Bacchus Marsh jumps to third after tense BFL win over Sebastopol
Missing a host of key players, Bacchus Marsh pulled off an against the odds win over BFL finals rival Sebastopol with a defensive masterclass.
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A defensive masterclass ensured Bacchus Marsh claimed a critical six-point win over fellow Ballarat finals contender Sebastopol on Saturday.
Trailing by 12 points at the three-quarter-time and kicking with the wind the Burras were unable to break the Cobras’ blockade at Maddingley Oval.
A four-goals-to-one third term set up the win before the Bacchus Marsh backline secured the four points, allowing Sebastopol just one goal in a tense finish.
“They were kicking with a bit of a breeze in the last, it was a game of territory, there were a lot of repeat stoppages and I was really happy with the way we went about it,” coach Tom German said.
Making the win even more meritorious was the fact Bacchus Marsh was without a number of key players due to captain Jake Owen’s wedding.
Jake and Jaidyn Owen, Kain Dickson, Kane White, Harrison King and Alex Porter were all missing from the team that beat Lake Wendoree the week before.
Aaron Willetts is also still out with a calf injury.
It saw three players make their senior debut; Mason Dickson, Connor Tangey and Samuel Griffiths.
German was rapt with his young team’s performance in the 8.7 (55) to 7.7 (49) against the odds victory.
“They’re a very good side Sebastopol, they’ve been around the mark this year, so we knew we were in for a big challenge,” he said.
“We had a lot of players out on the weekend with our captain Jake Owens getting married, he and his brother were out so that was our tall forward department.
“We were able to debut three younger guys, which was fantastic, and they all had good games.
“They’re all local kids and we had a handful of others with under 10 games of experience as well. It was certainly a young list but I couldn’t fault their effort.”
Tangey was among the Cobras’ best in the win but it was German who starred.
The playing coach was dominant in midfield and made a critical coaching move, shifting Tom Wardell from defence to attack.
“I leave the best players to my assistant coaches but I just wanted to set a good example for the boys for the day,” German said.
“I really felt half way through the first (quarter) that we had a chance at winning the game, so if you can set a good example hopefully we can bring a few along with you.
“Tom is naturally a backman for us but I swung him forward half way through the second (quarter) and he made a really good impact.
“He gave us a target down there and we were able to manufacture some scores based on his efforts.”
Alex Schwarzenberg and Rhylan Porter kicked two goals apiece for Bacchus Marsh, while Riley O’Keefe, Nick Hausler and Ben Trew were Sebastopol’s best.
The win lifts the Cobras up to third, a game behind second-placed Melton and a game clear of five teams as the finals fight heats up.
Only two wins separate Bacchus Marsh from Melton South in 10th place.
German knows his team need to take every opportunity if it is to return to finals but is adamant the players won’t get ahead of themselves.
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“It’s still an even field, we just don’t know what the next six or seven weeks will hold, so you have to take those opportunities when you get them,” he said.
“We’re taking it one week at a time, we’ve just got our eye on next week at the moment because we don’t want to jump the gun.
“We’re really happy with were we’re at at the moment but we need to keep the eye on the prize.”
Bacchus Marsh travel to arch-rival Sunbury on Saturday.
COBRAS STAND TALL UNDER LAKERS ASSAULT
Bacchus Marsh bounced back from last week’s heavy loss with a critical four-point win over Lake Wendoree on Saturday.
Cobras coach Tom German paid tribute to his back six, which had to withstand immense pressure in the final five minutes as the Lakers pressed for an upset win at Maddingley Park.
The defiant 10.7 (67) to 8.15 (63) victory gives Bacchus Marsh some breathing space on a congested Ballarat Football League ladder.
Just four points separates third-placed East Point from Melton South in 10th.
After copping a big percentage hit in the loss to North Ballarat the Cobras now sit sixth and German was pleased with his team’s response.
“We’ve had a couple of those games where we’ve been level pegging and the results gone the other way, so it was good to end up on the right side,” German said.
“We really had to defend for the last five minutes of the game and it was a credit to our blokes who were able to hold on.
“It’s nice to learn of those (close losses) and we had some big moments in the last five minutes, Simon Lafranchi went back with the flight and saved what would have been a mark.
“It holds us in a decent position and in a COVID season like this you’ve got to take every opportunity you can.”
Bacchus Marsh held a 12-point lead at half-time before Lake Wendoree fought its way back into the match, reducing the margin to six points at the final break.
The lead changed hands several times in a see-sawing final quarter before the Cobras defence locked it down.
Skipper Jake Owen was the star up forward with five goals, while Daniel Burton was reliable as ever and German impressed through midfield.
“Jake really led from the front … he marked everything and went back and kicked five straight and a couple of those goals came in the last quarter,” German said.
“Burto always gives you a good contest and more often than not he wins them. He’s been fantastic for us and so has Ryan Bartlett in defence.”
It was an important bounce back after a tough return against North Ballarat.
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Bacchus Marsh was out of action for four weeks due to the bye before Melbourne went into lockdown and then struggled to come together before the clash against the Roosters with several players based in metro areas, including German.
“It was almost like a first practice match feeling but there was a lot on the line, we were disappointed in how we played but we felt like we bounced back this week,” German said.
“(The win) holds us in a decent position and in a COVID season like this you’ve got to take every opportunity you can.”
The Cobras remain at Maddingley Park this week to host 2019 grand finalist Sebastopol in another major test of their finals aspirations.
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