Tara Murray
Melton South was able to hold its nerve to open its account in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.
The Panthers headed to Clarke Oval to face the win less Sunbury Lions and were able to produce their best performance of the season.
After a low scoring first half, the Panthers opened the game up in the third quarter with six goals.
The Lions had some opportunities late and reduced the score to 15 points, but a settling from the Panthers put bed to that.
The Panthers winning, 9.12 (66)-6.9 (45).
Panthers coach Heath Pritchard said it was a really good win for the side. He said both sides had a lot of injuries, meaning neither was at full strength.
“We played really well and we’re really happy with the result,” he said.
“I thought in the first quarter we should have been further ahead, we kicked four points. At half time, we were 2.8.
“We had chances to put the match to bed a lot earlier.”
Pritchard said there was some nerves in the final quarter when the Lions kicked a few goals in a row.
He said the group showed a lot of composure to get the job done.
“It’s one of those things if you haven’t won a lot of games, that when you’re in a position to win the game you do get a bit nervous.
“To our credit the boys were able to steady the ship.
Dylan Conway, William Thornton-Gielen and Shaun White kicked two goals each.
Pritchard said Dylan Jones was a standout in the ruck, while some of the younger guys in the middle like Jarrod Bibby and Cody Chapman had really good games.
“We didn’t have too many passengers,” he said.
“Everyone put in good effort, which was pleasing to see.”
The win caps off a tough first four weeks to the season for the Panthers, with illness and injury.
Pritchard said it meant players were getting opportunities they may not have otherwise got.
“We’ve played 35 players so far, we’ve been hit hard,” he said.
“Ben Casley has not played a game either. You look at it and go jeez, we’ve used a lot of players in the first four weeks of footy.
“From that though, you look that guys are getting chances and as we saw yesterday taking their chances.
“That’s the most satisfying thing.”
Pritchard said they were hoping to get last season’s best and fairest winner Billy Lloyd and Casley back in the next couple of weeks and a few more players back in the next month.
He said it would put pressure on for spots, which wasn’t a bad thing.
The Panthers this week are back home, facing East Point on Saturday before facing Bacchus Marsh the week after.
“They are good sides,” Pritchard said. “It will be a good test for us. East Point has had the wood over us.”
In other matches, Melton was too strong for Darley.
The Bloods led at every quarter in the 11.14 (80)-7.8 (50) win.
The Bloods’ Jack Walker was named best on ground.
Bacchus Marsh had the bye.
