EAST POIINT V BACCHUS MARSH

East Point 17.14 (116) d Bacchus Marsh 11.12 (78)

 By David Brehaut

EAST Point has its season back on track in the Ballarat Football League.

The Kangaroos showed in no uncertain terms in a 38-point win over Bacchus Marsh on Saturday that a minimum objective to finish inside the top four remains more than realistic.

There was plenty at stake for East Point after losses in the opening two rounds – knowing that they were facing a highly confident unbeaten Bacchus Marsh and that another defeat would make its season much more difficult than it had planned.

No only did the Kangaroos respond as coach Glenn Wilkins wanted, they also continued the Cobras’ Eastern Oval hoodoo. Bacchus Marsh has not beaten East at the ground in more than a decade.

East Point took the game out of the Cobras’ reach in a vibrant nine-goal first term.

It was clear from the outset that the Kangaroos were up and about. They were lively in every sense, by hand and foot – spreading hard to take Bacchus Marsh out of its comfort zone and make the Cobras look anything but the team which had six days earlier smashed reigning premier Darley.

Wilkins laid it on the line to his players during the build-up, with no bigger statement than fielding a team with seven changes. And he has no doubt this provided the sting in the tail to get his players to where they needed to be.

Bacchus Marsh answered East’s initial challenge, but four goals to the home team in red time opened up a 32-point break.

The Cobras never fully recovered. They stuck to their task by slowing down East Point’s attack on the ball and constantly reining in the lead to counter a blow out. However, the Kangaroos were always able to find something extra.

East Point’s superior midfield put and kept Bacchus Marsh on the back foot, with man mountain Paul Koderenko leading the way. 

He was outstanding, with Bacchus Marsh unable to combat him  either in the ruck or around the ground where he was tireless and close to unbeatable.

As well making his own stamp, he opened up the game for the likes ball magnet Daniel Tung, Jono Lanyon, Drew Murphy and Nick Hinds.

Jesse Murphy and Nick Weightman were opportunists in attack, while Keegan Mellington provided run out of defence.

Bacchus Marsh did not have the spread of players or physical presence it needed to get close enough to East, with too much early reliance on Cam Richardson in attack.

DARLEY SUNBURY

 Sunbury 17.17 (119) d Darley 14.14 (98) 

 By Tyler Maher

ONE player can be the difference in tight games between evenly matched rivals.

That is how simple it can be.

Sunbury’s Grant Valles was that player in a tight tussle between the Lions and Darley in the Ballarat Football League at Darley on Saturday.

When Darley’s big name recruit Mitch Banner slammed home his third goal of the game in the first minute of the last term to put Darley up by 12 points, murmurs around the crowd seemed to be in agreeance that the reigning premier would kick into gear and put away the match in fine fashion.

Enter Valles.

The next 26 minutes saw him tear apart the Devils’ backline.

He kicked 4.1 to effectively grab the four premiership points for Sunbury with his own hands.

The Lion simply could not be stopped, slotting set shots from outside 50 metres and snapping majors from the goal square at will.

Up until that point the match had been balanced on a knife edge.

Darley was in control for large chunks of each quarter through midfield dominance, only to see Sunbury claw back with sheer determination and intermittent brilliance from Jack Landt, who also finished with four goals.

Not even flashes of brilliance from Darley’s gun runners Steve Kennedy, Anthony Chiu and Banner could keep the Lions on the canvas for longer than 10 minutes.

Sunbury’s Alix Magin was silky through the middle of the ground all day.

Ben Guthrie starred early and Joseph Redfern stood tall down back. 

Jack Sheehan supported his smaller forwards well with three goals of his own.

For Darley, young guns Luke Delahey and Leigh Spiteri were everywhere –  the latter snagging himself three goals along with Rhys Ellis and Banner.

This gives Sunbury its second win of the season and puts them into sixth position on the ladder – breathing down Darley’s neck in fifth.

The Devils have won only one of three games – hardly the start they expected or wanted to their premiership defence.

It does not get any easier for Jarrod Edwards and his charges either.

Darley now faces a charging Lake Wendouree, which already shapes as premiership contender.

Sunbury travels to Alfredton Oval to face Ballarat next round. 

LAKE WENDOUREE V BALLARAT

Lake Wendouree 23.18 (156) d Ballarat 9.12 (66)

By Michael Hankin

LAKE Wendouree continued its impressive start to the BFL season with a resounding 92-point win over Ballarat on Saturday.

The Lakers increased their lead in every quarter in what coach Gavin Webb described as a four-quarter effort. 

Andrew Pitson (seven goals) proved to be a focal point, assisted by the ever-reliable Lucas Anderson. Their midfield featuring Angus Kirby and Ben Taylor was also prominent.

Swans coach Ash Baker cited the pressure by Lake Wendouree as a major factor.

“The pressure was exceptional. It caused us to keep turning the ball over. It came down to Lake Wendouree being a very good side.”

Webb highlighted the importance of versatility. “We won every quarter which was an aim at the start of the day, so to do that and to kick a big score was really pleasing.” 

“We don’t want to (again) rely on three or four forwards. It was good to see a really good spread of players hit the scoreboard.” 

SEBASTOPOL V MELTON

Melton 14.20 (104) d Sebastopol 4.11 (35)

MELTON coach Brad Murphy is a hard taskmaster.

The Bloods demolished Sebastopol by 69 points in the BFL at Marty Busch Reserve on Saturday, but Murphy felt they should have won by more.

He said 3.10 in the last quarter was far from satisfactory.  And he portioned a sizeable amount of the blame to himself given he missed three shots on goal.

Murphy said while that was disappointing the Bloods had again shone defensively.

He said given they did not have a particularly potent attack, defence had been a real focus this season. Melton has conceded just 131 points in three games - the lowest in the competition.

Melton went into the game determined not to make the same mistake as last year, when players just thought the win would come without the required effort. The Bloods subsequently lost.

The first quarter was telling when they restricted Sebastopol to one goal despite it kicking with the wind.

REDAN V MELTON SOUTH

Redan 19.13 (127) d Melton South 7.7 (49)

REDAN look a half of football to shrug off Melton South in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.

When it finally did though, it was all one-way traffic as the Lions careered away to a 78-point victory at the City Oval.

Redan coach Eammon Gill left no doubt what he felt the most important aspect of the performance was - the four premiership points.

Not surprising as they were Redan's first after back-to-back losses.

The Panthers were competitive in the formative stages through the likes of the consistent Angus Storey, Brendan Hooper and Michael Callus, but the effort took a toll.

With the match secure, Redan cut loose with seven goals in the last quarter.

Brenton Riordan was a target in attack and delivered with five goals. Ruckman Matt Cullinan continued his solid form, while Chris Giampaolo capped off his work with five goals and young North Ballarat Tom Schnerring impressed in his debut.