So close but so far … that was the story for Melton against Bacchus Marsh in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.
The Bloods, who are fighting for a finals spot, were in front late in the game against the second-placed Cobras but could not hold on.
The Cobras went on to cement their top-two position with the 13.14 (92)-13.8 (86) win.
It was a similar story when they played top-of-the-table Lake Wendouree.
Bloods’ coach Brad Murphy said the result was frustrating but one he was proud of.
“We’re close to the mix when we play our best,” he said.
“We made fundamental errors, like a dropped mark in the last 30 seconds, a punch instead of a mark in their goal square, a missed tackle, but you can think about the whole game and mistakes. We have to try to learn from it.”
Murphy said having to exert extra energy in the third quarter to hold onto the lead played a major part in the last-quarter letdown.
“We had a player sent from the field for questioning an umpire,” he said.
“We used a lot of energy and it cost us rotations.”
Braedan Kight kicked four goals for the Bloods, while Jordyn Cotter was named best.
The Cobras’ Alec Del Papa was best on ground, with his four goals helping get his side over the line.
Despite the loss, the Bloods remain in the all-important sixth spot, percentage ahead of Darley and a game ahead of East Point.
The Bloods play East Point on Saturday, before a last-round clash with North Ballarat City.
“We have to win the last two,” Murphy said.
“Mark Orr, a VFL player, will return this week and Lachlan Murphy will be among the inclusions.
“We’re in a strong position but East Point is likely to get some players back and will be hard to beat.
“We know we need to win these matches to make finals for the first time in 10 years. We haven’t been this high on the ladder at this time of the year in the last 10 years.
“We’re desperate to get there and it showed on Saturday.”
Darley, the Bloods’ biggest competitor for sixth spot, lost to North Ballarat City on Sunday.
Only two points separated the two sides at three-quarter time, before City put the foot to the pedal with five goals to none in the final quarter to win 13.11 (89)-7.11 (53).
Melton South suffered a big loss at the hands of Sunbury Lions.
Despite kicking eight goals in the final quarter, the Panthers lost 27.27 (189)-13.4 (82).
