“TOUGH and gritty” were the two words that senior coach David Callander chose to describe Bacchus Marsh’s impressive 19-point victory over Lake Wendouree at Wendouree Reserve on Saturday.
With scores level at three-quarter time, Bacchus Marsh put the foot to the floor to add three unanswered goals, sealing an important – and rare – round one victory for the club, 10.7 (67) to the Lakers’ 7.6 (48).
Callander said his team’s greater maturity compared with previous seasons was critical in converting a solid three-quarter effort into four premiership points.
“Our younger guys have probably got a year or two of senior footy under their belt, whereas their youngsters didn’t have that,” he said.
The first quarter was played out in a scrappy fashion considering the perfect conditions, with neither team taking full advantage of its forward 50 entries.
This allowed Tim Malone to play a loose man in defence for Lake Wendouree in the first term and clear the ball away from goal.
A low-scoring first quarter, which saw much of the play unfold in the Bacchus Marsh forward-50, came to an end with the Lakers leading by five points.
The two sides traded goals early in the second term as the general intensity of the match lifted.
Bacchus Marsh managed to hit the lead midway through the term, thanks mostly to soccer convert Pasi ‘Pat’ Schwalger, who kicked three second-quarter goals.
The influence of Schwalger, as well as the Cobras’ midfield brigade led by Tyson Shea, ensured the visitors went into the half-time break with a nine-point advantage.
The final term belonged to the Cobras, who grew in confidence as the match went on.
The Lakers had plenty of opportunities but once again struggled to convert, with Danny Abbott kicking the sealing goal for Bacchus Marsh, followed by another goal kicked by Alec Del Papa.
-Ballarat Courier
BFL – ROUND 1
Darley 8.16 (64) lt Melton 14.9 (93)
GOALS – Darley: Leigh Sobotnicki, Marty Pask 2, Dane Grenfell, Scott McAllester, Jacob Whitney, Darren Leonard 1
Melton: Joshua Carman 5, James Aquilina 3, Andrew Bartlett, Ash Webber, Brody Richie, Jesse McLellan, Chris Webber 1
BEST – Darley: Tate Stone, Brad Inglis, Drew Edwards
Melton: Joshua Carman, Darren Haby, Dillon Sharp, Allan Hill, Chris Webber, John Prudek
Lake Wendouree 7.7 (49) lt Bacchus Marsh 10.8 (68)
GOALS – Lake Wendouree: Sam Clifton 3, Andrew Pitson 2, Charles Edmonston, Brock Orval 1
Bacchus Marsh: Alex Schwarzenberg, Pasi Schwalger 3, Alec Del Papa, Liam Mullen, Danny Abbott, David Van Der Poel 1
BEST – Lake Wendouree: Claye Kelson, Norton Darrigan, Sam Clifton, Ashley Simpson, Matthew Tuminello, Daniel Pratt
Bacchus Marsh: Tyson Shea, Ashley Sweet, Daniel Velden, Danny Abbott, Coby Millar, Charlton Butt
OTHERS: Redan 16.11 (107) d Ballarat 15.14 (104), North Ballarat 17.17 (119) d Sebastopol 11.6 (72)
ROUND 1: Sunbury Lions v Melton South tonight, Clarke Oval, 7.15pm
ROUND 2: Melton v Bacchus Marsh (7.15pm), North Ballarat v Lake Wendouree (6.15pm), Sebastopol v Redan, Ballarat v East Point, Melton South 10.14 (74) lt Darley 13.18 (96), Sunbury bye
