Bacchus Marsh 18.18 (126) d East Point 10.9 (69)
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By David Brehaut
BACCHUS Marsh made amends for an early season loss to East Point with a commanding 57-point win over the Kangaroos at Maddingley Park on Sunday.
That round three hiccup has been playing on the Cobras’ mind and coach Travis Hodgson signalled post-match that they could finally put those demons to rest.
He said East Point matched up well on Bacchus Marsh and he had been impressed by the way his midfield paved the way for the victory to maintain a clear hold on second position.
Ruckman Daniel Burton had an outstanding day, having the better of one of the competition’s big men in Paul Koderenko in all aspects of the game. He was particularly impressive around the ground, where he controlled the air and was also prominent at ground level.
Hamish Coulton was part of a menacing hard-running midfield, while Alec Del Papa and Declan Phyland were also lively.
Then up field Damian Cupido capped it all off with six goals despite the valiant efforts of Mitch Walsh.
Nick Hind made an impressive return for East Point after an extended lay-off with an ankle injury.
He provided constant run and highlighted how much he had been missed.
Aden Nestor also took his chances from a wing, kicking three goals.
East Point threw everything it had at the Cobras, but was unable to hit targets inside 50m enough to build pressure.
Bacchus Marsh was too classy and clean.
It was not all good news for Bacchus Marsh. High profile goalkicking onballer Jarrah Maksymow was shown a yellow card, sent off for a stint and reported after he made late contact on Hind midway through the second quarter.
North Ballarat City 18.14 (122) d Lake Wendouree 12.11 (83)
By Michael Hankin
NORTH Ballarat City re-established itself as a premiership threat with a convincing 39-point victory over top team Lake Wendouree at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.
City made most of the running after an impressive seven-goal opening quarter, which largely set the tone for the day to hand the Lakers’ their second loss of the year.
Jordyn Burke, who coached North Ballarat from the sidelines owing to suspension, described the game as its most complete effort of the season.
“That was definitely the best four-quarter performance of our year.
“We had a couple of jobs to do in order to negate a couple of their key midfielders, which was important.
“Our kicking efficiency was (also) better than any other time this year.
“We kicked straight, which also helped,” said Burke, who still has one more match of his suspension to serve.
North Ballarat captain Simon McCartin was dominant as he appeared to be in everything and Derrick Micallef headed up a potent forward line on a ground where always looks dangerous.
Micallef kicked six – the fifth time this year he has bagged five or more in a season tally of 37.
McCartin capped off his work with four goals, while Keenan George marked his return with three majors.
Whenever Lake Wendouree did begin to threaten, North Ballarat City had the answers – capitalising on the deficiencies the competition leader has been trying to cover since losing the likes of Nathan Pring, Ben Hayes, Tom Littore, Tom Carey and Lucas Anderson to injury.
Luke Bucknall and Nathan Monk performed valiantly for the Lakers in trying to keep them in the contest.
However, while many thought that Lake Wendouree would hit its straps in the second half, North Ballarat City continued the pressure and intensity by slamming on another eight goals to Lakers’ four.
Lake Wendouree coach Gavin Webb acknowledged that they were were beaten by a better side on the day, but refused to concede that it was panic stations for Lakers.
“We knew coming into the game that we would be up against it with them being a good side, but we will lick our wounds and come back from this, given there is every chance that we will play them in the finals,” he said.
Despite winning, such is the quirky nature of the season North Ballarat City dropped from fourth to fifth – overtaken by Redan on percentage.
For Lakers, this was their second loss in three rounds.
Redan 22.15 (147) d Darley 8.3 (51).
By Tyler Maher
A RED hot Redan inflicted a second drubbing on Darley in the Ballarat Football League at Darley Park in as many weeks on Saturday.
Still licking their wounds after a 102-point loss to Bacchus Marsh, the Devils went down to the Lions by 96 points.
Ironically, despite the punishing defeats the reigning premier remains in a three-way battle with Melton and East Point for sixth and a finals berth.
In greasy conditions that deteriorated as the match progressed, Redan was simply too classy and clean for an undermanned Darley.
The game began in bizarre fashion, with eight 50m penalties awarded in the first term, including three double penalties after verbal abuse directed at umpires, which all resulted in majors from the goal square.
The quarter was otherwise tight, with Redan leading by 14 points.
From there it was all one-way traffic though, with the Lions putting a stranglehold on the home side to exact 28 scoring shots to six out of the tough conditions.
It was an all-round team performance from Redan with 13 individual goalkickers and few standouts as every player did his job
Brenton Riordan tore the second half apart, kicking four goals, while Daniel Colbert also finished with four in strong displays by the key forwards.
For Darley, Steven Kennedy and Luke Delahey provided grunt and spark respectively, while the young brigade, of which there were plenty, battled hard throughout the day.
The big win sees Redan jump into fourth spot behind Sunbury in third by only percentage as the jostle for positions within the top six heats up.
Darley’s own percentage has taken a hit in the past two weeks – the reason for dropping below Melton.
Redan will play in one of just three matches in round 15 next Saturday.
The Lions will take on Sebastopol on a heavy Marty Busch Reserve, where Sebastopol has found some solid form.
Form there Redan faces a hurting Lake Wendouree and then has a bye before a last round tussle with Ballarat.
Darley will lick it wounds with a bye and then have to regroup to play another top six team North Ballarat City.
Its only hope a reprieve will be Melton South in round 17 before finishing off with Sunbury at Sunbury.
Like Melton, Darley is guaranteed four points from the bye and it is possible sixth place will be decided by percentage. It is certainly going down to the wire.
Sebastopol 14.10 (94) d Melton South 2.8 (20)
By David Brehaut
SEBASTOPOL buried Melton South in the Marty Bush Reserve mud as it powered to a 74-point victory in the BFL on Saturday.
The Burra put the match away with a five-goal burst in the first quarter – a total Melton South could not match over four terms.
While Michael Powell put the icing on the cake with six goals, it was the work of Sebastopol’s midfield and running half backs which impressed coach Shane Snibson most.
Panther ruckman Ben Sortino dominated the centre duels, but once the ball hit the ground the Burra took charge.
And when Melton South did hold in court in its own territory, it was unable to put on any scoreboard pressure.
Ben Trew was a major influence for the Burra, especially as it established its authority; Tyler Mookhoek was an opportunist in attack with three goals; and Tyler O’Sullivan-Kirchner imposed himself on the game on the outside.
Sunbury 13.16 (94) d Melton 6.6 (42)
SUNBURY coach Rick Horwood is satisfied with the course the Lions are plotting towards the BFL finals.
With a favourable draw – bye, Melton South, North Ballarat City and Darley – Sunbury strengthened its position in the battle for a top three finish with a workmanlike 52-point win over Melton at Melton on Saturday.
Onballer Alik Magin was again a class act for the Lions, while Ben McInneny stood tall across back.
Although he did not hit the scoreboard as prolifically as he often does, Jack Landt also proved a handful in attack.
Melton tried everything it could to stall Sunbury, including work back in numbers.
While other than five goals in the second quarter Sunbury never got totally away, Melton was unable to threaten up forward.
The Bloods’ only goal after half-time came in the third quarters. Braedan Kight was a shining lift for Melton with five goals as it climbed into the top six despite losing.