It’s one of the biggest rivalries in country footy.
The Battle of the Bridge – Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads.
Last season Ocean Grove snapped an 11-game losing streak against their rivals from across the bridge in an epic round four contest.
They were due to meet in last year’s first-semi final before COVID put an early end to the season.
On Saturday, Barwon Heads regained the honours with a 37-point win.
It was Ocean Grove coach Pete Davey’s second Battle of the Bridge and Daniel Donati’s first.
Both coaches were suitably impressed with the occasion.
“How can you not enjoy days like that?” Barwon Heads coach Donati said.
“It’s a real privilege to play on days like that. Our club respects them (Ocean Grove) greatly.”
After last year’s epic introduction to the rivalry, Davey said while the result was disappointing, the fixture remains one of the highlights of the season.
“As far as home and away games go, it’s the closest you’ll get to a final with the intensity and passion that the players bring, combined with the larger crowd,” he said.
“It was just disappointing that we allowed them to get a jump on us as I really think that had the game been in the balance late in the last quarter, we may have grown an extra leg given the home support.”
Both coaches were relatively noncommittal when asked which has been the best side they have played so far although both said all clubs had been affected by injuries and unavailability.
Donati said it was “hard not say Torquay” and Davey said the top four of Drysdale, Torquay, Barwon Heads and Modewarre would put on an entertaining finals series.
“It’s a year which is difficult to get a read on as I don’t think any club has been able to get close to their best 22 together on any given weekend,” Davey said.
“I won’t single anyone out as every team we’ve played has challenged us in a different way. The intrigue of those top four sides is that their strengths are all quite unique which, looking ahead to August, is going to make for a really interesting finals series.”
