By Mark Heenan
Ocean Grove bounced back from successive defeats and produced a clinical performance with its 97-point win over Newcomb under lights at Ray Menzies Oval on Saturday 22 April.
It was Ocean Grove’s second ever home night match played for four points at Shell Road.
The Grubbers hosted Newcomb in their first ever pre Anzac Day clash under lights last year.
Final scores Ocean Grove 20.12(132) to Newcomb 5.5(35).
The win saw the Grubbers move into fourth spot on the BFL ladder with a 2-2 record.
Ocean Grove coach Paul Lynch said it was a pleasing result after a loss to Geelong Amateur in Round 2 and an 11-goal defeat at home against Torquay on 15 April.
“Obviously the win was very important because we had lost the last two (games),” Lynch told the Voice in the rooms after the game.
“It is about fixing up what we not doing right and I thought we went a long way to doing that.
“I thought our pressure around the footy was enormous and I thought our ability to defend in space was a lot better and that is where we had been hurting the last two weeks.”
The 16-goal victory came at a cost with Brent Macleod (corked calf) hobbling on crutches after the siren, while Patrick Maloney (hamstring) did not play in the second half.
Macleod, Ocean Grove playing assistant coach, was at his destructive best and booted five majors including a miraculous soccer goal off the ground from the boundary line.
“Macleod will be okay – it was more precautionary,” Lynch said.
“Paddy (Maloney) will be a bit (more) concerning – he has a hamstring – they are always hard to get right.”
Ocean Grove’s polish was evident from the first bounce with a damaging seven-goal opening term.
Newcomb hit back late in the first term with three goals.
Newcomb senior vice-captain Jack Hudson, who kicked one goal, was a standout in the first halfl.
The second half saw the Grubbers extend their margin though Newcomb fought the game out well and reduced the home side to 1.6 in the final quarter.
Patrick West produced his best game for the Grubbers, while defender Kaiden Long, ruckman Andrew Jarvis, James Linton and Corey Walter all played well.
It was a special night for Grubber trio Logan Taylor, debutant Mitchell Lindkvist and Riley Maloney whom all played in their first senior win for the red and white.
Ocean Grove key forwards Daniel Maloney and Jake Carmody both kicked five goals apiece.
In other developments, OGFNC president Tony Potter said the Grubbers would continue to build on the success of last year’s first ever pre-Anzac Day night clash against Newcomb.
Potter confirmed the annual Newcomb night game was now one of its biggest home fixtures for the season.
“Without Newcomb’s support this night would not happen,” Potter said.
“It was fantastic – we had a great crowd.”
In the reserves twilight curtain raiser, Ocean Grove won its first game for the season with a 75-point win over Newcomb.
Final scores Ocean Grove 15.12(102) to Newcomb 4.3(27).
Veteran Grubber pair Kelly Williams and Liam Rock both competed well in their first official hitout for 2017.
Fletcher Sharrock and Tom Lundberg both kicked three goals for Ocean Grove.
In Under 18 Colts Grading games, Ocean Grove 1 defeated St Albans by 21 points, Ocean Grove 9.8(62) to St Albans 6.7(43).
Grubber players Craig Goodger and Tom Ryan both kicked two goals.
Ocean Grove 2 did not play a Colts Grading game as they had a bye.
SENIOR SCOREBOARD
OCEAN GROVE 20.12(132) def NEWCOMB 5.5(35)
Ocean Grove
Goals: J. Carmody 5, B. Macleod 5, D. Maloney 5, P. West 3, J. Linton, C. Walter.
Best: P. West, K. Long, A. Jarvis, P. Hardy, J. Linton, C. Walter.
