By Justin Flynn
While Ocean Grove’s netball rivalry with cross-river opponents Barwon Heads might not be as intense as their footy counterparts, A Grade captain Emily Moroney is still wary of the Seagulls’ ability to cause an upset.
The Grubbers are second on the ladder with an 11-1 record so far and the Heads are eighth with three wins and the two sides meet this Saturday in what appears, on face value anyway, to be a potentially lopsided contest.
“It’s a weird one, there’s probably not that same kind of rivalry,” Moroney said.
“There’s not many rivalries existing anymore. I think everyone is just out there to win and play some good netball and enjoy themselves.
“I think every week this year and even last year, you always have to go into each game putting your best foot forward and really expecting that they’re going to come out firing. It was pretty close the last time we played them so hopefully we will look to continue our performance on the weekend and that kind of full four-quarter seamless effort into next week that will be the aim.”
Ocean Grove brushed aside fifth-placed Torquay in round 12 on Saturday June 22 with ease. The 72 to 48 win at home was an impressive four-quarter performance.
“Just the full court, full game effort, playing out 60 minutes of really good quality netball – I felt like that was 100 percent our best game of the season,” she said.
“And everyone just was gelling together, I feel like we are at a point of the season now where we’ve kind of all had some time together to build those relationships both on and off the court.”
Young goal attack Arlee Bennett started the game slowly, making a few uncharacteristic passing errors, but didn’t let it affect her. She would go on to be one of the Grubbers’ best players.
“She’s such a skilful player and I forget how young she is, she’s only 19,” Moroney said.
“So for her to play a full game in goal attack in a pretty physical game and keep her head and put up all her shots. She’s pretty good. She loves the long shot range.”
MEANWHILE Moroney praised clubmate Paula Birch, who played her 400th senior game in the D Grade win against Torquay.
“I’ve had the pleasure of being coached by her in juniors and playing with her in my early senior years so I feel very privileged to have learned off her and had her support,” she said.
“She’s a legend of Ocean Grove – to have played her entire career at the one club shows her dedication and speaks volumes of who she is. It’s a huge achievement and one we at Ocean Grove are so proud of and feel lucky to have her.”
