Page 24 The Moorabool News – 31 May, 2022
Sport
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Photos - Tim Saultry / sportingherald.com.au
Devils swan dive By Todd Whelan Round 7 – Darley v Ballarat The Ballarat Swans ‘got it done’ on the road when it mattered most to hold off an inaccurate Devils team by 18 points at Darley Park last Saturday. The win was thoroughly deserved and just reward for the Swans superior work rate and ability to outnumber the Devils at the contest, especially in defence. Devils key forward Nick Rodda (3.7) often had two or three to beat in the air yet somehow the Swans were able to win the ball at ground level. Swans mid Aiden Domic was damaging with his outside run, Nick Weightman influential with his drive off half back and Captain Sam James important with his work around stoppage. Coach Joe Carmody praised his boys post and welcomed the return back to the winners list. “Our ball movement was very good, and our pressure and tackling were at a high standard,” he said. For the Devils, Duncan Cadman and Shane Page battled like warriors while Brett Bewley despite much attention is clearly a class above. Coach Dan Jordan is not one to explore the ‘could of’, ‘would of’, should of’s, despite processing eight consecutive behinds from midway through the second quarter until late in the third. “Sure, we didn’t take our chances, but there’s plenty more we’ll learn from the game,” he said. “We’re a young group, seven rounds in and tracking in the right direction.” While the round eight bye is timely for the Devils, their next hit out isn’t until June 18 - a road trip to East Point. The challenge for the returning young list will be to hit the ground running given the club has won just one ‘first quarter’ in 2022.
WHAT THE COACHES SAID Where was the game was won and lost? JORDAN (Darley) - While we had our chances, we were beaten on the spread. Full credit to Ballarat. CARMODY (Ballarat) - Our ball movement was very good and our pressure and tackling was at a high standard. Rate your ‘forwards’ performance JORDAN - Nick Rodda was good, 10 shots on goal, competed hard. The rest, we have some work to do. CARMODY - Looked dangerous for the first 3 quarters. Rate your ‘midfielders’ performance JORDAN - Brett Bewley was better than serviceable, Shane Page tried hard when we threw him in there and we got something from Andy Azzopardi who was in and out of the game. CARMODY - Had a much improved performance than last weeks game v East Point. Rate your ‘defenders’ performance JORDAN - Solid. Duncan Cadman was very good, Mace Cousins gave us some drive off half back and Mitch Ward battled hard with this task on Andrew Hooper. They were let done on occasions by a lack of pressure from our mids, that made supply entry easier for them. Losing Trent Angwin (calf) in the warm up didn’t help. CARMODY - Were very good for three quarters. Angus Bade competed well against Nick Rodda. FINAL SCORES: Darley - 1.1-7, 4.5-29, 5.12-42, 9.19-73 lost Ballarat - 4.2-26, 7.4-46, 11.6-72, 14.7-91. BEST: Darley - D. Cadman, B. Bewley, N. Rodda, S. Page, M. Cousins, B. Young. GOALS Darley - N. Rodda 3, A. Azzopardi 2, J. Cadman 1, D. Bishop, M. Cousins, L. Spiteri. DON’T MISS “THE PRESSER’’ - LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM 8PM. LISTEN TO APPPLE 98.5FM OR STREAM LIVE www.apple985fm.com.au
East get the hop on Cobras By Todd Whelan Round 7 – Bacchus Marsh v East Point The Kangas stormed back into second place on the BFNL ladder with a convincing 47 point win over the Cobras at Eastern Oval on Saturday. The 2018/19 Premiers put the game to bed early, opening up a 27 point lead at the first change. Jordy Johnston (5 goals) was the star of the show yet again, taking his tally to 21 goals from his last five games while marquee recruit Jackson Merrett was named best afield. Midfielders Mickitja Rottumah-Onus and Joe Dodd won more than their fair share of the ball through the midfield to aid the supply of Johnston, Bryce McDougall (2 goals) and impressive young talent Jack Jeffrey (2 goals). Kangas coach Jake Bridges said it was a “four quarter effort with plenty of evidence around our trademarks and opportunities for growth.” Cobras forward Aaron Willetts (4 goals) returned from a hip complaint confirming his importance to the line up to be named among the best with newcomer Sam Crea and defender Simon LaFranchi. Dangerous forward Jake Owen
finished with two goals and continued with his terrific run of consistency. Coach Tom German conceded his boys were made to work hard for their goals while a skillful East Point took their opportunities. The Cobras sit percentage outside the top six and face North Ballarat at Mars Stadium this Saturday. *Don’t miss any of the action Saturday LIVE on radio Apple 98.5FM from 2pm. WHAT THE COACHES SAID Where was the game was won and lost? GERMAN (B/Marsh) - East Point were well skilled and took their opportunities. We had to work hard for our goals and just didn’t take advantage of a dominant passage in the second (quarter). Rate your ‘forwards’ performance GERMAN - Aaron Willetts was a welcomed inclusion and played well. Had really good supply in the second quarter and just didn’t take advantage of it. That doesn’t just sit with the forwards though.
Rate your ‘midfielders’ performance GERMAN - They got us in the centre but we went okay around the ground. We spread well but they are well balanced and got us at times. Rate your ‘defenders’ performance GERMAN - Went better as the game went on but had quick supply in the first quarter to defend. We’d lost two defenders by midway through the third quarter. Overall... BRIDGES (East Point) - Solid four quarter effort, displaying plenty of evidence around our trademarks and opportunities for growth. FINAL SCORES: East Point - 6.5-41, 8.7-55, 12.11-83, 17.13115 def Bacchus Marsh - 2.2-14, 3.3-21, 5.6-36, 10.8-68. BEST: B/Marsh - S. Crea, A. Willetts, S. LaFranchi, T. German, J. Owen, R. Stuhldrier. GOALS: B/Marsh - A. Willetts 4, J. Owen 2, R. Hickman, H. King 1, T. German. DON’T MISS “THE PRESSER’’ - LIVE EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM 8PM. LISTEN TO APPPLE 98.5FM OR STREAM LIVE www.apple985fm.com.au