Modewarre recruit Oscar Hocking is revelling in his time down back for the Warriors

A former Joeys defender has revealed how he landed on his feet at a BFNL club, still confident it can pinch a place in the finals after an indifferent season so far.

Modewarre will be looking to bank consecutive wins this Saturday for the first time since Round 5. Picture: Mark Wilson

Modewarre might be two wins off the BFNL top five with just six games to run but the Warriors are confident they can recapture their best form before the finals, a new face at Mount Moriac Reserve believes.

Currently in eighth position after a semi-final berth in 2024, the Warriors put a horrific end to their Round 11 game against Portarlington behind them with a 7.2 to 1.2 opening term blast against Newcomb on Saturday at home.

The previous Saturday, Modewarre had led the Demons by 30 points at the final break, before Port let loose in the last to win its third game in a row amid one of the BFNL’s most even seasons in memory.

While the league’s top four appears pretty set, fifth spot is up for grabs between an Anglesea team (24 points in fifth position) which has lost its last four, Barwon Heads (20) its last two, Portarlington (20) and the Warriors (16).

Oscar Hocking won St Joseph's' reserves best and fairest in 2024. Picture: St Joseph's Football Club.

And former Golden Square junior now Warriors backman, Oscar Hocking, who has crushed his first season in the BFNL after shifting from St Joseph’s, says it was important his teammates embraced the Portarlington result and learn the lessons with its 2025 campaign far from done and dusted.

While the wins haven’t flowed, the Warriors have street cred against some of the league’s best.

They got within a few kicks of the reigning premier and Barwon Heads in consecutive weeks, and went down by two points to the 11-1 Geelong Amateur, all in a four-game block.

“It was (disappointing), it’s obviously pretty clear, but with that sort of stuff it’s just important that we stick together and learn from it,” Hocking said of the Portarlington fade out.

“We all acknowledge it’s happened, but the fact is that we learn from it and we don’t let it happen (again).

Modewarre’s Connor Joseph has found form of late with nine goals from his past two matches. Picture: Mark Wilson

“We’re all trying to remain optimistic ... you just never know what will happen at the end of the season.

“All the boys are very confident in our abilities.

“I’m all for learning, everyone getting better as the season goes on.”

Which is half the reason why the Loddon Valley product landed in Geelong three years ago, to study civil engineering at Deakin University.

After three years at Joeys, and finding Ron Watts’ senior team a tough nut to crack, Hocking made the switch to the Warriors after an initial conversation with club president Mick Fitzgerald.

Hocking has had a big impact, named in the team’s best on eight occasions from 12 games so far.

“I think I owe ‘Hoves’ a few beers for that,” he said with a laugh.

“He’s just given me a good role and it allows me to play my best footy for the team.

“I’ve been loving it (at Modewarre).

“To be fair he’s pretty easy to get along with, he’s very welcoming to everybody at the club.

“I was pretty keen for a change. It was honestly perfect for me.”

Modewarre coach Mark Hovey and Hocking had a previous connection at St Joseph’s. Picture: Mark Wilson

While Hovey has given him a couple of cracks up forward, he’s predominantly been playing as a back with Morgan Fenton usually taking the key forward.

Hocking has enjoyed the step up from GFNL reserves footy, and was thankful he didn’t get the job on his former Joeys teammate, Ayden Gras, who until Round 12 was leading the competition for goals.

“‘Grasy’ gave us a run for our money,” he said, with Gras booting five in a 65-point win in Round 8.

“I was smart enough to avoid him.”

Last year’s grand finalists haven’t won since.

However, the Warriors face a tough road if they are to get themselves into finals calculations, with Torquay, Queenscliff, the Roos and Barwon Heads – all above them on the ladder – to follow after this Saturday against the Grubbers.

It’s a match they simply can’t afford to drop.

With Hocking arriving at Mount Moriac Reserve this year, he may look as far afield as Mitiamo for a recruitment drive.

The tall defender played a one-off game with his teenage brother Mason against Maiden Gully a few days shy of 12 months ago in the Loddon Valley Football League, with both in the team’s best.

“I’ve got a few lifelong mates back there, just to play with him was a first,” he said.

“It was an unreal experience.”

Originally published as Modewarre recruit Oscar Hocking is revelling in his time down back for the Warriors