Darley is celebrating its second Ballarat Football League premiership.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Devils smothered arch-rival Bacchus Marsh by 50 points in a one-sided grand final at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
Finals scores: Darley 14.13 (97) d Bacchus Marsh 6.11 (47)
Already a club hero after going from the Devils’ junior ranks to a stellar AFL career, Heath Scotland earned legendary status at Darley with masterly display as coach and player.
Scotland said he had never felt so nervous before a game, such was his focus on delivering a flag for the Darley faithful, but it did not show.
He was in total control from the outset in an on-ball role and did not ease off until the final siren – even though Darley had the matched parcelled up after a four-goal burst late in the third quarter.
The veteran joined the pacy Luke Delahey as recipients of best-on-ground awards as the Devils added to their 2015 premiership.
Darley laid the basis for the triumph in a deadlocked opening 12 minutes of the day, when neither team was able to score.
Bacchus Marsh had the wind at its back, but Darley shut it down with a disciplined defensive performance.
The Cobras had to wait until 28 minutes into the second term before getting their opening goal.
Bacchus Marsh gave it one last shot early in the third quarter to close within 12 points.
However, just as quickly replied with two goals.
Then came what would be the last nail in the Cobras’ coffin, with them reduced to 17 players when ruckman Dean Heta was shown a yellow card.
It was in the period that Darley added four goals in eight minutes to crush any hopes Bacchus Marsh might have had.
From there it was a matter of the Devils just playing down the clock.
Scotland could not heap enough praise on Darley’s defence, led an irrepressible combination of Darren Leonard, Kyle Docherty, Jackson Carrick and Shane Page, who also made his presence felt pushing up the ground.
It was difficult to find any influential Bacchus Marsh players, who were on the end of a second drubbing by Darley in three weeks.