The Kangaroos are now one of three teams on 20 points, shading Darley and Melton by percentage.

East Point bounced back from a devastating 70-point loss to Lake Wendouree in the best possible fashion – 12.9 (81) to 10.17 (77).

Melton began to day in sixth, four points ahead of East Point and Darley.

A win over Darley would have put the Bloods two games ahead of the reigning premier and still in the top six no matter what the outcome of the East Point and Sunbury encounter.

However, Melton was unable to rise to the challenge and lost to Darley 13.8 (88) to 59.9 (63) at Darley.

The other three games went to the clear favourites.

Unbeaten Lake Wendouree overcame a determined Melton South at Melton, North Ballarat City left Ballarat in its wake at Alfredton and Redan easily accounted for Sebastopol at the City Oval

North Ballarat City 17.11 (113) d Ballarat 8.13 (61)

Redan 15.12 (102) d Sebastopol 4.8 (32)

Lake Wendouree 15.9 (99) d Melton South 9.10 (64)

LADDER

LAKE WENDOUREE 9 9 0 0 1 0 1017 569 178.73 40

BACCHUS MARSH 9 6 3 0 1 0 977 629 155.33 28

NORTH BALLARAT CITY 9 6 3 0 1 0 989 659 150.08 28

SUNBURY 9 6 3 0 1 0 969 655 147.94 28

REDAN 10 7 3 0 0 0 912 647 140.96 28

EAST POINT 9 4 5 0 1 0 815 729 111.80 20

Darley 9 4 5 0 1 0 789 745 105.91 20

Melton 9 4 5 0 1 0 600 733 81.86 20

Ballarat 9 2 7 0 1 0 582 1029 56.56 12

Sebastopol 9 2 7 0 1 0 503 996 50.50 12

Melton South 9 0 9 0 1 0 508 1270 40.00 4