Tara Murray
Darley’s Ballarat Football League season is over with the Devils to rue missed chances in an overtime preliminary final loss to East Point.
Hoping to make it back to the decider for a second straight season to defend their title, the Devils suffered heartbreak on Saturday afternoon.
The Devils and Kangaroos were locked at the end of regular time before Kangaroos found something in extra time to claim the 11.14 (80)-10.13 (73) win and a spot in the grand final.
Devils coach Dan Jordan said they had their opportunities to win the game.
“We didn’t quite do it,” he said. “I felt like we had some really good periods where we controlled it and they did too, but couldn’t edge the gap enough to get ascendancy on the scoreboard.
“We were reasonably confident heading into three quarter time, I thought we had played well to that point.
“East were pretty resilient and they stayed in the game and probably had a bit of momentum going into that overtime.”
The margin was 16 points in favour of the Kangaroos at quarter time and then 16 points in favour of the Devils at the main break.
The Kangaroos led by just two points heading into the final quarter.
The Devils had the wind in that quarter.
Jordan said they had some really good opportunities to get back in front late in the quarter.
“Even in the last 20 seconds we had an unpressured snap on goal,” he said. “It went out on the full, in those games you always look back at the moments late in the game.
“There were plenty of moments early as well. Didn’t quite put enough gap where we wanted to.
“Overall we were happy with the game and how we played.”
The Kangaroos were up and about in the extra time period and were able to put it on the scoreboard with three goals early.
Billy Myers kicked four goals for the Devils, while Joel Cadman and Brett Bewley named their best.
The loss ends the Devils premiership defence.
Jordan said they never felt like they were playing at full capacity this season.
“I felt like during the whole season we were chasing our tail a bit,” he said. “Injuries and so forth during the year and couldn’t quite settle our side.
“We hung in there and won the games that we needed to but we also probably not quite in that top two pack that East and Melton were.
“We came together late and were trying to play our best football. I had the feeling that we were chasing a bit, probably deserving that East and Melton play off in a grand final.
“Weren’t quite there for a number of reasons.”
East Point will face Melton in the grand final on Saturday at City Oval from 2.30pm.
