By Tara Murray
It was a statement win for Melton South on Saturday in the Riddell District Football League.
The Panthers had three wins on the board in their first season back in the competition, but all had come against the bottom three sides.
On Saturday, the Panthers knocked off one of the top sides for the first time, Wallan.
Coach Travis Hodgson said the group was really starting to believe in what they were doing.
“It was a statement win,” he said. “It’s something we spoke about that we had an opportunity to make a statement.
“We are good enough to get a scalp and it was important for us.”
Hodgson said they should have beaten Romsey a couple of weeks ago but there would be no letting up against Wallan.
He said they were definitely doing a lot right to be in every game.
The Panthers did a lot of the damage in the first half on Saturday as they led 47-2 at the main break.
The Magpies showed some fight early in the third quarter but the Panthers had all the answers as they came away with a 13.10 (88)-7.9 (51) win.
“Wallan kicked the first five of the second half,” Hodgson said. “We got composed and were able to get a couple of goals back.
“It is something we haven’t done in recent years. There’s signs of improvement.”
Alec Goodson kicked four goals for the Panthers with Hodgson saying it was a tough day for key targets in windy conditions.
It was former Richmond AFL premiership player Marlion Pickett that was the standout for the Panthers.
“In the first game we played him forward and in the second game we played him half forward and then half in defence,
“He was back all day on Saturday. It allowed him to win the ball and get that attack.
“Our backline had been solid since the start of the year and Marlion now adds that star factor behind the ball.”
As well as Pickett coming into the side Marcello Mazzarolli has joined the club from East Keilor.
Former club best and fairest winner Anthony Hibbert played his first match back in the seniors on Saturday in his return to the club.
The win takes the Panthers to 4-3 on the ladder.
Hodgson said the mindset in the group is starting to change.
He said instead of going in hoping that they could win games, they were going in thinking they can win them.
“Internally we set goals in the pre-season,” he said. “The first was to win a game and internally we set to try and play a final,
“I thought we would finish in the fourth to eighth window. I’ve narrowed it a bit and we have set our sights on finishing fourth to sixth.”
The Panthers this week face Kyneton in another big challenge.
In other matches on Saturday, Diggers Rest beat the Gisborne Giants, 21.11 (137)-13.8 (86).
Melton Centrals lost to Romsey, 8.26 (74)-8.6 (54).
