Melton coach Brad Murphy is frustrated.
In his second year at the helm, he’s annoyed with a disastrous run of injuries and frustrated that the Bloods have been on the wrong end of multiple tight finishes.
But, most of all, he’s frustrated that Melton is on the outside looking in on the Ballarat Football League top six.
Murphy has every right to feel unlucky.
In the past six weeks, 14 of the Bloods’ best 22 players have missed games through injury or suspension.
“We think our depth is pretty good,” Murphy said. “We could probably cover two or three of those guys not playing every week but not 10 or 11. It tests you out a little bit.
“Numbers wise, we are absolutely wrecked. It’s really frustrating and disappointing.”
Even with the extra strain created by unavailability, the Melton playing group has been far from disgraced against many finals-bound teams.
The Bloods lost to Bacchus Marsh by one point and to East Point by 20 points last month. Adding to this a round one draw against lowly Melton South indicates the Bloods’ inability to get over the line in tight finishes. Had they been able to pull through in all three matches, they’d be on their way to finals.
“Our best is better than Bacchus Marsh, our best is better than East Point, our best is better than Melton South,” Murphy said. “
You can cop losses to Darley, you can cop Redan, you can cop North Ballarat because they’re better than us.”
The Bloods now have little margin for error for the rest of the season, although there
is some light at the end of the tunnel … Melton’s next four opponents include competition strugglers Melton South, Sebastopol and Ballarat.
“Five of our next six are against sides who are below or around us on the ladder,” Murphy said.
“If we win five out of six we will make finals, so you just never know.”
