By Mark Heenan
Popular defender Kaiden Long celebrated his 100th senior game after Ocean Grove chalked up a 35-point win over Queenscliff at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval on 20 May.
Long, a former club junior and current Grubber senior co vice-captain, was chaired from ground after the siren which saw Ocean Grove (16 points) maintain fifth spot on the BFL ladder with a 4-3 record.
Ocean Grove coach Paul Lynch said it was a fitting victory for Long and more importantly it helped the Grubbers bridge a six-point gap over sixth-placed Queenscliff (10 points).
“Kaiden has been fantastic this year – he has probably been the one common dominator that’s been playing well every week,” he said.
“So it was fitting we got a win for him.”
The visiting Coutas jumped out of the blocks early and grabbed a 10-point lead at quarter time.
The Grubbers manufactured a seven-goal second term with quicker ball movement and lead by nine points at the main break.
“They (Queenscliff) outplayed us in the first quarter but after quarter time I thought we controlled the game,” he said.
Ocean Grove key forward Jake Carmody booted three goals, while teammates Travis Gavin, Matt Caldow, Corey Walter, Brent Macleod all kicked two goals.
Grubber Daniel Freeman sustained cracked ribs and took no further part after quarter time.
Admittedly Lynch conceded there were still “deficiencies” in their game after heavy losses to BFL premiership contenders Torquay and Barwon Heads.
“My job is to try and win the flag and it has probably not worked out and we know we’ve got plenty of deficiencies,” he said.
“At the moment we are not quite up to the better sides.
“Whether we can be good enough by the end year I am not quite sure.
“We just want to get better, better and better so we can see the improvement happening.”
Lynch praised Grubber youngsters Ollie Monteith and Issac Wilkins, both named in best players, and also Mitchell Lindkvist and Riley Maloney.
“The kids this year that have been playing have been sensational and I could not question their effort,” Lynch said.
Ocean Grove will now play fourth-placed Modewarre at Community Bank Oval this Saturday. Senior game starts at 2.10pm.
In the reserves game, Ocean Grove 9.11(65) defeated Queenscliff 6.3(39) by 26 points.
Grubber trio James Wills, James Peers and Fletcher Sharrock all kicked two goals.
In Under 18 Colts Division 2 games Ocean Grove 1 won by 10 points.
Final scores Ocean Grove 4.15(39) against St Mary’s 4.5(29).
Bannockburn won by 11 points against Ocean Grove 2 in the Division 3 game at Victoria Park in Bannockburn.
Final scores Bannockburn 9.11(65) to Ocean Grove 8.6(54).
SENIORS SCOREBOARD
OCEAN GROVE 13.15(93) defeated QUEENSCLIFF 7.16(58)
Ocean Grove
Goals: J. Carmody 3, T. Gavin 2, M. Caldow 2, C. Walter 2, B. Macleod 2, J. Linton, D. Maloney.
Best: P. Hardy, B. Macleod, O. Monteith, T. Gavin, M. Caldow, I. Wilkins.
