A final-quarter flurry of goals from Sunbury handed Darley back-to-back losses in the Ballart Football League.
Last year’s premier has won just one of its first three matches.
Coming off a loss against local rival Bacchus Marsh the week before, it was a fired-up Darley that attacked the contest in front of its home fans.
The Devils booted six first-quarter goals against Sunbury and had 10 scoring shots to take a nine-point lead into the opening break.
Then, through a seesawing hour, both sides enjoyed stretches with the momentum in their favour.
Sunbury went into half-time with a two-point lead then Darley’s Leigh Spiteri, Jarrod Edwards and Luke Delahey helped return control to the home side.
The Devils kicked the first goal of the final term to hold a 12-point advantage.
But just as Darley looked to be running away, Sunbury hit back. Grant Valles got the ball rolling, kicking the first goal of the run and it was Jack Sheahan who put the Lions in front.
Nathan Wood and Jake Steeper then put the icing on the cake, adding another two goals to seal the win for Sunbury.
Up forward for the Devils, Spiteri, Mitchell Banner and Rhys Ellis finished with three goals each, while Shane Page and Harley Inglis worked hard around the ground.
After three rounds, Darley is in fifth spot on the BFL ladder.
Elsewhere at the weekend, Melton secured its best win of the season, over Sebastopol by 69 points.
After taking a one-point lead into quarter- time, the Bloods flicked the switch at the resumption.
Melton booted a staggering nine second quarter goals to blow the match open.
It wasn’t just at the attacking end that the Bloods dominated. Defensively, Melton conceded just one goal in the first half.
Their 14.20 (104) to 4.11 (35) win is the Bloods’ second of the season.
Melton has the bye this week.
In other round three results, Bacchus Marsh came up short against East Point, going down by 38 points, while Melton South lost to Redan by 78.
