CROSSTOWN rivals, a big crowd and, finally, two teams in finals contention.
All the Bacchus Marsh derby needed to be set alight again was a great game of football.
Darley and Bacchus Marsh delivered that with a classic Ballarat Football League match at Maddingley Park on Saturday.
In a see-sawing contest, Darley’s strength triumphed over Bacchus Marsh’s finesse, 17.11 (113) to 15.5 (95) , as each side displayed a decent mix of both.
The Devils bulldozed their way through the contest with 25 clearances to the Cobras’ 16.
However, it was one of Darley’s more skilful players, Dane Grenfell, who had a hand in three final-quarter goals that killed off a Bacchus Marsh revival that threatened to snatch the match back.
Darley coach Rod McPherson said it was a better win than the club’s drought-breaking victory over Melton South in its first match of the season.
“It showed a bit of character the way the players kept coming.
“We had 20 inside-50s in the last quarter and six inside-50 tackles. You don’t expect to get those numbers in a final quarter when guys are fatigued.
“This match was a bit of a fork in the road game for us. We could have dropped off early in the season. The team’s confidence copped a fair kicking last year.”
While Darley’s clearance work was a feature, so was Bacchus Marsh’s deft movement of the ball through the middle of the ground and into space.
The Cobras also excelled on the spread as the Devils played a more direct style of game.
Bacchus Marsh held the edge by a point at quarter-time, and by two points at half-time. It should have been more, but Darley big name recruit Marty Pask kicked a goal and was then awarded a second shot at goal before the ball had returned to the middle of the ground, following a clash with a Bacchus Marsh opponent.
The Devils then played smarter football in the third quarter, finding more targets in the forward arc than they had earlier.
The Cobras’ slick style was undone with a series of skill errors under pressure. “We butchered the ball and turned the ball over, especially going forward,” Bacchus Marsh coach Dave Callander said.
“When people don’t execute it is often about pressure and perceived pressure. We weren’t able to make the right decisions and play to our strengths. We panicked a bit and played into their hands.”
That pressure came from Darley midfielders, such as best on ground Brad Inglis, Nathan Jackel and Jae McGrath, and Jake Zeestraten, who blanketed Bacchus Marsh skipper Tyson Shea. Darren Leonard was also outstanding.
Up forward, Pask finished with seven goals in a return to form, while Dane Grenfell and Travis Minns were also effective, sharing eight goals.
– Ballarat Courier
BFL round 4 results:
Bacchus Marsh 15.5 (95) lt Darley 17.11 (113)
SENIORS
GOALS – Bacchus Marsh: Pasi Schwalger, David Van Der Poel 3, Alec Del Papa, Mark Hanson, Jan Leman 2, Matt Denham, Dan Velden, Leigh Wilson. Darley: Marty Pask 7, Dane Grenfell 5, Travis Minns 3, Brad Inglis, Luke Guerra
BEST – Bacchus Marsh: Matt Denham, Tyson Shea, James Dickinson, David Van Der Poel, Pasi Schwalger, Mark Hanson. Darley: Darren Leonard, Brad Inglis, Marty Pask, Tate Stone, Drew Edwards, Scott McAllester
Others: Lake Wendouree 8.17 (65) lt Ballarat 11.14 (80), Sunbury 20.15 (135) d Sebastopol 9.8 (62), East Point 13.16 (94) lt Redan 18.18 (126)
LADDER
1. North Ballarat (2-1) 12, 203.12
2. Sunbury (2-1) 12, 168.64
3. Redan (3-0) 12, 153.60
4. Ballarat (2-1) 8, 124.29
5. Bacchus Marsh (2-1) 8, 104.78
6. Darley (2-1) 8, 104.20
7. Melton South (1-2) 4, 114.42
8. Melton (1-2) 4, 83.72
9. East Point (0-2) 4, 67.87
10. Lake Wendouree (0-3) 0, 61.61
11. Sebastopol (0-3) 0, 47.77
RESERVES
Darley 17.14 (116) d Bacchus Marsh 2.2 (14) Goals: Darley: Matt Cape 4, Dylan Prozzo, Ross Gundry, Benn Matthews, Shaun Deckert 2, Todd Delahey, Josh Dunen, Daniel Macrae, Liam Davie, Bradley Roberts. Melton Matthew Muscat, Jamie Blunt.
Best: Darley: Travis Stephenson, Kane Stewart, Josh Dunen, Brett O’Bree, Matt Cape. Melton: Mathew Prince, Matthew Muscat, Benjamin Jenkins, Mitchell Blundell, Ben Hose, Christopher Suban
Others:Lake Wendouree 6.10 (46) lt Ballarat 9.12 (66), Sunbury 10.9 (69) d Sebastopol 5.5 (35), East Point 7.7 (49) lt Redan 12.7 (79)
Ladder: North Ballarat 12 (332 per cent), Redan 12 (285), Darley 8 (176), Melton 8 (151), East Point 8 (128), Sunbury 8 (120), Melton South 8 (79), Lake Wendouree 4 (71), Ballarat 4 (57), Bacchus Marsh 0 (51), Sebastopol 0 (24)
UNDER 18.5
Bacchus Marsh 21.14 (140) d Darley 1.0 (6) Goals: Bacchus Marsh: Abraham Kur, Liam Noonan, Scott Howson 3, Trent Angwin, Blayde Baker 2, Jack Powell, Mitchell McKay, James West, Tristan Simons, Bradley McKay, Thomas Wardell, Stewart Rodgers, Lachlan Phyland. Darley: Blake Prozzo.
Best: Bacchus Marsh: David Dickinson, Mitchell McKay, Bradley McKay, Liam Noonan, Stewart Rodgers, Angwin. Darley: Conor Hatfield, Tyler Maher, Hayden McDonagh, Brayden Wood, Prozzo
Others: Lake Wendouree 11.9 (75) d Ballarat 6.12 (48), Sunbury 4.2 (26) lt Sebastopol 9.7 (61), East Point 1.3 (9) lt Redan 19.22 (136)
Ladder: Redan 12 (823 per cent), Bacchus Marsh 12 (489), North Ballarat 12 (157), Sunbury 8 (137), Melton South 8 (85), East Point 6, Melton 4 (93), Lake Wendouree 4 (85), Sebastopol 4 (72), Ballarat 2, Darley 0
