeated Ocean Grove by 46 points.
Final scores Drysdale 14.13 (97) to Ocean Grove 7.9 (51)
Grubber Fletcher Sharrock kicked two goals.
After five rounds, Ocean Grove was in seventh position with a 1-4 record.
In the under-18 Colts game, Ocean Grove 1 defeated Drysdale 1 by 22 points in their clash at Mortimer Oval on 30 April.
Final scores Ocean Grove 14.6 (90) and Drysdale 10.8 (68).
Ocean Grove player Tom Ryan kicked four goals, while Grubber team-mates Craig Goodger and Jack Tregenza both booted three majors.
In the other Colts game, Winchelsea defeated Ocean Grove 2 by 21 points at Eastern Reserve at Winchelsea.
Final scores Ocean Grove 7.8 (50) to Winchelsea 4.5 (29).
SENIOR SCORECOARD
OCEAN GROVE 21.17 (143) d DRYSDALE 14.11 (95)
Ocean Grove
Goals: J. Carmody 7, B. Macleod 6, D. Freeman 2, J. Linton 2, D. Maloney 2, P. Maloney, C. Walter.
Best: C. Walter, B. Macleod, J. Carmody, A. Jarvis, M. Caldow, J. Linton.
