BACCHUS Marsh kicked away from Melton after half-time to win by 50 points and ensure fleet-footed teenager Liam Duggan would well remember his Cobras debut.
The Western Jets-listed 16-year-old was one of a number of Marsh players who carried the ball with dash and daring as the Cobras won 19.8 (122) to 10.12 (72) under lights at MacPherson Park.
The game was far from memorable for the contest as the Marsh led at every change, but it had enough moments of individual brilliance to keep the crowd entertained.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the Darley v Melton South match.
And Duggan was one such individual, showing flair and kicking skills to stay a step ahead of his Melton opponents.
Bacchus Marsh left the door ajar for a Melton comeback at half-time, failing to make the most of territorial advantage in the second quarter and taking a 24-point lead to half-time.
Bacchus Marsh edged away to a 17-point lead at the first change, with Melton coach Bob Heaney telling his team to stop the skill errors coming out of defensive 50m.
And when the Cobras kicked three goals in four minutes at the start of the second quarter through Leigh Wilson, Rhys McNay and Tyson Shea, a 34-point lead should have been decisive.
But Melton, mainly through the contested possessions of Darren Haby, fought back to at least stay within striking distance.
Jake Gleeson and Matt Notman kicked back-to-back goals to have the Bloods clinging to hope.
Bacchus Marsh had the ball in its attacking end for the last seven minutes of the quarter but failed to capitalise with a goal.
But any fears of a Melton comeback were laid to rest after the long break, with Bacchus Marsh running away.
A burst of five goals in eight minutes blew the margin out to 56 points and ensured a comfortable final quarter for the Cobras.
Wilson, Danny Bonnici and Matt Denham all moved the ball quickly through the centre, with Melton offering up at least one donation with a poor kick out of defence followed by a downfield free. It ended in an Adam Skrobolak goal that summed up the six-goals-to-two quarter.
The last term was a free-wheeling and open display with the Marsh kicking 5.1 to Melton’s 4.7.
Bacchus Marsh coach Doug Hawkins said his team had shown its best training form during the week and replicated it on match day.
A rethink of how the bench worked was a key to Bacchus Marsh running out the game effectively.
“We hadn’t played a four-quarter game yet, but tonight was the closest,” Hawkins said.
“Our rotations this week worked very well; we hadn’t done it in the two weeks before with our good players coming off the ground.
“Darren Cullen, my assistant coach, handled the increase very well.
“I didn’t think they needed a rest. I’ve been out of footy a long time and thought players could rotate into the forward pocket or half-back flank, but they needed a three or four-minute breather.
“Darren steered that and it allowed me to worry about match-ups.”
Hawkins singled out Duggan for praise both when speaking to his players post-match and again when speaking to the Weekly.
“He’ll play league footy, quote that. I said it two years ago after the under-16.5 grand final and again now that he’s a jet.
“There’s a good feeling around the place. We were under pressure at one-and-three and now we go into the break two-and-three.
“We’d love to play next week with the momentum, but we’ll freshen up and get ready for Brendan Fevola to join the team.”
Bacchus Marsh now has a three-week break due to the interleague games and a bye before Fevola crashes town to play for the Cobras as a one-off in its blockbuster against Sunbury Lions on June 1.
