SUPER Sunbury loomed over Bacchus Marsh in reputation and physical stature as the Kangaroos posted a dominant 76-point Ballarat Football League win at Clarke Oval on Saturday.
The close-run showing between the teams when Brendan Fevola inspired the Cobras earlier in the season was a distant memory as Sunbury won 18.16 (124) to 7.6 (48).
PICTURE GALLERY: Bacchus Marsh v Sunbury
The Cobras scrapped their way to winning the final quarter after a triple-figure defeat had looked like a genuine possibility when the margin was 78 at three-quarter time.
The loss and percentage damage means Bacchus Marsh (5-9, 88 per cent) is two games behind sixth-placed Ballarat (6-7, 100) with two games to play.
After a tense start in which Bacchus Marsh led 20 minutes in, the Lions broke free of the shackles to kick 14 of the next 16 goals.
It was the big names that drove Sunbury forward, with its forward line at its imposing best.
David Kovacevic was dominant in the ruck, often giving first use to the likes of captain Jay Cheep and the resurgent Ross Sleight.
Cheep booted four goals, while Sleight helped himself to three.
Full forward Simon Clarke, who showed he is not far off peak form, also booted three goals. Clarke got first hands on many contests and although he didn’t take many contested marks, in the end he certainly threatened.
With the likes of Matthew Medcraft, Jack Sullivan and Dale Cuinik also lingering in the forward arc, the Lions’ forward line was arguably at its strongest so far this year.
Bacchus Marsh coach Doug Hawkins was left to rue the absence of key position players at both ends of the ground.
The Phyland brothers, Declan and Lachlan, were influential all day, as were Leigh Wilson and Mike Suban.
But the Cobras were simply too small and too inexperienced for the powerful Sunbury.
“It makes it pretty hard now,” Hawkins said.
“I’m disappointed, but I’m still proud of the boys.
“We improved a long way this year. The scoreboard won’t show that, but we have definitely improved.
“We tried to stem the bleeding in the second half, but they’re such a hard team to stop.”
— Ballarat Courier
