Ocean Grove is starting to take giant strides in its quest to return as a Bellarine Football League power.
While the win-loss ratio stands at 3-7 this season, the past two weeks have shown that Dave Farrell’s side is on the right track.
While honourable losses are rarely spoken about, the Grubbers’ 36-point round nine defeat to Modewarre was a sign of things to come.
They then backed it up on Saturday in round 10 to defeat Newcomb away from home by 32 points.
“I can’t remember ever feeling like I did immediately after the Modewarre game,” Farrell said.
“I hate losing and we went out there to win, but although the scoreboard didn’t reflect it and as silly as it sounds I think we did a bit. It’s the clearest the boys have been without the coaches needing to point out where they got us and what we need to be better at for four quarters.
“That game will be a great reference point for us moving forward training and this week’s game showed improvements on the back of that.”
Ocean Grove never looked like losing against Newcomb and finally hit the scoreboard with a good spread of goalkickers.
“The spread was the most pleasing part of the 17 goals – we had two defenders and three mids kick goals which reinforces to the players how much of an impact they can have if we spread hard offensively and make sure we are well represented forward of the ball,” Farrell said.
“We’ve talked a lot about, and trained to, our running patterns from the contest (and) this week is the best we have done that. We had good coverage across the ground but representation forward of the ball because they ran so hard.”
Josh Horton played his first game back from a hamstring injury and starred with four goals.
“He’s a genuine utility, we played him back out of necessity in the early part of the season,” Farrell said.
“He was top three in last years B&F as a mid and on the weekend he played as a high forward – the sort of player you’d love three of.”
Youngster Jet Kneebone continues to impress and was named best with a starring role in the midfield.
“He’s first year out of Under 18s and set the standard for our spread early in the game,” Farrell said.
“Trent Handreck played the game he has been threatening to. Across halfback (he) flew for his marks and looked to get involved more when we had the ball.”
Ocean Groves face a tough assignment this week in Drysdale and Farrell believes his side still has to get better with its consistency.
“Consistency is probably the stock response to where we can find our biggest improvement right now,” he said.
“The whole coaching group have worked hard to make sure there is no doubt in the players’ minds of how we want them to play and what our best footy looks like so now it’s just a matter of playing that way for longer periods, but I guess that’s what the opposition are looking for too.”
Farrell wasn’t sure whether the challenge of playing third-placed Drysdale had come at a good time or not.
“I’ll tell you at 5pm next Saturday if they have come at the right time for us,” he said.
“This group is just loving being together, they are training harder each week and just look forward to Saturdays coming around, this one will be no different.”
Ocean Grove prevailed by seven points against Newcomb in a tight reserves encounter to stay in fifth position on the ladder.
Fletcher Long booted three goals in the 7.6(48) to 6.5(41) win while Patrick Norton booted two and was best afield and Craig Goodger contributed.
NEWCOMB vs OCEAN GROVE
Newcomb 2.2(14), 4.4(28), 8.7(55), 11.11(77)
Ocean Grove 5.1(31), 10.2(62), 14.5(89), 17.7(109)
GOALS
Newcomb: Andrew Steele 4, Oliver Marshall 2, Jack Drought 2, Jarrad Duncan 2, Liam Dumont. Ocean Grove: Josh Horton 4, Josh Wooding 2, Joe McDonald 2, Lachlan Bedendo 2, Brady Pritchard, Jet Kneebone, Cameron Fowler, Max Sutton, Tom Chalkley, Jacob Talarico, Trent Handreck.
BEST
Newcomb: Ryan Jackman, Blake Ritchie, Andrew Steele, Jack Duke, Jack Walsh, Oliver Marshall. Ocean Grove: Jet Kneebone, Trent Handreck, Joseph McDonald, Tom Chalkley, Joshua Wooding, Josh Horton.
