Geelong Advertiser |
OCEAN Grove has done it again - and not in a positive way.
The Grubbers turned from the hunters to the hunted in the second half as an under-manned Torquay dismantled the opposition.
The loss puts the Grubbers' finals aspirations in doubt.
The end margin blew out to 34 points and Bryn Weadon's performance summed up the game for the home side.
Weadon was easily best-on-ground in the first half, revelling in a new role off the half-back flank and picking up possessions at will.
But the second half was a different story.
Torquay sent a run-with player to Weadon and curbed his influence.
He and the the rest of the Grubbers ran out of steam in the final quarter, with Weadon left cramping.
The same result rings true with Sam Rankin's battle against Tigers full-forward Scott Hughes, with the spearhead kicking most of his six goals in the final half.
Signs were ominous for Ocean Grove at three-quarter time as Torquay had wrenched back the momentum.
Torquay took the ascendancy early in the final term, with the Grubbers again failing to take the scalp they desperately need.
The Ocean Grove players dropped their heads as Torquay ran away with the match.
But it was not all negative for Ocean Grove.
The Grubbers used key back Harrison Foott up forward in a different role, Weadon across the half-back and was able to release coach Shane Jack by resting ruckman Brayden Sneddon in the goalsquare.
Jack was too disappointed to comment on the loss.
His side sits at 4-5 and is likely to miss finals.
Something will have to change in the second half of the season if the Grubbers are to make a charge.
They have only beaten Newcomb, Portarlington, Anglesea and Modewarre, and have failed to take out a team that is a serious threat in the premiership race.
