Ocean Grove star Candice Parker is making one last ditch effort to play in an A Grade premiership before she calls it a day.
Parker is recovering from an ACL injury that has only just seen her return to the court.
She will battle through the rest of the season, hope to peak come finals time and then retire.
“I’ve been doing rehab to a point where I can get back to playing,” she said.
“I’ve been given the clearance to get back playing. It’s now just about building up time and confidence in games.
“I think the body’s had enough. I said I’d do rehab to get back and play finals and then that will be it.”
Torquay ended Ocean Grove’s 10-game winning streak on the weekend.
The Grubbers lost their opening game of the season and then went on a winning run.
The loss on Saturday sees Ocean Grove in third spot on the ladder behind Geelong Amateur and Torquay, but is three games ahead of fourth placed Drysdale.
The Grubbers have had a wretched run with injuries and didn’t escape the virus that decimated the senior football team last week.
Parker said the club’s depth through the grades meant the side was still able to be competitive even when not at full strength.
“We had plenty of people who were out and quite a few players who had to play a few games,” she said.
“We still need to focus on each game and make sure we are playing the standard we want to play for four quarters.
“We’ve got a few coming back from injury now.
“It’s been really good this season. We’ve got strong teams all through the grades.”
Parker said the 32 to 49 loss to Torquay hadn’t taken anything away from the side’s goals leading up to finals.
“It just wasn’t our day,” she said.
“Torquay played really well and we didn’t step up. It’s good to get those games out of the way before finals.”
The league has a general bye this weekend before recommencing on July 9 for the final five rounds of the home and away season and Ocean Grove is only a game away from top spot in what seems to be a three-horse race for the premiership.
“We still need to focus on each game and make sure we are playing the standard we want to play for four quarters,” Parker said.
“I think everyone is looking forward to the week off.
“When we get back it will be about consistency across the court and our attack and drive on the ball, being really strong on the ball and working the ball down quickly and effectively.”
ROUND 14
A GRADE: Ocean Grove 32 def by Torquay 49: Goals: Rebecca O’Neill 18, Ashton O’Brien 14.
B GRADE: Ocean Grove 48 def Torquay 45. Best: Emma Badrock, Nikki Cooke, Shelby Hackett. Goals: Nikki Cooke 23, Emma Badrock 18, Jesse Sutton 7.
C GRADE: Ocean Grove 31 def Torquay 25. Goals: Amelia Cunningham 21, Kate Titheridge 10, Shereen Wolfe 4.
D GRADE: Ocean Grove 30 def Torquay 19. Best: Emma Sinkinson, Zarly Smith, Tina Birch. Goals: Tina Birch 20, Lucy Sampson 6, Hannah Quinn 3, Danielle Baker 1.
E GRADE: Ocean Grove 28 def Torquay 25. Goals: Maggie Lee 17, Famie Needham 8, Belinda Elliston 3.
19/U: Ocean Grove 23 tied with Torquay 23. Best: Isabella Maier, Abbey Stanic, Emilie Punton. Goals: Isabella Maier 16, Sarah Fecchio 4, Abbey Cowley 3.
17/U Division 1: Ocean Grove 20 def Torquay 13. Goals: Lucy Sampson 11, Maya Hamilton 9.
17/U Division 2: Ocean Grove 11 def by Torquay 22. Best: Giselle Dawson, Molly McLean. Goals: Tylah Foley 4, Ruby Hilderbrandt 3, Alice Molloy 3, Georgie Connolly 1.
15/U Division 1: Ocean Grove 19 def by Torquay 22. Best: Amelia Stanic, Poppy Hart, Maggie Drake. Goals: Adele Mills 9, Poppy Hart 8, Bella Wearmouth 2.
15/U Division 2: Ocean Grove 24 def Torquay 17. Goals: Annika Willis 10, Scarlett Sadler 9, Bella Mawson 4.
13/U Division 1: Ocean Grove 6 def by Torquay 31. Goals: Ruby Cook 2, Memphis Johnson 2, Reagan McKenzie 1, Tamika Wall 1.
13/U Division 2: Ocean Grove 3 def by Torquay 30. Best: Charli Burke, Olivia Clark, Caitlin Parker. Goals: Lara Forward 2, Charli Burke 1.
