Redan 17.18 (120) d Ballarat 11.4 (70)
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Orren Stephenson has taken just one game with Redan to stamp his authority in the Ballarat Football League.
In Redan colours for the first time since joining North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL in 2005, the giant ruckman had an immediate impact as the Lions defeated Ballarat by 50 points at the City Oval on Saturday.
Not only was he an imposing figure who controlled the ruck to be among the Lions’ best , Stephenson changed the dynamics of the Redan engine room.
Redan coach Brendan Peace said the Stephenson factor gave the Lions a more attacking mindset at stoppages – centre bounces in particular.
He said in earlier games they had focused on defence first and then working the ball to their advantage.
Peace said Stephenson’s ability to either find a target or clear the area could put Redan on the front foot.
This was on show for all to see as Redan’s midfielders and onballers led by Callum Currie and Dean Mathews knocked up getting touches, putting the likes of first-year youngster Tom Morrish into the game.
This in turn opened up opportunities for Nick Willox and Liam Hoy, who were also on the end of strong defensive work by Nathan Horbury, Pat Britt and Jacob Short.
Ballarat was competitive around the ground, keeping within four goals for most of the match before Redan kicked away.
As convincing as the margin was, an inaccurate Redan could and should have won by much more with 20 more scoring shots – largely a result of having some 25 more 50-metre entries.
Peace said Redan still had some way to go to put together four complete quarters.
The Lions were cleaner in their ball handling and consistently found space to create hit-up targets.
Ballarat coach Shane Hutchinson said the Swans had been hurt by Redan’s ability to provide quick responses.
He said it had been frustrating to get a goal after working so hard, only to see Redan reply within moments on the back of a centre break.
He said this was all part of the Swans learning curve when up against such an experienced and well credentialled team
Daniel Kennedy marked his 100th senior appearance for Ballarat with a tireless on-ball performance, while the pacy Nick O’Farrell was again a livewire deep in attack with three majors.
Bacchus Marsh 20.13 (133) d Melton South 11.11 (77)
Bacchus Marsh reminded everyone of the powerhouse it is with a comprehensive 55-point victory over a highly-fancied Melton South in the Ballarat Football League at Maddingley Park on Saturday.
The Cobras put the foot down in the second half - kicking 13 goals to six – to run away with the game and send the Panthers from top position to third.
Rival coaches Travis Hodgson and Sean Triplett each indicated the margin the closeness of the contest, with skill errors and some umpiring decisions helping Bacchus Marsh gain the ascendency.
Hodgson was impressed with the way the Cobras responded in the second half, especially considering they were two rotations down after losing midfielders Matt Denham and Ryley Stuhldreier.
“We felt we set a lot of our second half dominance before half-time.
“The third quarter was really significant for us after we spoke about how poor our third quarters were against Darley and Sunbury.
“We really put that on the boys at half-time and they responded which was really pleasing,” he said.
A disappointed Sean Triplett again lamented poor skills and costly turnovers as major contributing factors in the loss.
“Our execution was terrible. Our decision-making was okay and you could see what we were trying to do, but we just couldn’t get the execution right.
“I didn’t really feel Bacchus Marsh was a nine-goal better side, and I don’t think they would’ve thought they were a nine-goal side either,” Triplett said.
Bacchus Marsh defender Trent Angwin’s job on Brendan Fevola was influential, with the Melton South joint coach and marquee forward struggling to have an impact.
When Fevola did manage to build his goal tally to five in the last term the game was already done and dusted. Angwin earned praise from Hodgson for his performance.
It was a different story up the other end of the ground, with Jarrah Maksymow kicking seven goals for the Cobras and having the better of Adam El Houli, despite the defender’s impressive start to the season.
Declan Phyland was a standout in the midfield for the Cobras, with his skill execution a highlight.
Bacchus Marsh’s win compacts the top half of the ladder, with the Cobras fifth, but just one game away from Darley top position on the same points as Lake Wendouree and Melton South.
Lake Wendouree 13.12 (90) d Melton 7.9 (51)
Lake Wendouree kept its record unblemished with what coach Tim Malone described as its most consistent performance of the BFL season.
Malone has been concerned with the “patchy” nature of the Lakers’ form and highlighted to his players the need to shake this off going into the clash with Melton ast MacPherson Park on Saturday.
He said while it was an “ugly” win, it was the type of performance needed in a tough contest.
Malone said while the likes of Nick Peters and Nathan Monk stood up again, there was a wider contribution as Luke Bucknall produced his best game of the season and Lucas Anderson continued to find something extra down back in his comeback from a long-term knee injury.
Although disappointed to lose, Melton coach Brad Murphy was happy with the effort given the number of long-term injuries the Bloods have and their resulting inexperienced line-up.
Ryan Davis continues to lead from the front.
Part of a leadership group hit hard by injuries, Davis has delighted Murphy with the way he has taken on extra on-field responsibilities.
“He’s stepped up. He’s really good.”
Back in the senior line-up for the first time this season, under-18.5 player Jordan Kight also caught the eye with four goals, while Lachlan Walker is another youngster putting in the hard yards.
With another tough assignment against reigning premier Bacchus Marsh next, Melton has its back to wall.
The Bloods might be only one game outside the top six, but one win in five games does not read well.
At the other end of the scale, Lake Wendouree sits second behind Darley – each on four wins – and hoping to get young ruckman Arthur Armstrong back next round.
Darley 19.16 (130) d Sebastopol 5.9 (39)
Darley ensured it was all one-way traffic in out-classing Sebastopol in a BFL miss-match at Marty Busch Reserve on Saturday.
The Devils book-ended the match with the opening seven goals in the first quarter and then an uninterrupted run of 12 goals through the second, third and fourth terms, with Toby Hutt finally ending to sequence with the last major of the day.
Brian Graham, who has quickly established himself as a superstar of the competition, kicked seven goals – four of them in the first stanza.
Injuries took a toll in each camp though, with Darley hit the hardest.
Dan Roy (groin), Matt Inglis (shoulder) and Lachie Herring (hip flexor) are all in doubt for the Devils’ clash with Melton South.
Sebastopol skipper Petersen suffered some back discomfort after a collision with Roy.
This came after Michael Powell (knee) and Tyler O’Sullivan-Kirchner (back) withdrew from the Burra’s selected side.
Sunbury 14.9 (93) d East Point 9.12 (66)
As far as Sunbury coach Ben Jordan is concerned, a 27-point win over East Point in the Ballarat Football League at Clarke Oval on Saturday was well deserved.
The Lions have put in some promising efforts against the likes of Melton South and Darley without getting the points.
So landing a victory at home was crucial as they work to find some momentum.
The Lions put the game away in the opening term, making the most of their opportunities to kick six goals to lead by 26 points.
Jordan said Sunbury put a lot of preparation into ensuring it shut down East Point at stoppages and it had been crucial in stealing the early break in what developed into a break-even game over the next three terms.
Ben Said again impressed with six goals.
Back with Sunbury this season, Said is an exciting small forward and made the most of the open spaces and better deliver from the Lions’ midfield