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Lake Wendouree is the undisputed leader in the Ballarat Football League after out-gunning Darley by 13 points at Darley on Saturday.
Lakers made their run early in the last quarter and then held on in an agonisingly long term which ticked past 36 minutes to remain unbeaten.
It was a costly day for Darley all round.
Not only did the Devils taste defeat for the first time, they also lost coach Heath Scotland early in the second stanza with a right hamstring injury.
Scotland had been best on ground – controlling the game across half back in a high class, high tempo match.
Scotland’s loss opened the door for Lake Wendouree’s midfield to take control, where this clash was always had the potential to be won or lost.
Nick Peters was up and running from the outset for Lakers, but the further the day went the more influence he had along with Ben Taylor and Steve Clifton.
The biggest point of difference for Lake Wendouree though was in defence, where Ben Hayes produced a masterly display with the support of Isaac Kirby to nullify Darley’s attacking potency.
Lakers’ swingman Lucas Anderson was also influential with four goals.
All this took Darley out of its comfort zone and into territory it had not been previously this season.
While the biggest prize of the day went to Lake Wendouree, East Point and Sunbury put a sting in tail of round seven with upset wins.
East Point sent shockwaves through Melton South at Melton Recreation Reserve, while Sunbury finally landed a major scalp against Redan at the City Oval.
The Kangaroos came from 26 points down at half-time as North Ballarat Roosters-listed youngster Jake McQueen played a starring role with seven goals in a 40-point victory.
Sunbury finally delivered on the promise its has been showing – capitalising on a big first half to score by 29 points.
Melton found its way back on the winners’ list by 62 points against Sebastopol at Marty Busch Reserve and Bacchus Marsh had the better of an honest North Ballarat City by 29 points at Eureka Stadium.
The wins by East Point and Sunbury give the ladder a new complexion.
LADDER
LAKE WENDOUREE 28
DARLEY 24
BACCHUS MARSH 24
MELTON SOUTH 20
SUNBURY 16
REDAN 16
Ballarat 14
Melton 12
East Point 10
North Ballarat City 8
Sebastopol 4
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ALL THE DETAILS
Bacchus Marsh 7.3, 9.5, 11.10, 15.15 (105)
North Ballarat City 2.1, 6.4, 7.8, 11.10 (76)
GOALS – Bacchus Marsh: Blake Graham 4, Jarrah Maksymow 4, Declan Phyland 2, Liam Noonan 1, Billy Griffiths 1, Ryley Stuhldreier 1, Logan Blundell 1, Hamish Coulton 1. North Ballarat City: Daniel Jones 3, Martin Curtis 2, Sam Bromley-Lynch 2, Simon Mc Cartin 2, Adam Turley 1, Harrison Loader 1
BEST – Bacchus Marsh: Dean Heta, Trent Angwin, Jadyn Trowsdale, Logan Blundell, Liam Mullen, Kane White. North Ballarat City: Clay Jenkins, Daniel Jones, Simon McCartin, Thomas Hotchin, Joshua Bromley-Lynch, Sam Bromley-Lynch
Lake Wendouree 2.0, 5.4, 7.6, 12.12 (84)
Darley 3.2, 5.6, 7.11, 9.17 (71)
GOALS – Lake Wendouree: Lucas Anderson 4, Nathan Pring 2, Ashley Simpson 2, Tom Nijam 1, Ben Taylor 1, Sean Willmott 1, Jordan Alexander 1. Darley: Mark Hanson 2, Christopher Graham 2, Harley Inglis 2, Kyle Docherty 1, Brian Graham 1, Matthew Young 1
BEST – Lake Wendouree: Arthur Armstrong, Ben Taylor, Benjamin Hayes, Liam Findlay, Harrison Monk, Isaac Kirby. Darley: Jackson Carrick, Tom Evans, Shane Page, Leigh Spiteri, Mark Hanson, Luke Delahey
East Point 2.0, 6.4, 15.8, 21.12 (138)
Melton South 4.7, 9.10, 12.13, 14.14 (98)
GOALS – East Point: Jake McQueen 7, Clay Bilney 3, Daniel Tung 2, Joshua Draffin 2, Hasker Dawborn 1, Mickitja Rotumah-Onus 1, Mitchell Walsh 1, Chris Carson 1, Rhys Monument 1, Aden Nestor 1, Jordan Taylor 1. Melton South: Mitchell Banner 6, Joseph Callus 2, Matthew Notman 2, Jake Charge 1, Mark Lynch 1, Brendan Fevola 1, Billy Sullivan 1
BEST – East Point: Clay Bilney, Chris Carson, Jake McQueen, Cameron Jackson, Daniel Tung, Daniel Semmens. Melton South: Mitchell Banner, Anthony Hibbert, Michael Callus, Nick Kommer, Mark Lynch, Benjamin Sortino
Sunbury 4.1, 10.3, 10.4, 13.5 (83)
Redan 2.1, 3.3, 5.7, 7.12 (54)
GOALS – Sunbury: Patrick MacDonough 2, Andrew Duhau 2, Nathan Wood 1, Alec Goodson 1, Nathan Bridgland 1, Tom Donoghue 1, William Healy 1, Joshua Guthrie 1, Alik Magin 1, Ben Guthrie 1, Jesse Flannery 1. Redan: Nicholas Willox 2, Dean Chester 2, Liam Hoy 1, Dean Mathews 1, Benjamin Smyth 1
BEST – Sunbury: Andrew Duhau, David Kovacevic, Reece Wood, Tom Donoghue, Patrick MacDonough, Gregory Hay. Redan: Liam Hoy, Dean Mathews, Nathan Horbury, Ben Schiltz, Dean Chester, Tom Lamb
Melton 3.1, 8.3, 9.6, 15.12 (102)
Sebastopol 2.2, 2.5, 4.10, 4.16 (40)
GOALS – Melton: Angus Grigg 3, Blake Souter 2, Jordyn Cotter 2, Braedan Kight 2, Ben Archard 2, Nathan Wallace 1, Ryan Davis 1, Dillon Sharp 1, Michael Licciardo 1. Sebastopol: Lochie Huppatz 2, Jai Harvey 2
BEST - Melton: Connor Griffiths, Riley Walker, Jaycob Hickey, Ben Archard, Jordyn Cotter, Lachlan Walker. Sebastopol: Toby Hutt, Lochie Huppatz, Jai Harvey, Brett Goodes, Ben McLeod, Daniel Widgery