Grubbers’ night to get it right

OCEAN Grove coach Elyse Howard believes the result of her team’s clash with ladder leader Geelong Amateur tonight could hinge on which side adjusts better to the changed match conditions.

With Ammos hosting their ladies’ day on Saturday, both teams agreed to bring the Round 13 BFNL match forward, with the game to start at 7pm.

Howard said there would be a heavy focus on starting well.

“Being on a Thursday and at night it is about having our heads in the game early and not feeling like it is a training session because it is out of the norm,” she said.

“They will be in the same boat, though it is at their home ground. But it doesn’t matter where or what time you play, it is about being the better team.”

Tonight’s clash is the first of four games against fellow finals contenders in the run home for Ocean Grove, including a three-week stretch against Ammos and perennial powerhouses Modewarre and Torquay.

The Grubbers sit in third place after 12 games and Howard said with player availability to decline after the battle with Ammos, they would need at least two wins from those four matches to maintain the double chance come the end of the season.

“The game against Ammos will really dictate how far we have come and where we sit,” Howard said.

“So it is a big one for us but we really need to win two out of the four ‘tough’ games and then that will consolidate third spot, we think.

“That is the vision, so if we can do that it will allow us to keep third spot.”

Ocean Grove will face Ammos tonight at Queens Park, with the A-grade clash set to kick off at 7pm.