Melton Centrals are back on the winners’ list thanks to a four-quarter performance against Sunbury Kangaroos.
Having led at half-time in all their games this season, but with a single win to show for it, Centrals focused on playing well all game against the Kangaroos.
In tough conditions that led to a low-scoring game, Centrals got over the line 6.10 (46)-5.7 (37).
Centrals coach Mathew Sproule said he challenged the team’s leaders during the week – and it paid off.
He said the likes of Blake Henderson, James Aquilina, Dylan Weir, Linton Hogan and Jared Scott responded when it mattered.
“I kind of put it on the leaders, that we’d played three weeks of good first halves,” he said.
“When they [the opposition] kicked on, we hadn’t been able to raise the intensity.
“We needed our leaders to step up and the young blokes would follow. We spoke about it again at half-time.”
The teams entered the match with identical records and similar form guides – a win each and very much in the running in the other games – making it an interesting match-up.
After trailing by five points at half-time, Centrals scored the only two goals of the third quarter, kicking with the wind.
Kangaroos veteran Jamie Cuffe gave his side hope when he converted in the last quarter, but Centrals were able to steady and nail the win.
Sproule said they were wasteful at times in a game dominated by the defences.
He said Samuel Apineru was clearly best on ground playing at full-back, while Lachie Phillips continued to shine.
Sproule said the playing group deserved the win after playing some good football across the first five rounds.
He said the Centrals could quite easily be at 4-1.
“We’re playing some fair football and we’ve been trying to get reward for effort,” he said. “Mostly for the players … it makes them happier and we’ve got to keep improving.
“When you’ve been in every game, but not getting the results, it can be deflating.”
Centrals have this week off thanks to the interleague break, after which they will face Wallan.
Blake Henderson and Dylan Weir have been named in the interleague squad, though Henderson is unlikely to play.
Sproule said the Wallan match-up would be another challenge.
“We rate them a top three to four side,” he said.
“They’ve smashed the poor sides. We give ourselves a good opportunity to compete.
“Sunbury is a similar side to us and they lost to Wallan by a goal.”
In other results, Diggers Rest won a thriller with Macedon, 7.7 (49)-5.11 (41).
It was a thrilling match all day, with the Burras kicking three goals to one in the final quarter to grab the win.
Stuart Clarke was named best on ground.
Rockbank had a tough day against Wallan, with the Magpies winning 30.22 (202)-2.3 (15).
Not for the first time this season, the Magpies dominated against a lower-ranked side.
The game was all but over at quarter-time, with the Magpies leading 55-1.
