BFL 2023: Modewarre claims nail-biting win over Ocean Grove to move into top-five

A BFL side has pulled off a stunning last quarter comeback in one of the games of the year. But the losers can count themselves unlucky after a cruel bounce. WATCH HERE

A late blitz has seen Modewarre steal victory over Ocean Grove and move into the top five in a dramatic finish at Shell Road Reserve.

The Grubbers looked like pulling off an upset with a 19 point-lead midway through the final term until the Warriors stormed home, booting the last four goals of the match and hanging on by four-points as the Grubbers threatened to kick a matchwinning goal in the dying seconds.

Ocean Grove won a holding the ball free kick late in the quarter, with Harrison Dolley playing on and missing to the right to make the margin four points.

WATCH THE LAST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The Grubbers then put the Warriors’ defence under immense pressure in the final minute but their back six stood tall, with the siren sounding 20m out from the Grubbers’ goal.

Goalkicking machine Tom Hornsey was the hero for the Warriors, kicking the first of his side’s four last-quarter goals from a regulation set shot and then edging the Warriors within one point with an incredible finish from the boundary on the wrong side for a right footer.

Tom Hornsey stood up with the game on the line. Picture: Mark Wilson

The Grubbers had some cruel luck earlier in the quarter with a flying shot from Jace Collins bouncing agonisingly on its end on the goal line – and away from open forward Jacob Talarico who was letting it bounce through.

The nailbiting win has edged Modewarre ahead of Geelong Amateur in fifth spot, with the Ammos sliding to sixth after suffering a 67-point defeat to Torquay.

Warriors coach Chris Carlon believes Ocean Grove is an underestimated side in the competition -coming close to Modewarre and Geelong Amateur in the past fortnight – and lauded his side’s character for clinching the come from behind win.

He said his younger group along with ruckman Zack May, Josh Finch and Hornsey stood up when the game was in the balance.

“We were three goals down midway through the last quarter, they were coming pretty hard so we had to work ourselves back into he game. It was a bit of arm wrestle but we got the momentum and got the ball moving our way and it was nice to get the ball into the hands of Tom Hornsey, Cal Farrell and they were able to ice the game for us,” Carlon said.

“We talked about character before the game and what it means to us week to week and we showed that it meant a lot to us to get over the line.

“I think to be honest in the last few weeks our ruckman Zack May has been outstanding. His work around the ground’s been really good, as the season’s gone on he’s just getting better and better. Josh Finch stood up in crucial times, Tom Hornsey stood up and some of our younger guys were really good as well.

“Honestly I feel like Ocean Grove are a very underestimated side. We didn’t take them lightly today, pushing Torquay, Barwon Heads and Geelong Amateurs in the last three weeks we knew that we had to bring our best football and our theory is we only have to be in front at the end, as long as we work hard enough to be close enough to give ourselves the chance.”

Charlie Every gets a handball away.

FINALS RACE

A win ahead of Geelong Amateur on the ladder, Modewarre is now in the box seat to take the final spot in the top five.

The Warriors have a winnable game against Newcomb and a final round blockbuster with Anglesea to come in the next fortnight.

Meanwhile, the Ammos should knock off Portarlington next week but have a tough encounter with Drysdale which is set to be a must win to keep their finals hopes alive.

Carlon believes the Warriors can overcome any side on their day, having upset Barwon Heads earlier in the season.

But the focus will be securing two wins to finish the season to ensure they aren’t relying on other results to make the finals.

“If we are playing our best football, why can’t we take it deep into the finals? We also understand that we have got to beat Newcomb next week and probably beat Anglesea to make sure we are in there and we give ourselves the best chance.

“It’s not about making noise it’s about winning games so all we have got to do is look to that week and who knows what can happen, we beat Barwon Heads earlier in the year and we run Torquay pretty close as well so. We feel like we are good enough, we have just got to focus on what’s in front of us on that week.”

“Look I’d be lying (if we weren’t checking rival scores) of course we do. We’ve jumped into the top five, I’m not sure if that’s even the third time this year. You always look at the results, probably the best thing for us is that we don’t leave it to the last round where we are relying on other results to get ourselves in, which is the main focus. We don’t want to rely on somebody beating someone in the last week to get in, we want to get in because we’ve earnt it.”

Originally published as BFL 2023: Modewarre claims nail-biting win over Ocean Grove to move into top-five