Bacchus Marsh may be playing finals for the first time since 2001, but the club is far from satisfied.
In what is turning out to be one of the closest seasons in the Ballarat Football League in a long time, the second-placed Cobras rate their chances of September success as good as any one else’s, with four rounds remaining.
Cobras’ president Adam Sutherland said while it was good to make finals again, it was only part of the job done.
“It feels great, but we’re not satisfied,” he said.
“The season is wide open and no-one jumps off the page as a flag favourite, with Lake Wendouree starting to lose a couple of games.”
On Sunday, the Cobras easily accounted for East Point, winning 18.18 (126)-10.9 (69).
“The scoreboard only blew out late,” Sutherland said. “The first half was really hard-fought, and East Point were really scrapping.
“We couldn’t convert, which stopped us from winning by more.”
Ruckman Daniel Burton was best on ground, while Hamish Coulton and Rhys McNay also played good games. Sutherland said a lot of the lower profile guys stood out.
Damian Cupido and Declan Phyland were the stars up forward, k
icking six and five goals respectively.
The win, and the Lakers’ loss, means the gap at the top of the ladder is now only one game.
Sutherland said the consistency of the side was the key to its rise up the ladder.
“We’ve only played one bad quarter of football for the year, otherwise we’ve played some pretty consistent football.
“Even when we’ve been beaten, we’ve still played some good football, but have been beaten by better teams.
“Top spot has now opened up for us. Our destiny is in our own hands.”
The Cobras are one of five sides with a bye next week. Sutherland said it couldn’t come at a better time.
“We’ve got a few guys who are sore …
“Matt Denham missed the weekend’s game, while Cameron Richardson has pretty much not played the second half the last two weeks.
“The break will do them good.”
While a finals spot is cemented for the Cobras, Darley and Melton still hang by a thread.
Both sides suffered big losses on Saturday against sides that seem finals bound.
The Devils were disappointing in their 22.15 (147)-8.3 (51) loss to Redan.
The Bloods scored just one goal in the second half against Sunbury Lions, losing 13.16 (94)-6.6 (42).
The margin of the loss meant the Devils fell behind Melton on percentage, with the Bloods now in that all important sixth spot.
In other games, Melton South lost to Sebastopol, 14.10 (94)-2.8 (20).
