The evidence is there for all to see.
Ocean Grove’s past three games, while resulting in losses, have emphasised just how this team has come this season.
A combined margin of 29 points against top two sides Barwon Heads and Torquay and fifth placed Geelong Amateur means that the young Grubbers are staying in matches for longer than they were during the first of the season.
Ammos have beaten Ocean Grove by six and three points this season, but the round 15 loss on Saturday July 22 may have been one of the better performances of the year.
Coach Dave Farrell said his side was learning all the time.
“On the surface it doesn’t seem the players’ confidences have been done any harm over the last few weeks,” he said.
“Each week we’ve had a number of changes forced through injury and unavailability, which has confirmed the depth of our list is developing, there’s a number of players prepared to come in and play their role and trust what the coaching group have put in place.”
Farrell said the past three games have been “complete or near to” in concentration and application.
“You can’t control full games but you can stay in them and where our group was having big lapses earlier in the year, periods that we struggled to have any control over – I’m hopeful we have seen the last of them,” he said.
“To see that application for one week or two weeks you could be forgiven for remaining sceptical, but for a third week in a row under a lot of opposition pressure gives me huge confidence that type of footy is behind us.”
What Ocean Grove needs to do now is learn how to win the close ones.
“Experience and onfield leadership are key in close games, we’re tracking well in our development in both areas and learnt heaps form the last three minutes against Ammos especially,” Farrell said.
“You can train to scenarios, time and scores but to play under those conditions is tough and an invaluable experience.
“We had a couple of chances, long shots at goal inside the last two minutes then they were able to control the ball and create a couple of stoppages which shut the game down completely.”
Ocean Grove faces Modewarre and Anglesea in the next fortnight. Both teams are fighting for a finals spot. The Grubbers finish off with Queenscliff in the final round, a game they might expect to win.
“Sounds cliche but internally once finals became a distant chance this year we doubled down on our focus being game method development and not losing control of games,” Farrell said.
“We have narrowed our focus further rather than be all out result to make sure we are in a position where we can win games with 10 minutes left.
“A smarter person than me would likely draw the conclusion that that hasn’t helped us inside the last 10 minutes to close out any of the last three games, but it does feel internally it keeps us all focused on process over result for now.”
GEELONG AMATEUR vs OCEAN GROVE
Gelong Amateur 1.6(12), 4.9(33), 6.15(51), 9.16(70)
Ocean Grove 2.1(13), 5.4(34), 6.7(43), 9.13(67)
GOALS
Geelong Amateur: Max Hunderford 2, Aaron Willitts 2, Harry Kershaw, Samuel Bucovaz, Brydon Barnett, Jai Sheahan, Jack Gaspari.
Ocean Grove: Brady Pritchard 2, Harrison Dolley, Jye Walker, Josh Horton, Jacob Talarico, Joe McDonald, Jace Collins.
BEST
Geelong Amateur: Aaron Willitts, Harry Kershaw, Daniel Lovick, Zac Nelson, Jai Sheahan, Tom Zeitz.
Ocean Grove: Max Sutton, Edward Dayman, Harley Pearce, Campbell Snookes, Grady Slocombe, Charlie Every.
