Ocean Grove go back-to-back in upset grand final win over previously undefeated Geelong Amateur
It was another grand final classic between Ocean Grove and Geelong Amateur, and the Ammos’ previously undefeated season ended in despair as the Grubbers went back-to-back.
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The heavyweight battle between Ocean Grove and Geelong Amateur has delivered again on the grand final stage.
Ocean Grove has broken Geelong Amateur hearts for the second consecutive year, upsetting the previously undefeated Ammos 48-53 in a nailbiting thriller in the Bellarine grand final.
The scoreline was almost identical to the Grubbers’ drought breaking triumph last year – 45-53 – only this one was even tighter.
Trailing by two points at three-quarter-time, Geelong Amateur won some key intercepts and managed to level the scores at 43 apiece.
The Grubbers scored three in a row, then the Ammos replied with three of their own on the trot.
The tense last quarter had spectators on edge, one Geelong Amateur fan remarking: “The way this is going I’ll have a stroke!”
That fan must have been close to calling triple-0 when at 46-all, Ammos goaler Darcy McFarlane’s shot hung on the ring for what felt like an eternity before just falling out.
It was a significant turning point.
From there the Grubbers rallied, with their strong defence getting stops and deadly accurate superstar Rebecca O’Neill unstoppable in attack.
The Grubbers made the Ammos pay for a couple of missed chances and skipped away.
What an agonising result for Geelong Amateur.
The Ammos have lost three games in the past two seasons, and two of those have been grand finals to the Grubbers.
Geelong Amateur boasted a percentage of 182 – 60 more than Ocean Grove – and knocked the Grubbers off by five points in the second qualifying final.
But the Grubbers won went it counted, and are now 2-1 from their three consecutive grand final duels.
The elation from Grubbers and the despair on the faces of the Ammos players told the story.
“Well done to Ocean Grove, we knew it was going to be a tough fight. You guys have got quality players all over the court, incredible effort well done,” Geelong Amateur coach Mel Savage said at the post-match presentation
“To our team, this is really hard to be totally honest. I’m really proud of your efforts from January to September. We didn’t get there in the end, but you never stopped believing, you never stopped trying.”
Ocean Grove star Emily Moroney was named as best on court after an inspired performance.
RETURNING DUO
Ocean Grove certainly wasn’t expecting to have Zanna Woods and O’Neill as an attacking duo this time last year.
O’Neill was retiring after the premiership win and Woods had just lost a grand final with Newtown & Chillwell.
The three-time GFNL league best-and-fairest and Geelong Cougar decided to return home to the Grubbers.
And as fate would have it, Woods’ injury was what that brought sharpshooter O’Neill out of retirement.
After Woods’ medial ligament injury she suffered in the VNL, coach Mel Holmes put out a call to O’Neill to return.
The goalscoring machine said yes and went on to score a lazy 406 goals in 10 games, including a crucial 39 in the final.
It is hard to see Ocean Grove pulling off this upset without her.
HOLMES’ PERFECT SEASON
It has been a big week – and a big year – for Holmes.
Not only did she lead this Grubbers side to premiership glory as coach, she was also the joint Bellarine C Grade best-and-fairest winner as a player.
Thank you to Ocean Grove for believing in me. This is my first year coaching a senior team and this group are incredible humans and you took the chance and you did it, well done I’m proud of you,” Holmes said.
“It is a really lovely family community feel and I’m really proud to have coached you all. You played an epic game.”
That’s a perfect season if every we’ve seen one.
Originally published as Ocean Grove go back-to-back in upset grand final win over previously undefeated Geelong Amateur
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