Bacchus Marsh had its revenge on rival Darley in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.
The Cobras only loss of the season came back in round one at the hands of the Devils and they’ve wanted to get one back over them since.
With both sides in the top three it added extra spice to what is always a hotly anticipated game.
While on paper it looked like it would be a cracker match, the end result was a fizzer with the Cobras winning 17.16 (118)-7.12 (54).
Cobras coach Travis Hodgson said it was good to have had a victory over every team before heading into finals.
“It was a really solid win,” he said.
“We brought out the best in them in round one and I think they brought out the best in us yesterday.
“It doesn’t take long when you get to Bacchus Marsh to get your head around the rivalry.”
The Cobras led by 27 points at quarter-time, but it was the second quarter, which they
won by a point, which Hodgson said set up the win.
“We generally start well and we were kicking to the scoring end,” he said.
“There was a two- to three-goal breeze.
“We were four goals up at quarter-time, added a few more points in the second quarter and still felt like the game was on our terms.”
The Cobras extended the lead in the second half in one of the most pleasing outcomes of the game. At times this year the Cobras have faded after the long break.
Jarrah Maksymow kicked five goals in his return to the side, after spending time in the reserves for not meeting club standards.
Hodgson said while they would have loved to have had Maksymow play every game in the seniors, it had forced the team to find more options up forward.
“In round one, Jarrah kicked five to half-time and was unstoppable,” he said.
“They shut him down in the second half and we couldn’t score.
“It was a genuine concern, but the boys have found faith. I would say they didn’t kick to him on Saturday any more than the other forwards.”
Among the Cobras’ options up forward the past two weeks has been VFL-listed Brenton Payne.
Hodgson said they would have more of an idea this week whether Payne and another VFL-listed player, Jacob Wheelahan, would be available for the Cobras in finals.
The Cobras will also have to wait on scans to know the full extent of a hamstring injury which sidelined Scott Sherlock late in the game.
Hodgson said Sherlock would at least be out of the remaining home and away games.
The ladder-leading Cobras get the week off with the bye, which couldn’t have come at a better time, according to the coach.
The Devils slip outside the top three for the first time this season, with Redan jumping into third position.
In other matches, Melton and Melton South’s finals hopes suffered setbacks with losses to Sunbury Lions and Melton South respectively.
They both sit a game outside the top six.
