Teenage sharpshooter Tom Richardson had a day out in Ocean Grove’s huge 82-point victory over a winless Portarlington at Portarlington on 25 May.
Richardson, a Geelong Falcons representative, booted nine goals in his best return since a ten-goal haul in Ocean Grove’s Under 17s grand final victory last year.
Richardson in his only fourth Ocean Grove senior match made his Grubber senior debut against Portarlington at Portarlington in Round 13 last year.
He is the son of former Grubber goalkicking ace Adam Richardson, a dual Ocean Grove senior premiership player in 1994-95 who kicked 121 goals in 1995 and played two senior AFL games for Adelaide in 2001.
Ocean Grove playing coach Jordan Jones said it was an impressive performance from Richardson.
Richardson was available to play BFL seniors with no Geelong Falcons’ game in the NAB League on 25 May.
“His attack on the footy is fantastic,” Jones told the Voice.
“He is quick, he is strong, he jumps high, he really jumps high and reaches out at the footy so (he is) pretty hard to defend.
“I am thrilled with the way he is going, I would love to keep him, but I really hope he does get a chance to play regular Falcons footy because that is only going to make him better again.”
The Grubbers laid the foundations early with a seven-goal first term and led by 33 points at quarter time.
It was Ocean Grove’s biggest win since they smashed Portarlington by 83 points in Round 1 last year.
The last time Ocean Grove kicked 25 goals or more in a game was Round 15, 2015 against Newcomb where the Grubbers booted 37.31.
Jones was thrilled with Ocean Grove’s accuracy in front of goal and firepower up forward.
“For us to kick 25.6 that’s fantastic,” Jones said.
“We were discussing during the week about creating a bit more firepower in our forward line and getting our forwards kicking more goals.”
Key forward Jake Ward booted four goals, while Cory Connor finished with four.
Midfielder Luke Cartelli went forward and snared two goals.
Ball magnet Ryan Lempa, a mid-season recruit from Centrals Trinity Beach at AFL Cairns, made a stunning senior debut in the midfield in the absence of Grubber co-captain James Linton who was rested.
“I guess the plan was to bring Ryan Lempa, who is an excellent midfielder, so I thought it was one for one there (with Linton out),” he said.
“To have them (Lempa and Linton) both playing against Torquay was probably a bigger priority.”
Overall Ocean Grove had 61 inside 50s compared with Portarlington’s 43 – The Grubbers had 18 inside 50 entries in the final term
Grubber defenders Rhys Hobbs and Kaiden Long played important roles down back and were named in the best.
Portarlington’s Stanley Hogan booted three goals, while key player Daniel Measures snared two majors and was named best player for the Demons.
The 82-point win gave Ocean Grove a 2-5 record after seven rounds after the club’s interleague bye on 18 May.
Logan Taylor was the only Grubber representative which played in the BFL Interleague victory over Geelong and District Football League at Queens Park.
IN the curtain raiser, Ocean Grove reserves grade thrashed Portarlington by 101 points – which was the Grubbers’ biggest win for 2019.
Final scores Ocean Grove 19.10 (124) defeated Portarlington 3.5 (23).
Tall forward Tom Roberts continued his strong season and finished with five goals, while playing coach Cheyne Kelly snared three majors.
The Grubbers climbed into third spot on the ladder with a 5-2 record.
MEANTIME in the Under 19s Round 1 clash Ocean Grove defeated Queenscliff by 24 points at Queenscliff.
Final scores Ocean Grove 9.15 (69) defeated Queenscliff 7.3 (45).
All Under 19s teams played a series of grading games before the Round 1 clash with the Grubbers to play in Division Two.
Josh Lange was the only multiple goalkicker with two goals.
SENIOR SCOREBOARD
OCEAN GROVE 25.6 (156) def PORTARLINGTON 11.8 (74)
OCEAN GROVE
Goals: T. Richardson 9, J. Ward 4, C. Connor 4, L. Cartelli 2, I. Wilkins, R. Maloney, A. Baxter, J. McDonald, O. Monteith, M. Sutton.
Best: T. Richardson, R. Lempa, R. Hobbs, J. Perkovic, J. Ward, K. Long.
