Melton got early bragging rights over cross-town rival Melton South with a massive win in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday night.
The Bloods, playing their first match of the season, got an early jump on the Panthers, who had played the previous week.
Rain after quarter-time had little effect on the Bloods, who won 13.4 (82)-3.8 (26) at MacPherson Park.
For Bloods coach Brad Murphy, it was a good yet necessary outcome.
“We probably had to win the game,” he said. “We’d done a lot of homework on them and knew they would come out firing in the first 10 minutes of each quarter. It was a real focus on ours to make sure we started well.
“We thought they would drop away in the second half and they did. They lacked firepower.”
The Bloods restricted the Panthers to a single goal in the first three quarters.
Murphy believes that if the rain had stayed away, the margin would have been even bigger.
“We don’t have the kicking power up forward … it’s about having a real even spread and balance between defence and attack,” he said.
“We had the balance perfect on Saturday night.”
Murphy said his backline was a standout and clearly dominated the game. He praised full-back Malcolm Beck for holding Marc Dransman goal-less and to only three possessions.
“Jack Walker, Matt Notman, Brett McIntyre and Jake Glesson were all really good,” he said. “The wet weather suits Jake and he led from the front.”
Brody Sullivan and Brendan Hooper were best for the Panthers, who had no multiple goal kickers.
The Bloods will this week face the Sunbury Lions at Clarke Oval on Saturday night.
The Lions suffered a first-up loss to Bacchus Marsh.
It was an even match before the Cobras kicked away in the last quarter to win 13.12 (90)-10.11 (71).
Former coach Cameron Richardson was best on ground for the Cobras, kicking four goals, while Daniel Velden and Tyson Shea were also prominent.
In A-grade netball, Melton defeated Melton South 41-28.
Sunbury Lions defeated Bacchus Marsh 46-42.
Darley had a bye in both football and netball.
