Tara Murray
Melton ticked the first box in a month of tough matches in the Ballarat Football League.
After a massive first up win against Melton South, last season’s premiers have a run of matches against sides aiming for the top six.
The first of those matches was against the Sunbury Lions, with the Bloods able to come away with a 13.7 (85)-10.5 (65) win.
Bloods coach Aaron Tymms said they were happy to come away with that result.
“We had a really good game last week and yesterday’s [Saturday’s] game was massive for us.
“We have a really big month of footy and we’re hoping to get wins from at least two of the four. To get the first one out of the four is great.
“To beat Sunbury at Sunbury… I’ve been at Melton seven years and it’s only the second time we’ve beaten them there.”
Tymms said the game was a high quality one, which would have been good for the spectators to watch.
In the end, it was 10 minutes of football that proved to be the difference in the game.
“The last 10 minutes of the second quarter, we got a couple of good centre clearances and forward entries,” Tymms said.
“It was three each in the first quarter and when they got the first two of the second game we thought game on.
“We kicked the last five of the quarter. The guys did a really good job.”
After that the teams went goal for goal with two each in the third quarter and three each in the last.
Ryan Carter kicked three goals for the Bloods, while Ryan Davis chipped in with two goals.
Tymms said he was yet to watch the tape, but thought that Jordan Kight was their best player.
He said Jack Walker also had a good game, while recruit Johnathan O’Brien was another to have a good game.
Tymms said despite coming off a premiership, nothing had really changed for the group and it was business as usual.
He said while they celebrated the premiership for a few days after it happened, they hadn’t really spoken about it since.
Tymms said with a different side this season there were plenty of new faces in the senior team.
“We’re a different side,” he said. “We’re missing eight players from the grand final team.
“Ninety per cent of them are retirements or going to other clubs. We have two at Port Melbourne who we won’t likely see, while Brett McIntyre played in the reserves.”
The Bloods are backing their depth in, only adding a handful of players to the squad.
Former co-captain Ben Archard has returned, but is yet to play a game due to a calf complaint. He is also on Essendon’s Victorian Football League list.
Brody Sullivan has crossed from Melton South, while O’Brien has come across from North Ballarat.
Brady Rowles, who was on Sydney’s rookie list, made his debut for the Bloods on Saturday.
The Bloods test’s don’t get any easier with the grand final rematch against Sebastopol this Saturday.
In other matches, Darley beat Bacchus Marsh 13.16 (94)-6.8 (44) and Melton South lost to East Point, 29.18 (192)-6.8 (44).
