Star Ocean Grove playmaker Zanna Woods is expecting to spend more time at wing attack when she returns from an elbow injury.
Woods broke a bone in her elbow in round 6, but the injury is progressing well. She may even play this week, but at most should be one or two weeks away.
In her absence Arlee Bennett and Ashton O’Brien, with help from Jesse Sutton in one game, have made the goal ring their own.
“They’ve been amazing – they haven’t missed me at all, in the best way,” Woods said.
“I’ve loved being able to step in from a more sideline point of view and have a bit more of a stronger coaching role. They both play such a different style and they’re both really good movers and I guess slightly unorthodox, which is probably challenging for defenders, whereas I might be a little bit more typical so they really bring out the best in each other.”
Woods excels at goal shooter or goal attack, but has played wing attack to great effect at stages this season.
“We have a luxury that we’ve got so much flexibility and then Arlee and Ash have been so amazing and they’re both so accurate as well,” Woods said.
“I’m most commonly in goals, but we have been previously playing with me going into mid-court as well and having different centre options. So I think it’s just another little tool that we’ve got in our belt.
“When I’m at wing attack we just also add that little extra bit of height as well, and I play quite a different mid-court to our other girls, I guess because I don’t typically know how to do it.
“I don’t play a typical wing attack role, which sometimes works in our favour and I’ve said to (coach) Mel (Holmes) that I’m happy to go wherever I’m needed.”
At the other end of the court, Georgia Berry and recruit Amanda O’Malley have formed a formidable duo in defence.
“They’re tall, but they’re also quite agile as well,” Woods said.
“They’re super athletic and I’m very grateful that they’re on our side and that we don’t have to play against them.”
With such a star-studded attack and defence, Ocean Grove’s mid-court often gets underrated.
“People often talk about our bookends, but our mid-courters are super athletic and super versatile,” Woods said.
“Em (Moroney) is so fast and she’s been around forever, but she’s just so reliable. And then Georgia (Ryan), I’ve played with her for years at Cougars. She’s super consistent and you can tell her just to turn on the jets and she’ll do it. Then Gem (Bell), who’s just come back from playing in a different league, is such a raw talent. She’ll take everything in and her improvement from round one to now is just insane.”
The undefeated Grubbers take on fifth-placed Torquay this weekend. The Tigers are coming off an impressive win against Newcomb.
“We were lucky last year and had two good wins against them, but we never take them lightly,” Woods said.
“We always know they’re quite physical and they’ve got some big bodies as well. We’ve got some big girls that can help match them up as well, but I think mostly we’ll be sticking to our game plan and working on our strengths. We’ve got total faith in our team.”
ASHTON O’Brien and Courtney Leith were best for Ocean Grove in a 62 to 35 win against Portarlington in round 9. Captain Mikayla Mevissen was best for Port.
TORQUAY had its best win of the season with Bridget Aughton starring at wing defence in a 10-goal triumph against Newcomb. The Tigers trailed at half-time, but finished the game strongly.
QUEENSCLIFF got the job done against Barwon Heads by 10 goals, but will be missing star player Kaitlin Gladman for the season after she suffered an ACL injury. Keely Kinsey was best while Issey Armstrong was good in defence for the Seagulls.
GEELONG Amateur powered to a 32-goal win against Anglesea with Louise Shaw great in mid-court.
ELISE Ruggles was best on court in Drysdale’s 20-goal win against Modewarre.
