DARLEY’S kicking woes continued in its most wasteful scoreline yet – a 16-point defeat at the hands of North Ballarat City on Saturday.
With poor kicking for goal a major factor in defeats to Sunbury and Ballarat, the 3.18 (36) to 7.10 (52) loss was the most lop-sided behinds-to-goals equation for any team in the Ballarat Football League this season.
Darley was already the worst offender for that statistic, following its 6.18 against Ballarat last month.
The losses are proving costly, with Darley (3-4) sitting fifth ahead of Ballarat, Melton South and Bacchus Marsh on percentage only.
“If some of our forwards are even 20 per cent professional, they’ll go down to the park tomorrow and have 50 shots minimum,” Darley coach Rod MacPherson said. “But I bet not one will feel guilty enough to do that.
“You don’t have to be Einstein to see that’s (inaccuracy) what’s costing us games. It’s a sign of mental weakness.”
Just three goals were kicked up to the last change, with Darley’s 1.17 (23) good enough to lead North City’s 2.9 (21).
But two quick North City goals at the start of the last quarter quickly turned the tables, with Darley never able to re-gain the lead.
Dane Grenfell kicked two goals for Darley while Jake Edwards booted the only other major. Better Devils were Rhys Ellis, Drew Edwards and Shane Page.
North Ballarat City coach Robbie Waters took the four points but conceded his team had been fortuante. “We should’ve been 10 goals down at three-quarter time, no doubt about that,” he said.
“It was definitely a case of Darley losing it, rather than us winning it.
“I put it on some of the boys at three-quarter time to step up and, to their credit they did, which shows some fight. But we were lucky to still be in it.”
Darley has a bye this weekend and will return to the action at Darley Park against Melton on Saturday, June 15.
Melton and Melton South both had a bye at the weekend and return this weekend, with the Bloods hosting Redan at MacPherson Park and the Panthers away at Eurkea Stadium against North Ballarat City.
– with Luke Griffiths, Ballarat Courier
