Bacchus Marsh 18.15 (123) d East Point 16.10 (106)
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Bacchus Marsh needed all its resolve to fend off the emerging East Point in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.
And in doing so the Cobras finally ended an Eastern Oval hoodoo.
Bacchus Marsh had not beaten East Point at the ground since the early 2000s.
This looked like continuing after the Kangaroos kicked the opening four goals of the last quarter – turning a 24-point deficit at the final break in to a five-point lead on 15 minutes.
All this with 17 players after Matt Johnston had been reported and yellow carded.
The Cobras managed to steady in the high tempo match-up and with the last three goals it was their day.
While the previously unbeaten East Point missed out on the premiership points, it lost few admirers in sounding a message to the competition that it is a team to be reckoned with this year.
East Point coach Jake Bridges said despite the loss there was a lot to like about the Kangaroos’ performance.
He said ultimately East Point had paid the price for some lapses.
Bacchus Marsh made the most of the Roos’ missed opportunities early to get a 23-point lead.
While East Point refused to go away, each time it managed to narrow the gap the Cobras found a quick answer.
It was not until the last quarter charge that this trend finally changed.
Werribee VFL-listed and former Bacchus Marsh junior Harrison King made an outstanding debut for the Cobras.
In his first game since hip surgery in the off-season, King gave a powerhouse best-on-ground performance – capped off by three goals including a tumbling punt from outside 50m.
His physical presence gave a different dynamic to the Bacchus Marsh midfield, adding strength to a combination featuring the menacing duo of Scott Sherlock and Jacob Chisari.
Jake Owen again showed his versatility by going back to give the Cobras needed size and Aaron Willitts bagged five goals.
The speedy Aaron Nester was East Point's best – ensuring opportunities for key forwards Brad Whittaker, Joel Ottavi and Jordan Johnston, who kicked a combined seven goals.
First-year youngster Jacob Brown got off the chain for the Kangaroos with five opportutunistic goals for a side which will continue to improve.
Fourth-placed East Point now goes for a bye, with Bacchus Marsh to face Ballarat as each sits a game behind Sunbury.
Darley 18.16 (124) d Redan 10.7 (67)
Coach Heath Scotland is hopeful Darley has turned the corner for the better after running over the top of Redan in Ballarat Football League at Darley on Saturday.
With Darley having been way down on its premiership form of last year, Scotland said there were much better signs in this outing.
The Devils did the damage in an eight-goal opening quarter.
Redan largely matched them after that, but was unable to make any inroads despite saving its best for last with four of the opening five goals in the fourth stanza.
Scotland said he had been impressed with the efforts of youngsters Joel Cadman and Jack Bewley, making the most of their opportunities.
The experienced Grant Bell (four goals), Jack Jess and Jarrett Giampaolo were among Redan’s better performers.
Darley star Jake Edwards marked his return after a hamstring injury with seven goals in the reserves, leaving now doubt he is ready to return to the top level.
North Ballarat City 16.13 (109) d Melton South 9.6 (60)
North Ballarat City once again flexed its muscles in a 50-point demolition job on Melton South in the Ballarat Football League at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
With Melton South power forward Brendan Fevola again missing after making himself unavailable on Saturday morning for either seniors or reserves, the Panthers were left to tinker with a makeshift forward line.
While captain Shaun White was predominantly used up forward as cover, North was much better organised with Will Young again on target with six goals.
For North City coach Shane Skontra, the third term was the most pleasing aspect of the day.
“We started to move the ball pretty well in that quarter, with some good passages.
“We didn’t quite finish as we would of liked as they hit back but we were able to open up the game quite a bit.”
North kicked five goals to four in the third quarter to take the lead out to a 24-point lead.
Melton South coach Ash Manning said the ease with which the Panthers turned over the ball hurt.
“We just turned it over too easily. We couldn’t hit targets.
“Our skill level is not good enough at the moment. It’s so hard to get the ball back from a good side that uses it well when you turn the ball over as much as we do,” he said.
Manning said Melton South’s fitness level was also really shown up.
With just three points in it at quarter time, North City started to gather momentum with its signature run and carry.
Harrison Loader was a standout performer as North ended the first half 13 points in front.
It was largely thanks to the efforts of durable midfielder Matthew Notman that Melton South was so close.
Any chance the Panthers had of mounting a challenge was erased quickly, with North kicking four unanswered goals to start the third term. The last quarter was indicative of North City’s ability to finish games off strongly this year, with its four goals to none.
Melton 16.13 (109) d Ballarat 6.11 (47)
Melton has taken another step closer to playing in a long awaited BFL finals series.
With Ballarat again struggling in attack, the fifth-placed Bloods eased their way to a 62-point win at Melton on Saturday.
After failing to kick a goal in their previous outing, the Swans managed only one in the first half and by the major break were effectively out of the game.
Melton coach Aaron Tymms praised the pressure of the Bloods. “It was really good.”
He said bringing Ballarat’s short game undone and forcing turnovers had been instrumental in being able to play on its terms.
Tymms was also upbeat about the efforts of his defence.
Ballarat lifted its workrate as the game wore on to increase its opportunities inside 50m, but Melton stood firm.
Melton’s VFL-listed Liam Carter injured an ankle playing for Williamstown on Saturday.
Sebastopol 14.14 (98) d Lake Wendouree 6.6 (42)
Sebastopol reaped the rewards of a more aggressive attack on the football to bring up its first win of the BFL season on Saturday.
The Burra took a stranglehold on its clash with Lake Wendouree with a four-goal second quarter and went on to cruise home by 56 points at Wendouree.
It was no coincidence Sebastopol was able to assert its authority on Lakers after adding four big names and then having four of its biggest recruits in Tony Lockyer, James Keeble (five goals), Nick Hausler, Lachie Cassidy lead the way on the day.
Coach Leigh Hutchinson said the return of Michael Powell up forward was a great example of the difference the returning players made – providing another focus for Lakers defenders which in turn freed up Keeble.
He said it provided the Burra with a wider spread of options.
Toby Hutt also found his touch with four majors.
Hutchinson said a harder approach and winning the contested football – areas in which Sebastopol had come undone in its three losses – had been a big focus and made a significant difference to the outcome.
The one win changes the whole complexion of the season for Sebastopol, lifting it to eighth and just one game outside the top six ahead of a pivotal clash with reigning premier Darley.
It was the first time this year Lake Wendouree found itself out of its depth, struggling to make any impact on the scoreboard despite the efforts of Kynan Raven and Lachlan O'Connell.