ONLY an unthinkable set of upsets can allow Bacchus Marsh to join
Darley as Moorabool’s representatives in the Ballarat Football League
finals even after the Cobras beat Melton South by 67 points at the
weekend.
Bacchus Marsh won 20.20 (140) to Melton South 11.7 (73) on
Saturday to move into seventh (6-9) behind Ballarat (7-8) with a round
to go.
But the Cobras would need to roll finals-bound East Point and hope
winless Sebastopol pulls off the upset of the season against Ballarat
to steal sixth on the final day.
The Marsh opened an arms-length lead in the first half and went on
with the job in the second thanks to four goals from Trevor Hilton,
three for Danny Bonnici and stand-out midfield performances from Mike
Suban and Tyson Shea. Marc Dransman booted four goals as Melton South’s
best.
Darley made better use of the scoring end at a windswept MacPherson Park to win 14.11 (95) to 6.11 (47) against Melton.
The Devils led by seven points at three-quarter time but had the
scoring end in the last quarter and capitalised with seven unanswered
goals. Tate Stone and Nathan Jackel were the Devils’ best while Darren
Haby kicked three goals for Melton and Tom Cullum was the Bloods’ best.
Darley (10-5) sits fifth and will play East Point in the elimination final unless Melton upsets Redan in the final round.
Redan and Sunbury drew in a result that means the battle for
second place will go down to the final round. Lake Wendouree beat
Sebastopol by 50 points while North Ballarat City beat Ballarat by 57.
In A-grade netball, Melton and Sunbury’s top-two chances hinge on Bacchus Marsh.
Sunbury (third) and Melton (fourth) can still finish second by
winning in the last round but only if Bacchus Marsh upsets second-placed
East Point.
Melton comfortably accounted for Darley 38-11 while Sunbury beat Redan 53-35.
Bacchus Marsh won 50-37 against Melton South but cannot make the finals.
tpellizzeri@mmpgroup.com.au
