A gallant Ocean Grove young senior outfit went down by two points against BFL ladder leader Geelong Amateur in a pulsating clash at Queens Park on Saturday.
It had been a turbulent fortnight for the Grubbers after the club parted ways with first-year senior coach Jordan Jones following Ocean Grove’s thumping 104-point loss to Anglesea on 29 June.
Final scores Geelong Amateur 11.9 (75) to Ocean Grove 11.7 (73).
Seemingly down and out at half time after trailing by 45 points, the gutsy Grubbers ran out game stronger over the fading Ammos, which failed to kick a goal in the second half of its Round 13 clash.
When Grubber swingman Peter Hardy kicked a miraculous snap on goal from the boundary the margin was reduced to two points with less than five minutes to play.
A contentious free kick went against Ocean Grove in final minutes saw Amateur cling onto the win.
Amateur were without gun spearhead Mitch Day, who has kicked 41 goals in 2019, after he copped a two-week suspension against Torquay on 23 June in Round 11.
Ocean Grove interim senior coach David King was encouraged by result despite the narrow loss.
“We were 45 points down at half time, the main message was to have a bit of belief and not lay down and not just give up – the boys definitely didn’t give up they tried hard all day,” King told the Voice.
“They did everything we asked of them – it just shows a bit of character and a bit of belief playing against a top side and we are holding our own and moving it is a good thing.”
It was a youthful Ocean Grove team – 15 of the starting 22 senior players were 23 years or younger.
Youngster Keegan Cuolahan made his Grubber senior debut, while former club juniors Mitch Lindkvist and James Teague played their first senior games for 2019.
King said the club would continue to invest in youth for the remaining five games of season.
“We have just got to get back on the track and work harder and get fitter that is the number one rule (and) play the kids and get the most out of my leaders,” he said.
The Grubbers dominated early first quarter inside forward 50 entries and kicked the first three points.
Amateur seized control at end of first quarter and second quarter as the margin blew out to 45 points at half time.
The home side which led by 14 points at the first break slammed on six goals during the second quarter.
King said their second half resurgence was pleasing after a seven-goal plus deficit at the main break.
“I respect the Ammos and think they are a great side…but I just believe if we just keep sticking to the game plan we would get back into it,” he said.
The Grubber leaders stood up – key forward Jake Ward, who kicked one goal, had a pivotal stint in the ruck, while senior co-captain Justin Carey and key position player Peter Hardy both snared two goals.
Cam Marchbank, Ollie Monteith, Riley Maloney and newcomer Ryan Symonds all played well.
William Kelly, Sam Hosking, Daniel Grose, Patrick Kileen, and Brydon Barnett all kicked two goals for the Ammos, while senior captain Brad King, brother of opposition Grubber senior interim coach David King, kicked one goal.
The Grubbers used 35 points in its total player points allocation, while Ammos played with 34 points.
Ocean Grove (3-10) remain in eighth position after 13 rounds, while Geelong Amateur sits on top with 10-2-1 record in 2019.
OCEAN Grove will now face Modewarre in their penultimate home game for 2019 this Saturday at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval.
Senior game starts at 2:10pm.
