A slow start proved costly for Ocean Grove as a fired up Queenscliff ran out 46-point winners in round seven of Bellarine Football League on Saturday May 13.
The Coutas started strongly, booting six goals to one in the opening term with Jody McIvor-Clark a focal point up forward with four goals.
Ocean Grove had its moments after the break, but the damage was done.
Skipper Joe McDonald said the first term was disappointing.
“They started really well and we just couldn’t execute the way we wanted to early on,” he said.
“We probably fell down pretty evenly across the board. We couldn’t get ourselves going and probably left ourselves with a bit much to do.”
Ocean Grove sits at two wins and five losses.
McDonald said the group was still learning how to play alongside each other after a turnover of players in the off-season and a change of coach.
“We’re getting used to how we want to play and used to each other,” he said.
“The more games we play together, we’re going to improve. We know that if we stick together and move forward in the same direction, that it will happen.”
Injuries to ruckman Ed Dayman (knee), Andrew Todorov (back) and Jayden McHenry (ACL) haven’t helped and with a young list, McDonald said the focus was continued improvement.
“We’re lucky in that we always have great juniors coming through,” he said.
“The good thing about this comp is you get a second chance at every team.
“If we stick together and play and execute come game day, we can improve. We have an opportunity to do that in the back half of the season.”
McDonald is in his first year as skipper and the 23-year-old said he is relishing the job.
“I’ve got a really good group that I’m leading and don’t feel any extra pressure,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve got a good hold on the group and it’s been a fairly easy transition.”
On Saturday the Grubbers were well served by left-footer Brady Pritchard, youngster Jet Kneebone, inside mid Thomas Gillespie and ruckman Harrison Dolley.
Dolley has shouldered a heavy workload with the injury to Dayman and has performed superbly. Dayman should return in round eight.
Jace Collins debuted against Queenscliff after some strong showings in the Under 18s while Caleb Belcher has wasted no time in finding his feet at senior level and is growing in confidence.
Ocean Grove has a week off with a general bye before taking on Anglesea and Modewarre to round off the first half of the season.
“Our mindset is to go in and win both,” McDonald said.
“It will be a massive couple of weeks for us. (The bye) will be a good refresher for us. We’ve had a solid block of training since the start of preseason.”
In the reserves, Ocean Grove went down by 24 points in an upset loss. A three goal to none third term gave Queenscliff the ascendancy going into the final quarter.
Bailey Prato, Fletcher Long and Xavier Norman were best for the Grubbers, who are fourth on the ladder.
ROUND 7
Ocean Grove 9.9(63) def by Queenscliff 17.7(109)
Goals
Ocean Grove: B. Pritchard, C. Belcher 2, H. Dolley, M. Sutton, J. Walker, B. D’Arcy, L. Bedendo. Queenscliff: J. McIvor-Clark 4, S. Bowtell, I. McCabe, J. Tanner 2, W. Baker, H. Gower, C. Durran, C. Whitley, T. Monahan, J. Cincotta, M. Tanner.
Best
Ocean Grove: J. McDonald, B. Pritchard, J. Kneebone, T. Gillespie, H. Dolley, C. Belcher. Queenscliff: B. Anwyl, C. Durran, J. Blair, H. Gower, M. Waight, J. Cincotta.
