Geelong Advertiser |
EXTERNAL and internal pressure was not enough to fracture the Geelong Amateurs' spirit as they broke away to a six-goal win against Ocean Grove.
The threat of straight sets elimination loomed on the Ammos and they used it to motivate them to a stellar performance in the spring heat yesterday.
The Amateurs opened well with the breeze in the first quarter and were able to hold the Grubbers at bay in the second.
Co-coach Cory Bauer, who returned from a hamstring complaint, was well aware of the danger this game presented.
"We knew after losing last week and coming up against Ocean Grove, who may have scraped into the finals, but they had nothing to lose," Bauer said.
"They threw caution to the wind and just had a crack and that was one of the better contests we've had all year and to come away with the win we're very happy."
The Ammos had added incentive to win this match, with Tom McArlein's No.14 taped to the exit of the change rooms to recognise his significance to the team.
"That's Tommy McArlein who fractured his neck last week against Drysdale in the first quarter and he's a huge loss for us," Bauer said.
"For a guy who's been here since day dot and worked hard over pre-season to miss out, and Riley Ferguson who's out for the season with a thumb injury, these guys have worked hard and we need to reward them.
Travis Robertson, who should go close to winning the Les Ash medal this year, and Tim Clarke are both former coaches of the club who have stuck around and, remarkably, are continuing to improve with age.
"Chucky" Clarke was superb in the third quarter while Robertson iced the game with his coolness in the last.
Grubbers bow out heads held high - Christian West
AN indifferent year comes to a close for Ocean Grove at the hands of the Ammos.
Marred by injuries for the first half of the year, the Grubbers season looked done before a series of events fell their way and finals football came back on the radar.
To show the change in the team's form and confidence you don't have to look any further than last time these sides met.
Back in round 12 the margin was 90 points and the match sparked a low point for Shane Jack's men.
From then on, they turned the corner and the margin was 36 points in the end but felt closer on a warm and windy Sunday.
"I thought today we competed well but they probably just got a few easy goals which blew the score out and probably didn't reflect the game I thought," Jack said.
"Speaking to a few of the Amateur's boys, they said it didn't reflect the game either so I'm just proud of the boys."
The move of Tyson Doherty to the backline was one that sparked the turnaround for Ocean Grove midseason, and he was sorely missed with hamstring soreness.
Doherty ruled himself out in an unselfish display, making way for Paul Dreher, aged 18, to reclaim his spot. The young players have been the shining light for Jack with Dreher and Brayden Warren providing excitement for the older players this year.
These older players look rejuvenated, in particular Rowan O' Callaghan, who is playing some of the best footy in his career.
The worry for Ocean Grove after the game was the health of Brandon Poulter who was stretchered off the ground in a neck brace following a huge shepherd from Damian Zaperenkov.
Zaperenkov may face scrutiny as the contact landed Poulter in hospital.
Poulter was a new face for the Grubbers this year and they'll be looking to have a big pre-season and get some new recruits to the club in the off-season in hopes they can crack into the upper echelon of the BFL in 2014.
