Darley rolls reigning BFNL premier Melton in premiership warning
Darley’s premiership run is underway after knocking off reigning BFNL premier Melton in a top-of-the-table blockbuster on Saturday.
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Darley’s premiership run starts now.
Already considered a title contender, the Devils’ 21-point win over reigning BFNL premier Melton on Saturday confirmed them as the Bloods’ biggest September threat.
The 10.10 (70) to 7.7 (49) victory at Darley Park completes a home-and-away sweep for Darley over Melton and brings them level at the top of the ladder.
Melton is expected to win the minor premiership, top by percentage and facing Lake Wendouree in the final game, before the pair meet again in a fortnight in a qualifying final.
Devils coach Dan Jordan said it was pleasing to see his team hit top gear.
“It was a good strong spectacle to watch, it was finals footy, the top couple of teams going at it – it was a game I enjoyed coaching and watching,” he said.
“We went in with a plan and executed pretty well and played four quarters of footy.
“Melton are a pretty complete side, the way they move the footy we wanted to deny that and be strong at the contest and take it up to them.”
Melton held a one-point lead at quarter-time before Darley took control.
The Devils took a two-point advantage into half-time and it grew to seven points at the final change.
Then, for the second time this season, Darley held the Bloods goalless in the last quarter.
“The first quarter we didn’t play that well but I thought from quarter-time we took a bit more ascendancy with our ball movement,” Jordan said.
“Even though the scoreboard doesn’t reflect it I thought we were in control of the game, so the message (at three-quarter-time) to keep playing the way we were and maybe tighten up defensively.
“Going into finals defence is what wins you finals and big games, we didn’t want it to be a shootout, we wanted to be composed with the ball and strengthen up our defence.”
Young ruckman Lucas Impey was named Darley’s best-on-ground in the win, going head-to-head with Ben Archard.
Brett Bewley continued his outstanding season as he looks to repeat his Henderson Medal win, while Duncan and Joel Cadman also impressed.
Billy Myers was the leading goalkicker on the ground, bagging five majors, to take his season tally to 40 – ranked third in the competition.
“I thought Lucas was really good and competed hard in the ruck against Archard, who’s a quality VFL, country ruckman,” Jordan said.
“For a 17-year-old kid, to stand up and put his body on the line a number of times and give us a really strong contest I was really impressed.
“He’s a big kid with a big future.
“With Lucas playing it gave us the luxury of playing Billy forward and most importantly he finished off his work, I think he kicked five straight.”
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For Melton, Archard was named best-on in defeat, while Conrad Farrugia, Braeden Kight and Kyle Borg were also strong.
The Bloods will look to bounce back against Lake Wendouree, while Darley will finish off its home-and-away season at home against Sunbury.
Elsewhere, Bacchus Marsh stunned fifth-placed Sunbury by two points and there were three smashings.
Sebastopol thrashed Ballarat by 151 points, Redan trounced Melton South a similar hiding by 187 points and East Point flogged Lake Wendouree by 122 points.
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