A SIXTEEN-goal second half has enabled the Darley Devils to kick-start their Ballarat Football League season campaign with a 98-point thumping of Sebastopol.
With a larger than usual crowd at Marty Busch Reserve on Saturday afternoon to see how far the Kookaburras had progressed in the off-season, the Devils outclassed them in nearly every facet.
While Sebastopol showed a competitive spirit in the first half, Jake Edwards, Dane Grenfell and Darren Leonard up forward provided too much for the Kookaburras to handle, particularly without Malcolm Niblett there to steer the ship.
It didn’t take long for the Darley midfield to get on top of its opposition, and it resulted in five unanswered goals.
The Devils had a 13-point lead at quarter-time.
A goal right on the half-time siren was the Devils’ 10th of the first half and it gave them a 27-point advantage at the main break.
With Devils coach Rod MacPherson instructing his players to ‘play smarter’ and to execute the game plan more efficiently, Darley came out and kicked seven unanswered goals to put the match beyond doubt, with Harley Inglis, Casey Nance and Jake Edwards all hitting the scoreboard.
Jae McGrath, Scott McAllister, Inglis, Dwayne Edwards and Mark Hanson all featured on the scoreboard during the last quarter, helping their side to kick a further eight goals in what was a powerful display. MacPherson was pleased with how his side reacted in the second half, after tidying up a few areas of concern from earlier in the match.
“We thought we could improve our contested possession rate, so that was a big focus for us in the second half.
“I was really happy with Jake Edwards and Dane Grenfell up forward.
“I thought they really boosted the team and obviously they contributed greatly on the scoreboard, and I thought Shane Page was very good of half back.
“We had a really even spread of players across the board today and that was probably the most pleasing aspect of the win”.
BALLARAT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Sebastopol 11.3 (69) lt Darley 26.11 (167)
Sebastopol – goals: M. Powell, B. Trew, B. Carrigg 3, M. Jolly, M. Cain. Best: S. Keiller, T. Stewart, B. Trew, B. Carrigg, M. Powell.
Darley – goals: J. Edwards 5, M. Hanson 4, D. Leonard, D. Grenfell, S. McAllester 3, H. Inglis 2, C. Nance, D. Edwards, J. McGrath, B. Inglis, T. Minns. Best: S. Page, J. Edwards, D. Grenfell, C. McGill, D. Leonard, B. Inglis
NEXT ROUND: (2.15pm games) Ballarat v Lake Wendouree, Bacchus Marsh v Sebastopol, Redan v Melton South, (6.15pm) North Ballarat City v East Point (7.15pm) Sunbury v Darley.
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