By Mark Heenan
The Grubbers’ hard-fought 10-point victory over BFL finals challenger Modewarre at Mount Moriac Recreation Reserve was significant on many fronts on 27 May.
It was the first time Ocean Grove had beaten an opposition team higher on the ladder this season.
The narrow victory saw fourth-placed Grubbers leap-frog Modewarre with its superior percentage and 5-3 record after eight rounds.
Ocean Grove senior coach Paul Lynch was pleased with his side’s ability to claim a top-five scalp.
“To get a win against a side above us I thought it was we needed as a group to give us that confidence is we can challenge the better sides,” he said.
“To beat (Modda) on their home deck in BFL footy terms it does not get much harder than that.”
Kicking downhill with a wind advantage in the first term home side Modewarre flew out of the blocks and led by 18 points at quarter time.
Modewarre key forward Josh McDonald dominated early and finished game with six goals.
Ocean Grove produced a gutsy reply in second quarter with four goals and held a three-point lead at the main break.
Star Grubber ruckman Andrew Jarvis asserted his dominance and won vital tap outs and was instrumental with great physical work at the stoppages.
“His (Jarvis) intensity and effort around the footy never changes, he rarely gets beaten in the middle, he is just a gem,” Lynch said.
The cream rose to the top in third term, Ocean Grove elite midfielder James Linton won numerous clearances and drove ball forward inside 50.
Grubber Adam Marangon created outside run and played his best game to date in red and white.
Ocean Grove youngster Matt Caldow who finished with three goals, was a tower of strength and took some courageous contested marks.
Caldow injured his ankle and was bandaged up with a cut to his forehead.
“I thought Matty Caldow who had a crook ankle and a split head to play the way he did … he is only a kid still and to play with two injuries and mark the way he did was fantastic,” Lynch said.
Ocean Grove jumped out to a 25-point lead during final quarter, though Modewarre kicking uphill finished stronger with repeat forward 50 entries and reduced the deficit to 10 points at the final siren.
“We (Ocean Grove) were a little bit out on our legs, blokes were a bit sore (in last quarter),” he said.
Grubber key forward Jake Carmody finished with four goals, while dynamite small forward Travis Gavin kicked three and skipper Kelly Williams booted two majors.
In the reserves clash, Ocean Grove went down by 48 points against a fast finishing Modewarre.
Final scores Modewarre 10.14 (74) to Ocean Grove 3.8 (26).
Scores were level half time before the home team dominated the second half with eight goals to one.
Grubber big man Tom Lundberg was named in the best players, alongside Scott Grant.
Tom Hobbs, Nathaniel Gravener and James Peers all kicked goals for Ocean Grove.
In the Under 18 Colts Division Two, Ocean Grove 1 recorded a 39-point win over Lara at Ray Menzies Memorial Oval.
Final scores Ocean Grove 11.15 (81) to Lara 6.6 (42).
Grubber Craig Goodger kicked three goals, while team-mate Tom Ryan booted two majors.
In Division Three games, a joint Modewarre/Grovedale team defeated Ocean Grove 2 by 54 points at Community Bank Oval at Modewarre.
Final scores Modewarre/Grovedale 10.12 (72) to Ocean Grove 3.0 (18).
SENIOR SCOREBOARD
FINAL SCORES
Ocean Grove 16.8 (104) d Modewarre 14.10 (94)
Ocean Grove
Goals: J. Carmody 4, M. Caldow 3, T. Gavin 3, K. Williams 2, B. Macleod, C. Walter, P. West, M. Lindkvist.
Best: M. Caldow, A. Marangon, J. Linton, A. Jarvis, P. Maloney, J. Carmody.
