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NORTH BALLARAT CITY V LAKE WENDOUREE
Lake Wendouree bounced back from a first round hiding to get over North Ballarat City by one point in the BFL at Mars Stadium on Saturday night.
North threw everything at Lakers in the last five minutes, but was unable to get what would have been a winning goal.
While it was a lost opportunity for City, Lake Wendouree coach Dale Power underlined the character his young side had shown off the back of a 101-point defeat at the hands of East Point.
"We got the response we needed to produce."
He said while Lakers were still physically underdone, they had stuck to their game plan and what they knew they were capable of for four quarters and reaped the reward.
Power said Lake Wendouree was spent late in the game, but kept battling to find a way.
"We ran out of legs.
"It was a big effort in the last quarter."
North Ballarat coach Shane Skontra said City was lucky to be still in the match late with a chance to win.
He said Lake Wendouree should have been further in front on the trend of play.
"Lakers were best side."
Skontra believed Lake Wendouree played with much more initiative.
"They wanted it more than us."
DETAILS
Lake Wendouree 2.4, 4.5, 7.8, 7.11 (53)
North Ballarat City 2.1, 3.5, 6.6, 7.10 (52)
GOALS - Lake Wendouree: B. Edwards 2, A. Simpson 2, B. Taylor 1, L. Hepworth 1, N. Pring 1. North Ballarat City: W. Young 2, S. Bromley-Lynch 2, J. Chatfield 2, S. Willian 1
BEST - Lake Wendouree: J. Bibby, C. Hepworth, J. Elkington, A. Gillett, B. Taylor. North Ballarat City: D. Jones, R. Luke, S. McCartin, S. Willian, C. Jenkins, J. Bromley-Lynch
DARLEY V BACCHUS MARSH
Darley capitalised on a superior first half to stave off Bacchus Marsh by 17 points at Darley Park on Saturday.
The Devils were all over the Cobras in the early stages.
Already undermanned, Bacchus Marsh was hampered by the loss for the day of key defender Tom Brownbridge (knee) in the opening five minutes and then having Jake Owen (ankle) struggling with a sprained ankle.
And Darley jumped all over it.
Darley had the chance to put the Cobras away, but it fell short to lead by 27 points at midway
Bacchus Marsh then surged.
Inspired by ruckman and reigning BFL best and fairest Daniel Burton, the Cobras added three goals in as many minutes get back right back into contention.
They continued to press, but with VFL-listed Billy Myers making his presence felt Darley was able to steady.
The Devils kicked the opening the goal of the last term, but again this did not faze the visitors.
Despite not taking some great chances in attack, Bacchus Marsh edged to within 12 points on 10 minutes.
With time on the clock, the game looked wide open.
However, it was then that the likes of Shane Page and Nick Graham found that little bit extra to keep the game in Darley's keeping.
Recruit Casey Young was also to the fore - kicking three early goals to help give Darley control and then capping off his day with the sealer.
While happy with the four premiership points, Devils coach Heath Scotland described it as an "ugly" win.
He said there was a lot to like about their game, but there had also been times when Darley had strayed away from the game that it wanted to play.
Bacchus Marsh coach Peter Davey said the Cobras had dug deep to get back into the match in the second half, describing the performance as 100 per cent better than round one.
He was particularly pleased with the way his players had stood by each other considering how "beat up" they were.
Tom Wardell caught the eye in defence.
He has played only a handful of senior games since debuting in 2015, but has grabbed his opportunity with a strong start to the season.
"He's really stepped up," Davey said.
As well as losing Brownbridge and then having to nurse Owen through the day, Bacchus Marsh lost three players from its selected side.
Harrison King was ruled out with a hamstring strain.
Davey also made the call to drop recruit Jakob De Winter and Matt Chisari after they failed to meet team rules.
Each played reserves and Davey is confident they will bounce back.
INJURIES/CHANGES
DARLEY
Billy Myers (Williamstown VFL) replaced Lachlan Herring in selected side.
Jordan Spiteri (ankle)
BACCHUS MARSH
Brodie Easton, Xavier Jenks and Jack Parente replaced Jakob De Winter and Matt Chisari for disciplinary reasons, and Harrison King (hamstring) in selected side.
Jake Owen (ankle)
Tom Brownbridge (knee)
DETAILS
Darley 5.3, 8.7, 10.8, 12.15 (87)
Bacchus Marsh 3.3, 4.4, 8.6, 10.10 (70)
GOALS - Darley: C. Young 4, M. Hanson 3, J. Cadman 2, B. Myers 2, N. Graham 1. Bacchus Marsh: D. Burton 3, B. Griffiths 2, H. Coulton 2, T. Shea 1, J. Parente 1, J. Owen 1
MELTON V EAST POINT
Reigning premier East Point reinforced how it is going to again be hard to beat by disposing of last year's Ballarat Football League grand finalist Melton to the tune of 40 points at MacPherson Park on Saturday.
The Kangaroos piled on six unanswered goals in the second term to take a commanding 32-point lead and then and survived a mini Bloods resurgence in the third quarter.
Melton cut the margin to two goals before East Point again took a grip on the game - keeping the Bloods scoreless in the last stanza.
It was a difficult day at the office all round for Melton, which seemed to lose any sense of dare in their play, particularly after quarter time.
The loss of arguably its best player, co-captain and ruckman Ben Archard, with a hamstring strain in the second term was a massive blow for the Bloods as they struggled to contain the huge influence of Kangaroos veteran Paul Kodorenko.
Melton also struggled to to cope with Joel Ottavi, Bryson McDougall, Brad Whittaker and Jordan Johnston in attack, with each hitting the scoreboard.
Clay Bilney was massive in the midfield.
In an attempt to get back into the contest, Melton threw defender Liam Carter forward.
While he managed to hit the scoreboard, it was a case of too little too late.
Melton assistant coach Leigh Wilson lamented missed chances early in the game before the Kangaroos got hold of the Bloods.
"We missed some opportunities and obviously good sides make you pay when they get a run on and we just weren't able to stop it, particularly in that second quarter".
Kangaroo coach Jake Bridges was pleased overall with his side's efforts.
"We were up against a quality opposition and the overall competitiveness that the boys showed was terrific.
"Our forward line seemed to work well again.
"We have that luxury that one bloke might pop up one week and then another the next, so it's a good problem to have," he said.
INJURIES/CHANGES
MELTON
Tom Button replaced Jaycob Hickey is selected side.
Ben Archard (hamstring)
EAST POINT
Rhys Monument replaced Jacob Brown (Essendon VFL) in selected side.
DETAILS
East Point 2.1, 8.3, 11.6, 13.8 (86)
Melton 2.5, 2.7, 6.10, 6.10 (46)
GOALS - East Point: J. Ottavi 3, J. Johnston 3, B. Whittaker 2, D. Tung 1, M. Rotumah-Onus 1, B. McDougall 1, C. Bilney 1, J. McQueen 1. Melton: L. Carter 2, D. Stevens 2, M. Orr 1, C. Griffiths 1
BEST - East Point: C. Bilney, J. Johnston, M. Johnston, J. Baird, B. Jones, J. Van Meel. Melton: D. Stevens, M. Orr, L. Carter, M. Brockwell, J. Walker, L. Walker
SUNBURY V MELTON SOUTH
Sunbury took all night to shake off Melton South by 21 points at Sunbury's Clarke Oval on Saturday.
It was the Lions' first win, with Lachie Bramble and Alik Magin prominent.
Star recruit Paul Bower shone for the Panthers, which kept chipping away.
The Lions were again hampered by poor kicking for goal.
Coach Travis Hodgson said Sunbury had kicked just 19 goals from 54 shots in the opening two rounds - well short of the conversion rate it needed.
Melton South coach Heath Pritchard said the Panthers continued to head in the right direction.
He said one of the most promising signs had been their ability to stick at it rather than falling away as Melton South teams of the past might have done.
The Panthers hit the lead in the third quarter.
Although Sunbury struck back, Pritchard was impressed with his players' persistence.
The Lions threatened to blow the game out when it got out to a 40-point lead in the last quarter, but Melton South refused to give up the fight.
Hodgson said there was no question Melton South had improved.
He said Sunbury could easily have stretched the winning margin to 10 goals with the momentum it had.
Pritchard was full of praise for the impact of Bower in debut for the club.
The former Carlton player was used on-ball and in defence.
He said Bower had been a great influence on the club's younger players, showing by example on and off the field.
DETAILS
Sunbury 3.4, 4.7, 7.13, 12.15 (87)
Melton South 1.2, 4.4, 6.5, 10.6 (66)
GOALS - Sunbury: A. Duhau 2, A. Magin 2, A. Goodson 2, L. Bramble 2, B. Guthrie 1, P. MacDonough 1, M. Edwards 1, L. Brennan 1. Melton South: W. Thornton-Gielen 3, J. Vincent 2, L. Watkins, S. Humphries, R. Theo, D. Houghton, D. Vasjuta
BEST - Sunbury: L. Bramble, A. Magin, P. MacDonough, J. Eales, L. Brennan, M. Conn. Melton South: P. Bower, C. Chapman, B. Collins, W. Thornton-Gielen, B. Sullivan, D. Houghton
INJURIES/CHANGES
MELTON SOUTH
Ryan Holzer replaced Jacob Thornton Gielen in selected side.
Jack Morrissey replaced Ryan Holzer (calf) in selected side.
LADDER
EAST POINT 233.02 8
REDAN 189.53 8
DARLEY 142.40 8
SEBASTOPOL 131.82 8
NORTH BALLARAT CITY 111.21 4
MELTON 109.02 4
Sunbury 90.45 4
Lake Wendouree 53.05 4
Bacchus Marsh 81.10 0
Ballarat 60.80 0
Melton South 60.75 0