Ocean Grove Under 18 Division 1 coach Damian Clark said the level of respect he has for his young team was “off the charts” after a season that yielded three consecutive finals wins before finishing runner-up.
While the Grubbers fell at the final hurdle to South Barwon in the grand final, the progression of the team augurs well for the senior side in the coming years.
Clark, who has the senior club best and fairest named after him and is arguably Ocean Grove’s best ever player, said his group made coaching easy.
“I know everyone calls their group a great group of kids, but I can tell you now, I’ve been in footy a hell of a long time and I have never in all my life seen a group, two age groups, of 16-, 17- and 18 year olds so connected,” he said.
“They’re such good mates, worked together so well, gelled together so well, looked out for each other, bonded so brilliantly.
“I’m still almost speechless as to how good a group of kids these two year levels are.”
While Ocean Grove hasn’t enjoyed senior success for a while, the club’s junior pathway is paying off.
“It’s a massive achievement for us, but I think it just shows you how good our junior program is,” Clark said.
“And how much we want to invest in it and just keep working towards what we want.”
While South Barwon was too good on grand final day, winning by 77 points, Clark said the big occasion at GMHBA Stadium was a terrific experience.
“We’re not going to take anything away from South Barwon, they’re a bloody good side,” he said.
“They had a massive complement of players to choose from – APS, Falcons.
“It’s a wonderful brand of footy and wonderful competition to be involved in. You’re dealing with the best players in Geelong and surrounding areas and the biggest clubs, the best clubs.”
Darcy Harrington and Jack Thomspon were injured most of the season, but still showed up to games to support. Harrington stayed involved by assisting on the bench.
Falcons’ captain Ben Coote did the board most weeks, Ned Badrock was always involved while Tom Teague played seven games, but then got picked for the Falcons and the seniors, which made him ineligible for finals.
“They were there every week, that’s how tight the group is,” Clark said.
“They are a really tight group with plenty of talent. I don’t see why the footy club can’t take some massive steps over the next year or two.”
Captain Lachie Morrow battled injury concerns for a large chunk of the season. A bad ankle sprain kept him out of the grading matches and then he hyperextended his knee and had debilitating bone bruising.
Morrow echoed Clark’s thoughts about the tight knit group.
“We’ve been such a tight group for the last three, four years, because we obviously won a premiership in 2023,” he said.
“And I think 20 boys from the team we had on Friday playing in the grand final have played in a grand final in the last couple of years before that.
“We’re all really close mates hanging out with each other on the weekend and I think that’s like a huge thing for a footy team.
“The senior boys as well, they’re always getting around us, always planning things. A few weeks ago, we had a barbecue with all the senior boys, the 22-year-olds and under, just to get to know each other and spend some time with them.
“All the boys that are moving up next year are definitely ready for bigger bodies and better footy, and I think being so close to each other, we’re all pretty ready for that next step up.”
