Melton’s 11-game winning run ends at the hands of BFL flag rival North Ballarat

Melton coach Aaron Tymms delivers his verdict on the Bloods’ first defeat of the BFL season after going down to flag rival North Ballarat.

Melton’s Lachlan Watkins in action. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Melton coach Aaron Tymms says his players will learn plenty from their first loss of the season on Saturday.

The Bloods’ 11-game winning streak came to an end with a 34-point defeat at the hands of premiership rival North Ballarat at Mars Stadium.

Tymms rubbished any suggestion it was the loss the club had to have but believed it would take pressure off his players ahead of a BFL finals campaign.

The Roosters’ six-goal-to-nil third quarter blew the game open and Melton was unable to respond with the wind at its back in the final term, going down 8.11 (59) to 3.7 (25).

Tymms credited North Ballarat for exposing some potential weaknesses ahead of a possible finals rematch.

Melton’s Braedan Kight celebrates a goal. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“North were really good, I thought they’re pressure was fantastic and we weren’t able to handle the pressure and they did – they absorbed it well and used it well when they got it outside,” he said.

“In saying that, it was even for three quarters, it was just that third quarter they got away from us.

“I’ve been asked (was it a necessary loss) a few times but I’d prefer to win every single game.

“I think we’ll learn more from losing because now we know there’s areas of games we need to work on.

“A few of the boys said (it will take pressure off), they said they wouldn’t want to go into finals without a loss because of the pressure, so if it makes them more comfortable then that’s fine.

“I’d have still liked to have beaten them, especially at Mars, we’ve only played a few games there since I’ve been coaching and haven’t been able to get it done.”

In terrible conditions in Ballarat, just four goals were kicked in the first half, with Melton claiming a two-point half-time lead.

North then took full advantage of the wind in the third term, piling on 6.7 and keeping the visitors scoreless, to build a 41-point margin.

The Roosters’ defence then sealed the win with a stubborn resistance to keep the Bloods to a single goal with the wind and confirm their premiership credentials.

“It wasn’t flash up there, there was a really strong wind blowing towards the old scoreboard end,” Tymms said.

Bailey Mawson in action for Melton. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Some of the boys were having shots on goal from 25m out and it was blowing back further than where they were kicking it from.”

North’s Jamie Quick was best-on-ground with three goals from 24 disposals and nine marks.

Despite the scoreboard, Melton dominated the statistics with the three top ball-winners – Lachlan Watkins (31), Blake Souter (26) and Riley Walker (26).

Tymms was pleased with Souter’s output in defence and midfield.

“Blake’s had a really good month, we started him in defence and was probably our toughest player on the ground,” he said.

“We moved him into the middle in the last quarter, the ball wasn’t really going down that end with that wind, so we used him in the middle and he was a bull and got plenty of it.”

Melton will look to bounce back when it hosts Melton South at Macpherson Park in the local derby on Saturday.

The Bloods then have their final bye and a trip to Sunbury before a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash against East Point, which went down to Sebastopol in a surprise upset.

“That will be a big one, you’d think that would be the biggest test of the rest of our games,” Tymms said.

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“If we can get a win this week or the Sunbury game we might look at getting a few blokes cherry ripe for the end of the year or we’ll just keep going to keep form, we’ll see how the boys are feeling.

“I expected East to beat Sebas, it’s helped us in the end, but beware of Sebas – they were the ones I picked at the start of the year.

“Luke Kiel was back this week and got the best in his first game, (James) Kebble had COVID when we played them and they’ll get (James) Richards back by the end of the year, so they’re a worry.”

The Bloods remain 12 points clear on top of the ladder ahead of East Point and Ballarat, while North Ballarat leads a group of four teams all on 28 points in a fierce top-six battle.