Bacchus Marsh 19.8 (122) d North Ballarat 10.11 (71)
BACCHUS Marsh’s big name forwards turned it on as the Cobras swept to a decisive 51-point victory over North Ballarat City at Eureka Stadium on Sunday.
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Bacchus Marsh was keen to prove that a loss at the hands of Lake Wendouree the previous week, when it was badly off target with 7.19, was an aberration,
And it did just that as Damian Cupido, Jarrah Maksymow and Cam Richardson combined with nine goals against an undermanned North Ballarat, which lacked the physical presence to match it with the trio aerially or at ground level.
Cupido (two goals) helped set the tone in the first half and then Richardson (two) chimed in with a stand-out third term.
However, it was Maksymow who set shone all day in just his second senior appearance with the Cobras.
He kicked five goals, with real potency from outside 50m, and at times looked to have the ball on a string.
Bacchus Marsh’s supremacy all stemmed from the ruck work of Daniel Burton, who was also valuable around the ground.
North Ballarat simply did not have the manpower to match it with the likes of Ryan Hobbs and Lou Campana despite the brave efforts of coach Jordyn Burke and youngster Matt Geary.
Bacchus Marsh coach Travis Hodgson said improved delivery into the forward 50m had been a focus of the preparation for this battle between third and fourth and it had paid dividends.
He said just as they had against Lakers, the Cobras had almost 30 more forward entries, but this time found targets, and the likes of Cupido, Marksymow and Richardson did the rest – either kicking goals or pinpointing teammates.
“We used the football much better. Our pressure on the man was also significant.”
Hodgson believes Bacchus Marsh will derive a lot a confidence from the display, which featured major contributions from players across the board.
Bacchus Marsh led by four goals 11 minutes into the second quarter – a margin City was able to manage until midway through the third quarter. It was only then it was unable to answer the challenges thrown at it and the game began to show signs of blowing out.
Bacchus Marsh kicked the first three goals of the last quarter and from there controlled the remainder of play as it pressed North Ballarat into a defensive corner.
Caleb McGrath was one bright spot for City, providing a strong marking target in attack and kicking four goals. Martin Curtis (three goals) was a dangerous forward, while Sam Bromley-Lynch worked hard at ground level.
Lake Wendouree 18.14 (122) d Sunbury 8.10 (58)
LAKE Wendouree has left no doubt who is the boss in the Ballarat Football League.
The Lakers remained undefeated after eight rounds and moved two games clear at the top of the ladder with a stunning 64-point win over Sunbury at Wendouree on Saturday.
Sunbury coach Rick Horwood summed up the Lions’ big loss succinctly: “Comprehensively beaten in every area except for the ruck.”
Horwood felt confident pre-match that Sunbury would have the edge in the ruck led by David Kovacevic, but he did not foresee the outcome.
Lakers coach Gavin Webb was particularly pleased with the evenness of the side’s performance – highlighting the difficulty to separate the best players from the rest of the group.
“It was a very level even performance.
“We couldn’t really fault any of our guys.
“Everyone played their role really well and it was a good solid performance mainly across four quarters which was pleasing,” he said.
It has been similar story all season for Lake Wendouree – defying all challenges along the way.
Sunbury was forced to chase tail all day against a much slicker and cleaner opponent.
Lake Wendouree put the Lions to the sword with six-goal second quarter to lead by 39 points and maintain the dominance through the second half in an unexpected one-sided affair.
Andrew Pitson was again on song in attack.
He gave Sunbury defence headaches throughout to finish six goals.
This gives him 28 goals in seven appearances
Ash Simpson, Nathan Pring and the returning Nick Peters, playing his first game since round one after hand surgery, all made valuable contributions to the cause for the Lakes
While admitting he is pleased to be in the position that Sunbury find itself in on the ladder in the top three, Horwood was quick to point out how the Lions were taught a football lesson by the Lakers.
“We only had one defying winner on the day and that was David Kovacevic in the ruck.
“I thought he dominated his role.
“We were given a football lesson in every other aspect,” Horwood said.
“They are a very good football side and made us look very ordinary. Their effort, the skill level, the attack on the footy and their attack on the man, they beat us in every facet and it’s a valuable lesson for our younger players,” he said.
East Point 17.16 (118) d Sebastopol 6.6 (42)
East Point overran a plucky Sebastopol to move into the BFL top six for the first time.
The Kangaroos were dominant in the end as they went away by 76 points at the Eastern Oval on Saturday.
Although it was short of coach Glenn Wilkins target of 20 goals, only inaccuracy with 5.9 in the last term meant East Point missed out on that outcome and at the end of the day was of little consequence.
All that matters now for East Point is what happens in its next five games – a brutal draw in which it faces the top five teams in a battle to play finals.
There is no question the Kangaroos will have to find something extra. Sebastopol took the match right up to them – launched by 23 tackles in the opening quarter as it had an equal share of play for three terms before running out of legs.
East Point’s more efficient use of the football led by Jono Lanyon, Nick Weightman, Jesse Murphy and Ben Lusby, ability to find open pace and more potent attack, which paved the way to six goals in the second quarter, ultimately made the difference. Lanyon had his biggest say in the opening half and then the pacy Weightman put his stamp on the game.
Paul Koderenko was also influential. He had a tight battle in the ruck with James Richards early, but took control in the second half.
Tom Peterson, Ben Trew and Marshall Cain led the Sebastopol defence, while Brett Goodes provided several key assists on its way to goal. Michael Powell was also a livewire in attack, but lacked the opportunities of the more polished East Point.
Darley 12.19 (91) d Ballarat 6.7 (43)
Darley continued the resurrection of its premiership defence with a comfortable, albeit ugly, 48-point victory over Ballarat at Darley Park.
The Devils never shifted out of second gear in a match that was scrappy from the outset.
If it was not for sustained wayward attempts on goal by Darley, it would have been much uglier for the Swans, which simply could not find clean forward entries.
Jarrod Edwards and Darren Leonard set up an almost impenetrable wall across half back, allowing midfielders Steve Kennedy and Travis Minns to run rampant.
Ryan Closter was brilliant in his return, while Mitch Banner booted Ballarat’s score off of his own boot with 6.7.
It was hard to find Ballarat winners, but Shane Hutchinson and Tom Stapleton battled hard all day in their typical fashion.
The win sees the reigning premier jump back into the top six, while Ballarat drops to ninth.
Redan 18.12 (120) d Melton 5.8 (38)
Redan blew Melton away with a second-half blitz in the Ballarat Football League at Melton on Saturday.
The Bloods stayed within striking distance of Redan until half-time, but from there it was all one-way traffic. The Lions added six goals in each of the third and fourth quarters, while Melton could score just 1.3.
While Melton remains only percentage outside the top six, it looks anything but a finals contender as it struggles after heavy losses to North Ballarat City and Redan.
This was a kill Redan needed after a moderate win over Ballarat the previous round and provided a major percentage boost as it continues in a battle to play finals.
Versatile veteran Dean Chester showed his importance with a five-goal performance, while Matt Cullinan continued his rise in the competition’s ruck ranks.
Dean Matthews showed why he has been Redan’s most consistent performer, while Mark Orr and Jake Gleeson were among Melton’s best.