Ocean Grove’s destiny is in its own hands with a coveted finals spot up for grabs when Bellarine Football League resumes tomorrow.
The equation is simple. Beat Drysdale tomorrow and the young Grubbers will play finals. Lose and it all comes down to a dramatic final round where Ocean Grove meets current fifth-placed side Anglesea and Drysdale tackles third-placed Modewarre.
After two weeks off due to COVID-19 lockdown, Ocean Grove coach Pete Davey said his side is raring to go.
“The players have been really diligent in their fitness training over the last few weeks but there’s only so many road runs and short ball drills in pairs that you can do before you go mad,” he said.
“We trained as a group tonight (Wednesday) and they are really looking forward to Saturday.”
While the game is an early elimination final for the Hawks, Ocean Grove can still afford to lose and make finals, although Davey does not want it to come to that.
“That’s the best part of where we’re at, it’s in our hands,” he said.
“We’ve done a lot of hard work and deserve to be in this situation which gives us plenty of confidence.
“To be in the finals equation is one thing but to be there with such a young group and not relying on other results, is something pretty special and the entire senior squad is feeding off it.”
Davey said Tom Waters is over his hamstring injury and Josh Gummer has recovered from a hip flexor complaint.
Jake Ward’s knee is back to full strength, although Connor Pickett is still a week away, Davey said.
Drysdale could lose and still make the top five, providing Geelong Amateur can upset Anglesea tomorrow. Ammos gave Ocean Grove a fright in the last game before lockdown with the Grubbers holding on for a one-point win.
Even then, the Hawks would need to upset Modda in the final game and hope Ocean Grove do the job on the Seas.
Barwon Heads can sew up the double chance by beating Newcomb tomorrow.
A win would ensure a qualifying match-up against Modewarre, which has beaten the reigning premiers twice this season, albeit in close games.
Minor premiers Torquay will thrash Portarlington while Modda should account for Queenscliff.
ROUND 17
Saturday July 31
Modewarra vs Queenscliff at Community Bank Oval, Mount Moriac
Anglesea vs Geelong Amateur at Ellimatta Reserve, Anglesea
Barwon Heads vs Newcomb at Howard Harmer Oval, Barwon Heads
Torquay vs Portarlington at McCartney Oval, Torquay
Drysdale vs Ocean Grove at Mortimer Oval, Drysdale
ROUND 18
Saturday August 7
Barwon Heads vs Portarlington at Howard Harmer Oval, Barwon Heads
Geelong Amateur vs Newcomb at KFC Oval, Highton
Drysdale vs Modewarre at Mortimer Oval, Drysdale
Queenscliff vs Torquay at Queenscliff Recreation Reserve, Queenscliff
Ocean Grove vs Anglesea at Ray Menzies Oval, Ocean Grove
