The Courier |
A RAMPAGING nine-goal third quarter from Darley proved the difference at Darley Park on Saturday as the Devils notched up their third win of the Ballarat Football League season.
DARLEY 19.17 (131)
MELTON SOUTH 12.5 (77)
In a match that was under the microscope more than usual due to the debut of former Collingwood star Shane O'Bree, the Devils piled on nine goals, including four after the 30-minute mark of the third term, to virtually secure the result at the final break.
The Panthers gave a yelp at the start of the last quarter when coach Matthew Sutton slotted his third of the day.
But a breathtaking boundary line goal from Darley's Travis Minns doused any hope of a comeback and sent out the message that the day would belong to the home side.
In a courageous display, Darley went on to win 19.17 (131) to Melton South 12.5 (77).
The Devils' win however was soured by a potentially season-ending injury to co-captain Brad Inglis.
Inglis was one of Darley's better players when he went down with a nasty ankle injury in the third quarter and was stretchered off the ground.
The injury could very well have halted Darley's momentum, as the team was left without a player on the bench soon after when O'Bree succumbed to a hamstring strain, but it held strong against the breeze in the final term to win by 54 points.
Coach Rod MacPherson said the club's depth would now be well and truly tested, with a number of key players on the sidelines.
He made no reservations in calling for some extra commitment from his reserve troops in the coming weeks.
"It allows us to blood a few twos guys who I know are up to it, but their commitment's not up to it. Their application to their footy, well it needs to change very quickly in the next three or four weeks because they have to step up," MacPherson said.
There were, however, a number of key Darley contributors throughout the match that grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, when the chips were well and truly down.
Shane Page was dominant in the second half, booting three goals in the third quarter and running rampant across half forward.
