Ocean Grove has produced the four-quarter performance co-coach Dave Farrell has been craving for much of the 2024 season in producing one of the year’s biggest upsets against finals-bound Geelong Amateur.
The Grubbers recorded their third victory of the season – and first at Ray Menzies Oval – in snapping an inaccurate Ammos’ three-game winning streak, 12.5 (77) to 5.20 (50).
”We going into each game with a plan to win and an expectation that we will able to compete for four quarters,” Farrell said.
“And there’s been too many games this year where we haven’t been able to do that.
“Yesterday was pretty much the complete performance from our guys.
“Everyone understood their roles, kept to them and played for each other.
“A really proud day.”
Ocean Grove made Geelong Amateur pay for an inability to convert in front of goal in the second quarter, where the visitors kicked nine consecutive behinds.
Trailing by six points at the main break, the Grubbers slammed on six third-quarter goals while keeping Ammos to just one major.
“There’s been patches of games where we’ve been able to put it together offensively for really short periods,” Farrell said.
“But, yesterday’s second half was a sustained period of really good offensive play where we were able to score nine goals against a top-two side.
“We’ve worked really hard on our defence but struggled at times to link up from there and turn it into attack.”
Grubbers co-coach Nick Bourke kicked four goals, with Connor Asquith and Kirby Reilly contributing two apiece.
Farrell said the evenness of the performance made listing the best players a difficult task for the coaching staff.
“We do three (best-and-fairest) vote cards, and there would have been a dozen names spread across those,” he said.
“We don’t individualise after the game, but we got around to a lot of the boys, and I think they felt they contributed, which is probably as important as hearing it from anyone.”
Paddy Dowling, who kicked two goals, and Blake Sutterby were best in a disappointing Ammos performance.
A win would have all but locked in a qualifying final berth. However, defeat may leave it needing two wins from the remaining three rounds to secure the double chance.
Ocean Grove will chase a fourth win of the season when it hosts Newcomb.
Drysdale climbed back into the top five after ending the giant-killing run of Queenscliff in emphatic style at The Couta Bowl.
Trailing by two points at quarter time, the Hawks kicked 13 goals to one over the final three terms to claim a 14.11 (95) to 2.10 (22) victory and some handy percentage that keeps their double-chance hopes alive.
In his 50th game for the club, star midfielder Ben Fennell kicked three goals in a star turn in his first outing in over a month.
Captain Mitch McGuire and veteran Tom Ruggles also finished with three goals.
Isaac McCabe kicked the Coutas’ two goals.
Torquay has locked away the minor premiership with three rounds remaining after holding Modewarre by 13 points at Community Bank Oval, 10.7 (67) to 7.12 (54)
The Tigers, now 14 points clear of Geelong Amateur with three rounds remaining, trailed the Warriors by one point at the main break before a 5.3 to 0.5 third quarter turned the game on its head.
However, the win may have come at a cost, with fears captain James Darke has suffered a broken hand six games into his return from a knee reconstruction.
Harry Macleod finished with three goals for Torquay, with Michael Croxford and Baxter Mensch the Tigers’ best.
Will Thrum (two) was the lone multiple goalkicker for Modewarre, which now sits sixth on the ladder on percentage.
Anglesea ensured the members of the club’s last premiership had plenty to cheer as it handed Newcomb a 69-point hiding at Ellimatta Reserve.
With members of the 1999 team on hand, the Roos outscored the Power every quarter on its way to an 18.13 (121) to 8.4 (52) victory.
Lewis Beers was a standout, kicking four goals, while Jack Baker and Liam Holland also impressed for the home team.
Captain Ryan Jackman, Jack Duke and Josh Saltalamacchia, who all re-signed for 2025 during the week, were Newcomb’s standouts.
Duke and Saltalamacchia each kicked three goals, with Duke’s tally for 2024 now 60 for the season, 15 clear of Geelong Amateur talisman Paddy Dowling.
Barwon Heads kept alive its double-chance hopes with a comfortable 69-point result against Portarlington at Ron Evans Oval.
Mitch Herbison kicked four goals, and Harry Hyland and captain Kyle Polley contributed three majors to the 18.15 (123) to 7.12 (54) result.
Demons skipper Mitch Turnbull finished with four goals, taking him to 23 from just nine games this season.
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