Melton Centrals made a positive start but were then thumped by Riddell in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
Despite six places separating the two sides on the ladder, there wasn’t much between them in the contest early, with both having seven scoring shots in the first term.
But the second-placed Bombers were more accurate and took a 15-point lead into the first break.
PICTURE GALLERY: Melton Centrals v Riddell
Then the floodgates opened as Riddell went on to win 24.13 (157) to 9.8 (62).
Melton coach Brian Wheelahan was pleased with his players’ early fight.
“In the first quarter we really got back to our early-season form,” he said.
“We matched them in that first quarter. Our tackling pressure was fantastic and we were using the ball quite well, but it was just the same old story that we couldn’t sustain it for long enough.
“When you give a quality side time to do what they want they’re going to hurt you.”
Despite the 95-point margin, Wheelahan said he found a number of positives, including the form of his side’s rising stars.
Hayden Castle, Kayne Wilson, James Ould and Jonathan Ferri all stepped up from the under-18s and held their own at the higher level.
Wheelahan said it was exciting for the club to have the young talent coming through.
“We see them as 10-year senior players at our footy club,” he said. “The best part was that they weren’t just making up the numbers. They acquitted themselves very well.
“It is a tough ask because we are just scraping in for numbers for the under-18s. Sometimes they have to play a couple of quarters in the morning and then back up. But to get games into them just lifts the other blokes around them as well.”
Saturday’s loss leaves Melton ninth on the ladder.
Centrals have a bye this week before matches against Diggers Rest and Broadford to round out their season.
“In a perfect world we’d like to win our last two games after the bye,” Wheelahan said.
“Diggers Rest are a fantastic, well-drilled footy side and then we have Broadford away for the last game of the season.
“If we can dish up what we did for the first quarter yesterday for four quarters then we can hopefully pinch the last two.”
