A JACKEL attack at the start of the final quarter was enough to get Darley past Bacchus Marsh by 21 points on Saturday.
A Ballarat Football League finals berth beckoned for the Cobras at three-quarter time before a surge at the start of the last term from Darley set up its 13.12 (90) to 10.9 (69) victory.
PICTURE GALLERY: Darley v Bacchus Marsh
The Devils (8-4) retained fourth on percentage from East Point, while Ballarat’s loss at Redan means Bacchus Marsh (5-8) is still a game and percentage behind the sixth-placed Swans (6-7).
Scores were level at the last change when Darley coach Rod MacPherson demanded his players step up and show leadership.
And step up Nathan Jackel did, grabbing the first centre clearance of the quarter and kicking a 50- metre running goal within 45 seconds.
Some smart body work and an opportunistic kick off the ground by Dane Grenfell two minutes later ended up in the hands of Scott McAllester for a 15m set-shot goal, giving Darley a handy break.
A roving goal from Rhys Ellis opened the gap to 16 points before a 100 m penalty walked Bacchus Marsh to the goalsquare for a life-line goal 14 minutes in.
The stars of both teams saved their best until the final term, with Jackel and Cobras forward Daniel Velden dominating the quarter. But a critical miss from Velden that would have reduced the gap to five points was followed by a sweeping end-to-end move and goal for Dwayne Edwards.
Frustration boiled over in the final stages with Alec Del Papa and Jake Ancrum exchanging bumps and free kicks. Ancrum got the final say as Del Papa’s late contact gave up a 50 m penalty that allowed an easy goal and opened the margin back to 17 points at the 20-minute mark.
Earlier, Darley dominated territory but peppered the goals, while Bacchus Marsh kicked straight.
Jarrod Edwards was a key Darley defender, with a string of marks and spoils across the centre line that kept the Cobras pinned in their back half.
Rhys McNay was the best player on the ground to half time, dominating in the air to keep Darley from escaping on the scoreboard.
Bacchus Marsh hit the front by a point early in the third term then after a long arm-wrestle Dane Grenfell marked with the flight and goaled to put Darley up by seven. But a running 50 m goal from Declan Phyland sent the teams to the last huddle dead level.
Darley coach Rod MacPherson was short and sharp in his post-match address to the players, saying the game was a reality check and that there were too many passengers in the victory.
“I’ve said time and time again, it’s time we started winning big things before we talk too much,” he said.
“In reality a lot of guys have got to understand that when it’s not an even team performance guys can go along for the ride.”
Bacchus Marsh coach Doug Hawkins lamented a case of so close but so far. He said the midweek suspension of Abraham Kur for a month had not been a distraction to the playing group.
“I thought our pressure and tackling was terrific,” Hawkins said.
“We still made some mistakes at critical times in that last quarter.”
