Darley bounces back after disappointing loss to knock off East Point
The Ballarat Football League top-six race will go down to the wire but Darley took a big step towards finals by knocking off East Point.
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Darley claimed its biggest scalp of the season to cement itself in the Ballarat Football League top six on Saturday.
Devils coach Dan Jordan labelled the impressive 30-point win over second-placed East Point at Darley Park as the club’s best “four-quarter performance” of the season.
It was a much-needed response after suffering a shock upset at the hands of Redan the week before, putting the club’s finals hopes in jeopardy.
A blazing five-goal opening term and strong finish defensively secured a 13.9 (87) to 8.9 (57) victory that lifts Darley to fifth, a game clear of North Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh in the finals race.
The Kangaroos, meanwhile, drop to third behind Ballarat and face a difficult task of regaining a top-two spot and all-important double chance.
Devils coach Dan Jordan said consistency was the major difference from last week’s surprise loss.
“It’s probably the best four-quarter effort we’ve put in,” he said.
“We’re a young team and inconsistent, so we have lapses in games but we were really focused on bringing a four-quarter effort, so I was really pleased for them.
“We know we can play good footy when we’re on, it’s the ability to narrow the gap between our best footy and our lapses (that’s the difference).
“We’re trying to teach them it doesn’t matter what team you play against, particularly with this competition being so even, we need to just worry about what we’re doing.”
Darley burst out of the blocks with a five-goal first quarter to take an 11-point lead into quarter-time and both teams suffered from inaccuracy in the second term as the home team retained a 12-point advantage.
The lead was narrowed to nine points at the final change before the Devils took control with a dominant defensive display.
East Point were held goalless while Darley added 3.4 to earn a critical four points in a fierce race for a top-six spot.
“You can have one loss and drop four places or have a win and jump up four, it’s that tight,” Jordan said of the club’s finals hopes.
“If we make finals then brilliant, we’ve got a big game against Bacchus Marsh next week and they’re in a similar spot.
“It was good for us to beat a side above us on the ladder but we knew above us on the ladder can change really quickly.
“We’re trying to instil that confidence and the boys are starting to belief they can play the type of footy that matches it against good sides.”
Luther Baker was best-on-ground to continue his impressive late-season form, while Mace Cousins continued his outstanding season, earning a seventh mention in the best in 14 appearances.
Spearhead Nick Rodda booted a game-high four goals to take his tally to 50 for the season and remain on top of the league’s goalkicking charts.
Star defender Darren Leonard and Matt Brett returned from injury to further boost the Devils.
“Luther has had a really good month, he’s been working on his game in terms of being diligent and strong at the contest around the ball,” Jordan said.
“Brett (Bewley) is a focal point for a lot of teams so we need people to step up when they put attention into him and Luther is a really important team player.
“He played his role and was clean and used the ball well, which is something that he’s been working on, so credit to him.
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“Nick’s impacting on the scoreboard which is great but the thing he gives us is aerial competition, two v one he brings the ball to ground.
“He was really good (on Saturday), he was angry and competing and that’s when he plays at his best – his chasing and harassing was really good.”
Darley travels to Maddingley Oval to take on top-six rival Bacchus Marsh on Saturday with victory critical to both team’s finals hopes.
East Point will look to bounce back against wooden-spooner Lake Wendouree.
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