After three consecutive wins to start the Bellarine Netball League A Grade season, Ocean Grove has now turned its focus onto fellow undefeated side Geelong Amateur.
The Grubbers have beaten Torquay, Newcomb and Portarlington in the first three rounds, but Ammos will present a whole new challenge this Saturday.
Co-coach Bec O’Neill said the group was looking forward to seeing how they stood up against the best.
“It’s good to play the team which is the benchmark and find out where you sit against them, especially early in the year,” O’Neill said.
“It gives us a view of where we’re at and what we need to work on.
“Not too concerned how it goes either way, just wanting to see how we match up against them and what our strengths are against them.”
Star goalkeeper Kelsey Ollis returned to the side against Portarlington after initially expecting to miss the entire season with travel commitments. Ollis’ trip has been put on hold in what is a major boost for the Grubbers.
Geelong Amateur goal shooter Ruby Watson looms as a major threat on Saturday.
“We’ll probably start Lexie (Annand) back there just to match her with height, but it will also be down to the pressure outside, cutting the ball off so it’s not just down to a one on one match up,” she said.
The 60 to 44 win against Portarlington was set up by a strong second half from Ashton O’Brien, who came on as goal attack.
“Her speed and movement around the court and fresh legs really helped,” O’Neill said.
“Lexie (Annand) came on and her extra height, she added a little bit of extra pressure on the pass going into their goalers.
“Emily Moroney at wing attack just kept driving hard all game even though the conditions were pretty ordinary.
“They (Portarlington) came out firing and had a really good start with good structure down the court.
“We paced them goal for goal a bit and I think we struggled a bit in the wet weather, not that we played in any different conditions to what they did, our game is generally quite fast paced so when we have to slow it down it takes a little time to adjust.
“The second half we managed to break away a bit.”
O’Neill is enjoying the co-coaching role. She is a star goal shooter for the side while co-coach Candice Parker has retired from playing and coaches from the sidelines.
“She’s level headed, she’s mature, she knows exactly what’s going on,” O’Neill said of Parker.
“On Saturdays it’s really nice to have her coaching from the sidelines, she can obviously see it all and has time to process the changes we need to make whereas I can focus more on playing rather than coaching and playing at the same time.”
