The Devils took the game away from the Panthers with a dominant six-goal first term and then 12 goals in the second to lead by 100 points at half-time.

Melton South managed to stem the flow in the second half, but it was nothing more than damage control.

*Final scores: Darley 27.14 (176) d Melton South 7.12 (54)

While Darley confirmed it is on track for a major tilt at a second premiership, it was a harsh reminder for Melton South as to how far it still has to go.

Graham brothers Chris and Brian were sensational for the Devils, who had winners in almost every position.

Chris kicked five goals with a stunning first quarter, while Brian was best on ground in finishing with four majors.

Kyle Docherty was a dominant key forward, while coach Heath Scotland and youngsters Jackson Carrick and Tom Evans stood tall in defensive roles.

Mark Lynch was head and shoulders above his Melton South teammates on a day few could hold their heads high.

EAST Point provided the surprise of round five by defeating North Ballarat City by 10 points – 13.17 (95) to  12.13 (85).

A 4.10 third term was crucial in delivering the Kangaroos their first win of the season.

Coming on the back of a solid start to the day at Eureka Stadium, this gave them a 25-point break at the last change and enough breathing space to keep a charging North at bay.

Bryson McDougall and Steven Tung were the leading goalkickers for East with three apiece.

LAKE Wendouree defied a determined Sunbury by 23 points at Wendouree - 11.19 (85) to 9.8 (62).

However, it was not until the last quarter than the unbeaten Lakers managed to shake off Sunbury.

Lake Wendouree poured it on in the final stanza with five goals to again leave the Lions frustrated.

Jack Elkington kicked a vital four goals for the Lakers

BALLARAT came from seven goals down early in the second quarter to defeat Sebastopol by 23 points at Alfredton - 15.16 (106) to 12.11 (83).

The Burra flew out of the blocks with a seven-goal first term and looked on the way to its first win of the season.

However, the Swans clawed their way back to hit the lead in the last term and run away with a seven-goal quarter.

BACCHUS Marsh did the hard work before half-time in a 51-point win over Melton at MacPherson Park.

Final scores: Bacchus Marsh 14.15 (99) d Melton 6.12 (48)

The Bloods did not kick their first goal until late in the second quarter and by that time the Cobras had seven on the board.

LADDER

DARLEY 20

LAKE WENDOUREE 20

BACCHUS MARSH 16

REDAN 16

MELTON SOUTH 16

BALLARAT 10

Sunbury 8

North Ballarat City 8

East Point 6

Melton 4 

Sebastopol 4

DETAILS

Bacchus Marsh 4.6,  7.11,  12.13,  14.15  (99)

Melton 0.2,  1.5,  3.5,  6.12  (48)

GOALS - Bacchus Marsh: Hamish Coulton 4, Alec Del Papa 1, Rhys Mc Nay 1, Billy Griffiths 1, Jackson Bolton 1, Jarrah Maksymow 1,

Thomas Wardell 1, Liam Mullen 1, Blake Graham 1, Tyson Shea 1, Jacob Wheelahan 1. Melton: Brock McGregor 2, Ben Archard 1, Nicholas Gale 1, Lachlan Hickey 1, Braedan Kight 1

BEST - Bacchus Marsh: Jackson Bolton, Tyson Shea, Scott Sherlock, Hamish Coulton, Jadyn Trowsdale, Daniel Burton. Melton: Riley Walker, Ben Archard, Lachlan Walker, Michael Licciardo, Brock McGregor, Jaycob Hickey

Darley 6.4,  18.6,  24.9,  27.14  (176)

Melton South 0.1,  2.2,  4.4,  7.12  (54)

GOALS, Darley: Christopher Graham 5, Brian Graham 4, Jordan Spiteri 3, Mark Hanson 3, Kyle Docherty 3, Harley Inglis 2,

Rhys Ellis 2, Jake Ancrum 1, Heath Scotland 1, Matthew Young 1, Shane Page 1, Tom Evans 1. Melton South: Brendan  Fevola 2, Ryan Holzer 1, Adam El Houli 1, Benjamin Peters 1, Jack Watkins 1, Jordan Madafferi 1, Billy Sullivan 1

BEST - Darley: Jackson Carrick, Tom Evans, Abraham Cameron, Heath Scotland, Brian Graham, Christopher Graham. Melton South: Mark Lynch, Craig Searle, Benjamin Sortino, Nick Kommer, Anthony Hibbert, Lachlan Watkins

East Point 5.4,  7.5,  11.15,  13.17  (95)

North Ballarat City 3.2,  7.7,  8.8,  12.13  (85)

GOALS, East Point: Bryson McDougall 3, Daniel Semmens 3, Steven Tung 3, Clay Bilney 1, Cameron Jackson 1, Daniel Tung 1, Billy Watkins 1. North Ballarat City: William Young 4, Sam Willian 3, Daniel Jones 3, Derick Micallef 2

BEST -East Point: Steven Tung, Aden Nestor, Daniel Tung, Paul Koderenko, Daniel Semmens, Jake McQueen. North Ballarat City: Daniel Jones, Mitchell Giddings, Ryan Luke, Benjamin Simpson , Clay Jenkins, Simon McCartin

Lake Wendouree  3.2,  5.8,  6.13,  11.19  (85)

Sunbury 1.2,  5.5,  7.6,  9.8  (62)

GOALS - Lake Wendouree: Jack Elkington 4, Nathan Pring 2, Bailey Edwards 1, Dominic Sliwa 1, Benjamin Hayes 1, Luke Bucknall 1, Tom Nijam 1. Sunbury: Grant Valles 3, Alik Magin 2, Andrew Duhau 1, Trent Stead 1, Alec Goodson 1, Tom Donoghue 1

BEST - Lake Wendouree: Bailey Edwards, Tom Nijam, Benjamin Hayes, Isaac Kirby, Arthur Armstrong, Nicholas Peters. Sunbury: Joshua Guthrie, Nathan Bridgland, Grant Valles, Patrick MacDonough, Andrew Duhau

Ballarat 1.1, 2.7, 8.12, 15.16 (106)

Sebastopol 7.4, 8.4, 9.8, 12.11 (83)

GOALS - Ballarat: N. O'Farrell 3, D. Kennedy 3, S. James 2, M. Brehaut 2, S. Hutchinson, M. Martin, W. Garner, J. Ford, J. Marshall. Sebastopol: M. Powell 2, B. McLeod 2, S. Keiller 2, W. Hoye, G. Lovett, L. Huppatz, J. Harvey, T. Mookhoek, R. Noether 

BEST - Ballarat: D. Kennedy, D. Hobbs, T. Constable, M. Powling, W. Garner, S. Wood. Sebastopol: B. McLeod, B. Trew, L. Huppatz, T. Mookhoek, T. Hutt

* Official scores released by the BFL show Melton South kicking seven goals. This should be eight. The Panthers have recorded eight goals in their match details and a play-by-play summary of the match.