IT WAS a case of master versus the apprentice when Grove took on the Hawks on Saturday at Drysdale.
Reigning BFL premiers Drysdale 21.12.138 proved their finals credentials and why it is such a formidable opposition easily accounting for the inexperienced Ocean Grove 8.12.60 winning by 78 points.
Points wise, it is the Grubbers worst loss in 2010 and the first time they have lost two in a row this season.
It follows the team’s disappointing 21-point defeat to Torquay in Round nine.
Ocean Grove coach Cameron McGregor, who remained measured post-match, agreed his side were no match for the far more superior Hawks.
“There is no doubt we are not in the same class as Drysdale, we copped injuries, we had things go against us, but the scoreboard probably didn’t do us justice at the same time as well,” he said.
“We have got a long way to improve to be a finals side.”
Drysdale rebounding defender Brett Dowie and leading ruckman Daniel Gage stood out in the comprehensive win for the Hawks.
Of more a concern for Ocean Grove is their growing injury toll.
Promising youngster Tom McManus (corked thigh) and swashbuckling defender Ryan Baker (hamstring) lost their battle with injury only moments into the match.
McManus and Baker join playing assistant Rowan O’Callaghan (season ending leg injury), Sam Van Deuren (hamstring), Callum Jones, Ben Wilkinson and Wayde Piec (hamstring) on the sidelines.
“The thing that is hurting us is we are copping injuries in the first quarter of games and we’re down to 19 to 20 fit guys for the game,” McGregor said. “We had 18 fit guys in that last quarter.”
The Drysdale Recreation Reserve has not been a happy hunting ground for Ocean Grove in recent times, last year the Hawks annihilated the Grubbers by 92 points.
“The (losses) are both very similar, it is just an empty feeling, I’m at a bit of a loss to explain what happened and why,” Ocean Grove captain James Dalton said after the match.
The Grubbers will now turn its focus towards Modewarre at Ocean Grove in Round 11, a must win game for the home side if it wants to participate in this year’s BFL finals. Sixth-placed Ocean Grove now sit two games outside the top five.
Dalton said there will be plenty of motivation at stake, as the Grubbers will host a 10-year reunion in honour of their 2000 senior premiership on Saturday.
“It has got to be a massive incentive not to put in a performance like we did against Drysdale, otherwise the club will be pretty hard on us,” Dalton said.
Game starts at 2:10pm on Saturday at Ocean Grove Memorial Recreation Reserve.
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