Lake Wendouree notches dominant 67-point win against Melton South

The Lakers ran a dispirited, and injury-ridden Melton South ragged to notch a 11-goal demolition job and announce themselves as a genuine threat.

Lakers star Nick Rippon bagged two goals in as many minutes to give the hosts the ascendancy early and soften the hangover of last week's 72-point loss.

From there, not once did Lake Wendouree look like dropping the game, bossing the midfield and running riot down the wing in what coach Dale Power dubbed a character-building 16.16 (112) to 7.3 (45) win.

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"(It was pleasing) to bounce back after last week," he told The Courier after the game.

"We made some pretty significant changes to our team. We didn't have our under 19's play today, so we had a few more options with the reserves and seniors side.

"For the boys to go out and just do their roles and play four good quarters, it was really pleasing."

Nick Rippon played a hand in most of the positive Lakers' attacks in the first term, powering through a decimated Melton South engine room to set up his teammates and kick three majors of his own.

Ash Simpson, playing his 100th senior game for the Lakers, sent the hosts into the huddle on a high, bringing down the Melton South defender in the forward pocket with a brilliant tackle and converting the subsequent set shot.

The centurion's industry in the middle of the park and the Lakers' eagerness to get the ball on the outside proved the difference on a good day out for Dale Power's men.

"Outside structure (was the message), but you've still got to win enough of your own ball," Power said.

"We had two really competitive ruckmen today, which helped across the day and gave our midfield the source to do what we needed to do.

"We had a better synergy today between mids and forwards, too, so that was good."

Melton South started the second term a man light on the interchange bench with Ben Casley forced from the field with a hamstring injury.

Heath Pritchard's charges took the fight to the hosts but could not put the points on the scoreboard.

Both sides only managed two goals apiece in the second quarter, leaving the Lakers with a 23-point lead at the break.

The first goal of the third quarter was going to be pivotal, and to the relief of the home crowd, it went their way.

Thomas Le Lievre struck within the first 90 seconds, kickstarting a four-goal run that pushed the Lakers out of reach and even had the pessimists pencilling a win to the hosts' name.

Trailing by 51 points heading into the final quarter, it would take an all-time miracle for Melton South to salvage a result.

After losing defender Bill Lloyd to injury, that miracle seemed even more impossible with just two on the bench.

Lake Wendouree kicked the first three goals unanswered to compound the Panthers' woes.

Three late conciliation goals softened the deficit, but this was a wake-up call for a side that had shown promise in the early rounds of the season.

However, for the Lakers, the demolition job offered confidence to a new-look group finding its identity with each win it collects.

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