BACCHUS Marsh is primed for its biggest match in years after crushing Melton by 90 points on Saturday and leaving Maddingley Park to cries of “bring on Darley”.
Melton provided resistance for long stages of the first three quarters but capitulated in the final term for a 20.23 (143) to 8.5 (53) result.
PICTURE GALLERY: Bacchus Marsh v Melton
The much-needed percentage boost keeps Bacchus Marsh (5-7, 95 per cent) in with a chance of pipping Ballarat (6-6, 104) for sixth spot.
But coach Doug Hawkins was happy to call this coming Saturday’s showdown against Darley “our grand final” in his post-match address to the players. Bacchus Marsh led by 60 at the last change and extended the gap by an additional five goals in the last, but it was the nature of the way Melton conceded goals that suggested junk time had arrived.
Melton had earlier fought out the first three quarters, battling admirably in spite of losing Tate McCutcheon to concussion, John Prudek to a send- off in the first minute of the second quarter, then Darren Haby to a send- off late in the third.
Bacchus Marsh could have blown the game open earlier with straighter kicking, but it peppered for 6.6 in the first quarter, while Ryan Davis and Haby were accurate when Melton went inside 50m for three straight goals. Haby was Melton’s main forward target and his mark and goal 11 minutes into the second term kept the gap at 24 points the Marsh’s way.
But the Cobras’ better skills in the heavy conditions and hard running to stretch the field proved the difference.
Too many times a Marsh player would be on his own either in the goalsquare or running into an open goal due to running harder when his teammates were in possession.
Daniel Velden (seven goals), Danny Bonnici (three) and Matt Denham (two) were all beneficiaries of hard running to find space and time in the forward line.
“The boys are playing together with a lot of hard work in tackles and effort to be first to the ball,” Velden said. “It’s about playing four quarters; it’s nice for the boys to kick on. To win a game like that you need a bit of everything.
“Apart from the Lake Wendouree game, we’ve had great first quarters lately and hopefully we’re red-hot against Darley next week.”
Hawkins rallied his team with the carrot of sixth spot and said everyone at the club was looking forward to the challenge of playing their town rivals in a blockbuster.
“If you’d said to me we’d score 20.23, I’d have said, ‘Come off it’,” Hawkins said.
“Melton ran Ballarat to within a point and came here with a strong list, so it was a great performance. The Wilson boys, Velden, Tyson Shea, Matt Denham, Mike Suban, some of these young leaders … the last two or three weeks we’ve seen real belief throughout the club. We’re a better side than when we played Darley last.
“Darley are a terrific side and well coached, coming off big wins against last year’s grand final sides … it’ll be a great battle.”
Darley had the bye at the weekend, with coach Rod MacPherson and player Saul Grenfell among Devils club members scouting Bacchus Marsh from the stands.
