By Tara Murray
Melton got an early crucial win in the context of its season, beating Darley in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.
As East Point and Darley are the early front runners in the competition, the Bloods were looking for a scalp to keep in touch with the top side and they set their sights on the Devils on Saturday.
Putting in their best performance of the season, the Bloods won the game they were after, beating the Devils 12.15 (87)-9.3 (57).
Bloods coach Aaron Tymms said while they would have been happy to be 2-2 at this point of the season, the win, which makes them 3-1, keeps them up with the top sides.
“It was good to get the win,” he said.
“If we went down, we would have been two games behind Darley and East Point.
“It’s good to stay in the pack.”
Tymms said it was a good match in the opening half before they exerted their influence.
The margin could have quite easily been bigger as the Bloods were again wasteful in front of goal.
“The first half it was a really good hit out,” Tymms said.
“We were really strong defensively and they couldn’t score going forward.
“The second half was really good. They kicked four goals late in the last quarter, after we’d taken off a few guys.
Braedan Kight kicked five goals for the Bloods, while Jake Edwards was the only multiple goal scorer for the Devils, with two goals.
Connor Griffiths was named the Bloods’ best for the third time this season and Tymms said Griffiths has taken the next step this year.
Melton now has two weeks off, with interleague this week and the bye the week after.
The Bloods had eight players named in the initial interleague squad and Tymms said it was pleasing to see the players getting recognition.
However he said it wasn’t ideal having two weeks off in a row.
“We tried to organise a practice match for the bye weekend against another side that had a bye, but it didn’t work out,” he said.
“We’ll have a big hit-out on the Thursday before the bye.”
Melton should receive a big boost for their next match against the Sunbury Lions, as several players are set to return from injury.
Tymms said Matt Denham, Ben Archard and Darren Haby were all on track to return.
He said it would give the club a few selection headaches.
“We’re happy with how things are going about,” he said.
“The young kids filling the spots have been doing the jobs they’ve been asked.
“We’ve been winning without our stars which is pleasing.
“You don’t want to drop the kids who are playing well, but you want to pick your best team.
“It will be a hard one in a couple of weeks.”
In other results, Bacchus Marsh got its first win of the season, beating Ballarat.
The Cobras won convincingly on 21.13 (139)-4.9 (33).
MORE BFL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/sunbury-lions-put-it-all-together/
