Tara Murray
Bacchus Marsh has put itself in a good spot for a tilt at finals in the Ballarat Football League.
The Cobras have won four out of their last five games to sit in seventh spot heading into the last month of the season.
Just four points separates second-placed East Point and the Cobras, showing how close the season is.
Cobras coach Tom German said every match was a mini final now.
“We’ve been in some good form,” he said. “We’ve got a few guys back on the park.
“We had a lot of illness and injury. We now have good numbers on the track and baring a couple of players we’re back at full strength.
“With four games left we will hopefully put our best foot forward in the finals race.”
The Cobras one loss in that period was against top side, Melton last week. German said they had played well in the first half, but were disappointing after that.
He said they used what they had learned from the loss, against Melton South on Saturday.
The Cobras dominated the scoring shots, but it wasn’t until the last quarter they took control on the scoreboard, winning 8.19 (67)-5.5 (35).
German said they always knew it was going to be a tough ask at Melton Recreation Reserve.
“It was going to be a challenge at their home ground, they’re a good side there,” he said.
“Without hitting the scoreboard in the first three quarters, we controlled the contest.
“It was good in the last quarter to get some reward for effort.”
Aaron Willitts kicked five goals for the Cobras in the win.
Jack Williams, who had missed the previous round, was handy down back, while Nick Stuhldreier and Josh Huxtable were also good.
German said like in many of their wins, there had been a really good spread of contributors.
The coach, who was also named in the best, said the return of Williams, had meant they had more flexibility, with how they use captain Jake Owen.
Owen has played down back in recent weeks.
“They work well in tandem,” he said. “We’ve got good balance in the forwards and backs. Jake was fantastic down there.”
For the Panthers, Billy Lloyd and Dylan Jones were named the Panthers best.
The Cobras this week face Sebastopol, which has the same amount of points as the Cobras.
German said this week would be like a mini-final.
Meanwhile, Melton lost its first game of the season, losing to North Ballarat and Darley beat the Sunbury Lions.
