A LAST-quarter fadeout cost Melton South dearly as Lake Wendouree romped to a 40-point win in the Ballarat Football League on Sunday.
A day earlier, against Melton, Darley maintained its finals pursuit by overcoming its recent goalkicking yips.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the Melton v Darley game.
But Melton South’s finals prospects suffered a hammer blow as Lake Wendouree bumped the Panthers to ninth on the table with the 14.14 (98) to 6.12 (48) result.
South stuck with Lake Wendouree through a low-scoring first half but slipped 17 points behind at the last change, albeit coming home to the wind-assisted scoring end.
But it was the Lakers, booting 6.1 to four behinds in the final quarter to storm away to a big win, who left Melton South with one win and 30 percentage points out of sixth spot.
Melton South coach Mathew Sutton put the blowtorch firmly on his group, demanding a better effort from his players on and off the field.
Sutton was Melton South’s only multiple goalkicker. Leigh Burke and Doug Thomas also excelled.
On Saturday, Darley slogged out a 65-point win against Melton with a last-quarter goal avalanche.
The Bloods were within 22 points at the last change before Darley unleashed eight last-quarter goals to win 17.6 (108) to 6.7 (43).
Darley (fourth, 4-4) is two games behind third-placed Redan (6-1).
Darley battering ram Nathan Jackel continued his good form across half-back, while Dane Grenfell (three), Shane Page, Saul Grenfell and Mitchell Gillespie (two each) kicked multiple goals on a day led by Jake Edwards’ bag of four.
Melton coach Bob Heaney, whose team remains winless in 2013, was annoyed.
“The final margin doesn’t reflect how close the game was and it [the fadeout] wasn’t a case of tired legs; I think it was more tired minds,” Heaney said. “For three-and-a-half quarters I was happy, but in the end we turned our toes up and that’s something that has been happening all year.”
Darley coach Rod MacPherson was relieved his forwards improved their accuracy.
“Full credit to Melton. They were in it for most of the day, but we were a long way off our best and hopefully this will help us build some momentum and get things going,” MacPherson said.
Around the grounds, Redan 18.9 (117) beat Ballarat 10.4 (64), while North Ballarat City 16.21 (117) beat Sebastopol 6.3 (39).
Attention this weekend turns to the unbeaten teams, with Sunbury Lions hosting North Ballarat City.
Darley plays Lake Wendouree, East Point takes on Melton, Redan is against Bacchus Marsh, and Melton South plays Sebastopol.
– with Luke Griffiths and Michael Hankin, Ballarat Courier
