In the next few weeks, Melton-based teams in the Riddell District and Ballarat leagues will learn where they stand in terms of finals aspirations. Liam Twomey looks at how the sides have been tracking.
Darley (BFL)
Record: 3-2
Ladder position: Fourth
Best win: After a slow start to the 2014 season, the Devils ensured 2015 began with a bang. Hosting Sunbury, one of last year’s finalists, Darley was dominant in round one, cruising to a 90-point win on the back of seven goals from Jake Edwards.
Toughest loss: The Devils were far from disgraced in their first loss, which came against premiership contender Redan. Darley went down 17.19 (121) – 13.10 (88). The defeat had no lasting effects on the club’s momentum, with the Devils bouncing back the following week with a win against East Point.
Among the best: Opposition sides would be wise to put some time into studying Shane Page in coming weeks. Like his team, Page has enjoyed a strong start to the 2015 season, being named among his side’s best players every week.
Moving forward: It hasn’t taken long for Darley to establish itself as a premiership contender. The Devils get their chance to cement a top-four spot when they take on under-pressure trio Melton, Melton South and Sebastopol in the next three weeks.
Bacchus Marsh (BFL)
Record: 4-2
Ladder position: Fifth
Best win: The Cobras confirmed their status as finals contenders with a 50-point smashing of fellow September hopeful East Point on Sunday. The win allowed Bacchus Marsh to jump to fifth and put some distance on the chasing pack.
Toughest loss: Teams on the rise are always looking to claim a big scalp and the Cobras had that chance in round four against North Ballarat City. Taking on the reigning premier in an away fixture might have looked like a daunting task, but Bacchus Marsh was in the contest for three quarters before going down by 32 points.
Among the best: Off-season recruit Peter Shepherd has been an outstanding acquisition for the Cobras. He has booted 16 goals in the first six rounds and is third on the goal-kicking leaderboard.
Moving forward: Bacchus Marsh will have every chance to consolidate its place in the finals in the next two weeks with back-to-back matches against top-six contenders Sunbury and Lake Wendouree.
Melton (BFL)
Record: 2-2-1
Ladder position: Sixth
Best win: In wet and windy conditions, Melton got its 2015 campaign off and running in round two against Sebastopol. Despite missing big-name off-season recruit James Mulligan, the Bloods showed plenty of fight to have the match won by three-quarter time.
Toughest loss: Although they walked away with two points from their first round match against Melton South, the Bloods will feel like it was a missed opportunity. After trailing by 28 points in the last term, Melton led with 10 seconds left but was unable to hold on in a match that ended in a draw.
Among the best: The honours have been shared evenly for the Bloods, with Nicholas Gale and Brett McIntyre among the standouts. Both have been named among the best players twice, while Gale has also hit the scoreboard with five majors.
Moving forward: Sixth on the BFL ladder, Melton needs to continue beating the teams around it if it wants to remain in finals contention. The Bloods have tough opponents on the horizon: Darley, East Point and Redan.
Melton South (BFL)
Record: 1-3-1
Ladder position: Ninth
Best win: Melton South brought an end to its winless streak on Saturday, smashing Sebastopol by 66 points. It was a great day for the club, with reserves player Matthew Collins breaking the Panthers’ all-time games record.
Toughest loss: There have been plenty of early-season positives for Melton South, but last month’s match against North Ballarat City wasn’t one of them. The Panthers managed just two goals and gave up 35 in the 222-point loss.
Among the best: Following a bag of seven goals in round one and five in round six, Frank Holzer is fourth on the BFL goalkicking list, having provided a strong target for the Panthers.
He has kicked at least one goal in all five matches.
Moving forward: The Panthers have a tough fortnight coming up as they seek to break away from the sides locked at the bottom end of the ladder. They’re facing games against premiership contenders Redan and Darley.
Diggers Rest (RDFL)
Record: 4-2
Ladder position: Fifth
Best win: After losing last year’s grand final, the Burras fired an early shot in the 2015 premiership race with a 78-point win against Riddell in round one. In his return match from a long-term injury, Brent Tuckey booted two goals, while Luke Smailes kicked six.
Toughest loss: While they were by no means bad, the Burras let one slip against Sunbury Kangaroos in round two. Leading at the end of each quarter, Diggers Rest had every chance to claim a vital four points away from home. But the Kangaroos rallied, kicking three final-quarter goals to win by a point.
Among the best: With two bags of six goals to his name, Luke Smailes has let the RDFL know he will again be one of the premier forwards of the competition. Also putting his hand up for the Burras has been Cameron McCabe, who has twice been named best on ground.
Moving forward: Diggers Rest are clearly better than their fifth ladder placing suggests. They will get a chance to climb the table in the coming weeks with matches against Macedon and Lancefield.
Rockbank (RDFL)
Record: 1-4
Ladder position: Ninth
Best win: After making the finals last year, Rockbank has endured a tough start. The Rams broke through for their first win of the season against Kilmore last week.
Toughest loss: While victories have been hard to come by, the Rams have been far from disgraced in any of their matches. The club’s average losing margin is just 22 points. Rockbank will feel as if it let one slip in round one against Melton Centrals. The Rams led at three-quarter time but were unable to hold on for a win.
Among the best: After crossing over from the Western Region Football League in the off-season, Lachlan Calder has been a great addition to the Rams. Calder has booted 20 goals from five games and is fifth on the goal- scoring list.
Moving forward: The Rams will be looking to build on the momentum of their first win when they take on Woodend-Hesket this weekend.
Melton Centrals (RDFL)
Record: 1-5
Ladder position: 11th
Best win: When they appointed new coach Glenn Hopkins in the off-season, Centrals did so knowing they were entering a development phase. But it didn’t take Hopkins long to give supporters a look into a bright future via the club’s round one win against Rockbank.
Toughest loss: The Centrals could count themselves unlucky not to have two wins after their round two loss to Macedon. Centrals went down by 19 points after Macedon forward Marcus Kenny put through nine goals to win the match off his own boot.
Among the best: Rex Hickman has shown why the Centrals were so rapt to secure his signature. The key forward has been a constant headache for opposition defenders and has shown a great ability to get up the ground and take contested marks.
Moving forward: The Centrals will have a great chance to get their second win when they take on winless Kilmore this weekend.
