Ocean Grove gave Kelsey Ollis the perfect way to celebrate her 100th Bellarine Netball League A Grade game, with a win against arch rivals Barwon Heads.
After losing its first two games of the season and sharing the points in round 3, Ocean Grove is now knocking on the door of the top five. Alyce O’Keefe played her 100th senior game for the club.
Ollis, 25, was best on court in her 100th game as the Grubbers held off Barwon Heads to win by four goals after the scores were tied at three quarter time.
With star players to return, Ollis said the win was “a good confidence builder”.
“We always planned six rounds in we’d hit our mark,” she said.
“We got Bec O’Neill back this week from her pregnancy, Maddy White is back next week and Jess Rankin, we knew the season was going to get up in the back half of it.”
Ollis almost didn’t begin playing netball at all and now she has played 100 games and coaches the club’s B Grade side.
“My sister played first and I wasn’t going to play because I was too shy,” she said.
“I got coerced into playing in the under-11s and just loved it.
“I feel like an old veteran but I still have so much to learn. I do enjoy the coaching aspect of it. It’s the first year I have coached a senior side.”
Ollis said she prefers playing in defence and goalkeeper suits her style.
“Goalkeeper is my baby,” she said.
“I prefer staying back and watching the play a bit more and hopefully try and get some intercepts.”
Playing on the tall goal shooters doesn’t bother Ollis. In fact she thrives on it.
“The taller the better,” she said.
“I prefer it when they are taller because it makes it a bit more of a challenge.”
Ocean Grove’s junior program is filtering through to its A Grade side with youngsters such as Kimberley Hart, Emily Moroney, Emma Badrock and Anna Smith not only playing, but doing well.
“Anna I think is only 17 years old,” Ollis said.
“It shows how great a player she is and how hungry she is for the ball. They (young players) don’t overthink it, they just go out and play.”
Round 5
A Grade: Ocean Grove 39 def Barwon Heads 35. Best: Kelsey Ollis, Anna Smith, Kimberley Hart.
B Grade: Ocean Grove 38 def Barwon Heads 36. Best: Kimberley Hart, Isabel Hackett, Remi Bennett.
C Grade: Ocean Grove 40 def Barwon Heads 16. Best: Melissa Briggs, Meagan Bothe, Heidi Bennett.
D Grade: Ocean Grove 29 def Barwon Heads 22. Best: Paula Birch, Michaela Giblin, Kellie Morrish.
E Grade: Ocean Grove 15 def by Barwon Heads 22. Best: Monica Stokes, Lara Barnes, Isabel Wilkins.
19/U: Ocean Grove 23 def by Barwon Heads 32. Best: Jorja Connellan, Zoe Murrells.
17/U Section 1: Ocean Grove 27 def by Barwon Heads 30. Best: Tara Sampson.
17/U Section 2: Ocean Grove 32 def Barwon Heads 13
15/U Section 1: Ocean Grove 32 def Barwon Heads 14
15/U Section 2: Ocean Grove 32 def Barwon Heads 12. Best: Grace Boland, Amelia Stanic.
13/U Section 1: Ocean Grove 32 def Barwon Heads 3
13/U Section 2: Ocean Grove 25 def Barwon Heads 3
ROUND 4
A Grade: Ocean Grove 71 def Newcomb 24. Best: Dannie Hoiles, Kelsey Ollis, Anna Smith.
B Grade: Ocean Grove 65 def Newcomb 17. Best: Remi Bennett, Jesse Sutton, Nikki Cooke.
C Grade: Ocean Grove 41 def Newcomb 12. Best: Shereen Wolfe, Emily Leydin, Meagan Bothe.
D Grade: Ocean Grove 43 def Newcomb 14/ Best: Taryn Laverty, Kellie Morrish, Monet New.
E Grade: bye
19/U: Ocean Grove 28 def Newcomb 27. Best: Grace Hamilton.
17/U Section 1: bye
17/U Section 2: Ocean Grove 42 def Newcomb 9.
15/U Section 1: bye
15/U Section 2: bye
13/U Section 1: bye
13/U Section 2: Ocean Grove 28 def Newcomb 1
