Darley booked themselves into the 2023 BFNL football decider with a comprehensive win over North Ballarat, while the East Point wave continues following a third successive do-or-die victory!
Darley
def.
North Ballarat
The Devils have booked their place into a fourth BFNL Grand Final after a comprehensive 61-point win over North Ballarat in Saturday's Second Semi Final at Darley Park.
Dan Jordan's men led at every change to progress in arguably their most complete performance of the season.
Significant contributions ran deep through the Devils’ line-up, but it was key defender Matthew Brett and midfield combo Brett Bewley (two goals) and Luther Baker (one goal) that provided Brendan McCartney's near full strength line up their greatest headache.
While Brett was seemingly impenetrable with his intercept marking and spoiling, his highly efficient distribution by hand and foot capped a most disciplined best on ground performance.
Bewley, Baker and Matt Denham won the midfield battle while the returning Lucas Impey toiled in the ruck against Roosters big man Cam McCallum.
On the goal front, the Devils had 10 goalkickers and looked dangerous going forward for the most part despite the Roosters often throwing a number behind the ball.
The Devils simply had to find a way through the well-structured North Ballarat defence - and that they did.
Mace Cousins (leg) returned from a lengthy lay-off to finish with a game high three goals, all in the last quarter.
North Ballarat came to play, buoyed with the inclusions of Jack Riding, Jamie Quick, Ryan Hobbs and Harry Loader from their last home and away loss to the Devils but ultimately, they were no match for Jordan's frugal defence and thriving midfield.
Star playmaker Jamie Quick (one goal) was visually frustrated and well held while Jack Riding tried hard but couldn't shake the pressure of a disciplined Devils midfield to have his usual impact.
Ryan Hobbs, Isaac Lovisson and Josh Sparkman were the aerial beneficiaries of the plus one behind the ball and the occasional 'dump kick' forward from the Devils.
Near all of North Ballarat's best players named were defenders, highlighting weight of possession in their back half on a tough day at the office for McCartney's men who were (again) held to their lowest score of the season. Their previous lowest score come in Round 15 against Darley at the very same venue, 5.7.37.
McCartney will immediately shift the focus to Saturday's Preliminary Final at City Oval against wave riding East Point who they're yet to beat in their previous three meets.
Jordan on the other hand, will prepare his troops for a tilt at a premiership, just a second year in the making. The Devils previous BFNL flags came in 2015 and 2017.
STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE
Brett Bewley (Darley): 37 disposals, 9 score involvements, 7 tackles
Matthew Brett (Darley): 24 disposals, 12 marks, 11 intercept possessions
Ryan Hobbs (North Ballarat): 17 disposals, 9 intercept possessions, 8 rebound 50s
COACHES’ VERDICT
Dan Jordan (Darley): "(We) worked our way into the game and controlled the areas we needed to get the result. Still plenty of areas to work on in preparation for the ultimate challenge in two weeks."
Brendan McCartney (North Ballarat): "Not our best day but we kept having a crack. Darley played very well and deserved the win. We will have a good week of training and planning and bounce back. There is a lot of footy to be played yet."
Melton
def. by
East Point
Jackson Merrett's high-flying Kangaroos have claimed another big scalp en route to a Preliminary Final showdown after downing reigning premiers Melton by one-point in a thriller at City Oval.
Bloods’ co-captain Braedyn Kight kicked the last two goals of the game to get the defending champions within two points before one last snap on goal from the x-factor forward in the 35th minute was touched off the boot with a shot that was seemingly heading offline regardless.
Take a breath, Kangas’ fans.
The match was not dissimilar to the heights of a Rocky v Apollo heavyweight bout as the two sides went the distance toe-to-toe before the 'points decision' (scoreboard) progressed Merrett's young group for another week to face North Ballarat.
If the Kangas were to win a third premiership from the last (completed) four BFNL seasons they will need to win three finals in 13 days.
Big ask, but let's savour the moment that was Sunday's First Semi Final win - a game for the ages, and maybe the best we'll see for the year.
For the Kangaroos, dangerous forward trio Bryson McDougall (six goals), Strahan Robinson (three goals) and Jack Jeffrey (two goals) delivered for a second final in a row to combine for all bar two of their teams 13 goal haul.
The trio bagged nine of the team’s thirteen goals against Sebastopol the week previous.
Sure, McDougall was the star but it was Robinson's presence that put the broader competition on notice. The 16-year-old was the focal point deep forward out of the goal square raising the heart rates of both fans every time the ball went inside 50 for contrasting reason.
Robinson has the physicality and forward craft beyond his years and the Kangas went to him without reservation.
The confidence shown in the 10 gamer (20 goals) by his team mates is matched only by Robinson himself to deliver on the faith.
The number 30 is a dangerous, more than capable player with a big future and is likely to have a say in the Kangas’ chances this week.
One can't ignore the work rate providers for the Kangas forwards who were instrumental denying the Bloods a result that could have gone either way.
Kangas’ captain Matty Johnston was tireless and never far away from the action with (distribution) or without (pressure) the ball.
Johnston was the one constant, ably supported by Joe Dodd, Liam Canny and Jordy Taylor on the inside while youngster Max Filmer provided some much needed outside 'gut' run and carry.
The Bloods, despite a straight sets exit were gallant again, and should be proud of their four season (full) campaigns under Aaron Tymms that equated to a Runners Up (2018), Third (2019), Premiers (2022) and fourth, albeit Minor Premiers in 2023.
Despite losing just two games in the home and away season, there were 'more than gettable' signs compared to last year and that is in fact how their season played out.
Tymms record in charge of the Bloods ends with 63 wins and 22 losses (won 6/11 finals) @ 74%. Only Dan Jordan (Darley), albeit a smaller sample size, has a higher winning strike rate (27/36 @ 75%).
The Bloods went mighty close, did plenty right but will look back on their early third quarter dominance with six unanswered shots on goal that amounted to just 2.4.
Some rare poor decision making in their front half denied them potential greater returns. The club settled on Adrian Monitto, Tom Button, Liam Carter (one goal), Ben Archard and Kyle Borg as their best. You can add fearless Blake Souter in there somewhere.
STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE
Matt Johnston (East Point): 27 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 10 tackles
Bryson McDougall (East Point): 18 disposals, 10 score involvements, 6 marks
Ben Archard (Melton): 63 hit outs, 18 disposals, 8 marks
COACHES’ VERDICT
Aaron Tymms (Melton): "Disappointing result. The lads fought it out right to the very end, but our deficiencies were exposed for the third time in four weeks. A season I felt we never got to top gear."
Jackson Merrett (East Point): "Super proud of the boys ability to learn from our previous encounters against the benchmark of the past few seasons. They're a quality outfit and we knew they would come at us late. Thankfully, the siren went when it did."
