Ocean Grove sits at a perilous 0-3 win-loss record after thrilling three-point loss to Newcomb on Easter Saturday.
The massive home crowd was left disappointed when Newcomb’s Richie Hollins took a game saving mark in Ocean Grove’s forward 50, with spearhead James Paterson breathing down his neck.
The siren sounded not long after to signal a 10.10(70) to 9.13(67) win to the Power.
Despite the season not starting the way he wanted, Ocean Grove coach Pete Davey said the playing group remained upbeat after the loss.
“We have a saying in our group that nothing is ever as good as it seems and nothing is ever as bad as it seems so while we were obviously flat for a period of time after the game, our guys are good at moving on and not dwelling on things for too long,” he said.
“Outwardly, people will look at 0-3 as being doom and gloom but internally, we look at it as being an exciting challenge and one that we’re all up for.”
Ocean Grove held an eight-point lead at half time, but Davey said it should have been more.
“Similarly to last weekend, we could, and probably should, have gone into the main break with a healthy buffer but instead, through poor execution and conversion, we were never able to get that three-goal lead that may have dented the opposition’s spirit,” he said.
“We played a really hungry and disciplined team and quite simply, Newcomb made the better of their opportunities than we did.”
Newcomb was well served by Nathan McDonald, Hollins and Andrew Steele, who booted two crucial final-term goals.
Young tall Kye Annand continues to impress for Ocean Grove while Mitch Taylor and Harley Pearce were also good.
Davey felt his side turned a corner in the second half against Newcomb.
“I think we turned a corner in that second half where some of our run and linkage started to come together,” he said.
“We controlled the play for longer periods but again, just weren’t able to convert that into scoreboard reward.”
Ocean Grove’s next opponent is a hungry and young Queenscliff side that pushed Drysdale all the way on Saturday in a one-point loss.
“We’ve clearly dug ourselves a bit of hole but we know it’s one that we can certainly work our way out of and that begins next weekend at Queenscliff,” Davey said.
“We’ll look at the positives from this game, which again goes back to playing our style of footy, and challenge ourselves to do that for long periods.”
Ocean Grove won the reserves clash by 14 points, 8.12(60) to 7.4(46).
Bryn D’Arcy, Nick Chapman and Rhys Hobbs were among the Grubbers’ best.
