Round 5 Review

Round 5's highly anticipated top of the table clash between Melton and Ballarat ended in a fizzer as the Swans became the Bloods’ fifth victim - and Covid's first of the 2022 season - going down by 95 points.

Without taking anything away from Melton, the Swans' chances were reduced to slim at best after they were decimated at the selection table, losing up to 12 players due to health protocols (predominately), injury and unavailability. Just to name some of the missing Swans, consider getting the job done without Josh Gibson, Bailey Van Der Heuvel, Angus Bade, Daniel Kennedy, Andrew Hooper, Keegan Mellington, Will Garner and Marcus Powling.

According to Swans coach Joe Carmody, up to 10 of the absentees will be available for selection in next week's important trip to Eastern Oval.

In positive news, Melton continued on their merry way, undefeated on top of the McDonald’s Ballarat Senior Men’s ladder. Liam Carter (2 goals) was clearly best on ground, while Jack Walker, Braeden Kight (3 goals) and a returning Brett McIntyre were significant in what Bloods coach Aaron Tymms described as "a very professional effort with 22 contributors”. Leading goalkicker Ryan Carter finished with 4.4. Whilst undermanned, Carmody conceded, "Melton were very good and would be hard to beat anyway." Full respect.

Melton are at home this Saturday for a meeting with North Ballarat who will be on the rebound. Should be a cracker!

The Devils booted six unanswered goals midway through the second half to reel in a 20-point Lions lead and hang on in a thriller. The result was considered an eight-point game for these two sides, eyeing off a slim chance of creeping into the final six at the business end of the season.

While Darley pinched their third win under new Coach Dan Jordan, it's back to the drawing board for Travis Hodgson's Sunbury, who are languishing at 0-4 at the bottom of the table.

Devils’ midfielder Brett Bewley was in a class of his own and undeniably the most influential player on the ground. Chatting to Hodgson in the aftermath, he went on the record saying, "Bewley was the difference."

Sunbury had every reason to be confident heading in, buoyed by the inclusions of three VFL affiliated players in Cooper Anderson (Essendon), Jake Sutton (Essendon) and Mitch Lewis (Port Melbourne). Anderson (2 goals) threatened to take the game away from Darley with his vertical leap forward, but could only cling to a handful of marks from double-figure attempts. Sutton was the most dangerous forward on the ground but his high natured accumulation saw him too far from goal to impact the scoreboard. Lewis was handy on a wing first-up off a four-week hamstring.

For the winners, Shane Page was terrific and youngsters Mitch Ward and Ayden Tanner were important. Nick Rodda's task was made difficult with errant supply for the most part before finishing with two goals, including five shots on goal in the last quarter. Dylan Landt (Essendon VFL affiliate) had his first hit-out in Darley colours against his old club and was instrumental with 30-odd disposals, 95 per cent of them by foot.

The Cobras set up a crucial 10-point win on the road against the Lions with a seven goals to two opening half. The 32-point advantage proved a bridge too far for Jarret Giampaolo's men who fell short for the second week in a row on their home deck.

Harry King was named best for the winners along with former Henderson Medalist Daniel Burton. Off-season arrivals Michael Culliver, Jack Williams and Rex Hickman are stringing together an important stretch of good form with each having an impact in all three of the Cobras’ wins in  2022. Jake Owen (2 goals) remains the number one assignment for opposition clubs to contain. The popular leader's contribution was significant in yet another tight finish. Cobras forward Aaron Willetts did not play.

While Redan midfield gun Lachie George (3 goals) was important, they clearly missed the drive and distribution of Cooper Craig-Peters. The Lions are clearly a different proposition with him in. The club, while wanting only the best for him, will sweat on the Footscray VFL affiliate's availability ahead of their clash with Darley, a Lions' third home game in a row.

Redan sharpshooter Isaac Grant was named among the better players despite a goalless return, while Cooper Atchison’s and Declan Phillips’ run of good form continues.

While the scoreboard tells a story of a Lions charge in the second half, the Cobras did themselves little favours with an inaccurate 2.8, but they had done enough when it counted to secure the Premiership points.

X-factor outfit East Point won the shoot-out at Melton Rec Reserve, downing Heath Pritchard's spirited Panthers by 39 points. The entertaining 37-goal game surpassed the rest of the round five matches (21, 19, 17, 10) comfortably, reminiscent of their 2021 clash that yielded 39 goals. But this edition did not resemble East Point’s one-sided 84 point win in ‘21  by any stretch, in fact, the underdog Panthers were in this game up to their necks but they just couldn't contain Kangas star forward Jordy Johnston, who finished with 8 match-winning goals.

According to Pritchard, the Panthers had their chances but their inability to generate scoreboard pressure despite ample opportunity deserted them. Costly turnovers would play a role too but that is to be expected with such a young group. To put the scoreboard pressure into perspective, the Panthers’ 6.11 to the Kangas' 9.5 first half validates Pritchard’s frustrations.

The Panthers kicked the opening two goals of the third term to draw level but missed a chance to ahead with a third opportunity. The talented Kangas were always going to have their fair share of momentum, their accurate 22 goal return and 33 scoring shots will attest to that.

Pritchard said Matty Johnston, Liam Canny and Thomas Brown provided his boys with the greatest headaches. In form Panthers’ quartet Shaun Wyatt, Dylan Jones, Cody Chapman and Jake Thornton-Gielen featured among the best once again while Pritchard praised the efforts of John Kovarik for his negating role on dangerous left foot midfielder Joe Dodd.

Kangas coach Jake Bridges will be happy banking the points that see them sitting at 2-2 with a game in hand on Melton (1st), North Ballarat (2nd), Ballarat (4th) and Darley (5th) above them.

The emphatic nature of the 'Burras 35-point upset win over the Roosters would have surprised a few, including some of their own at the weekend. Still missing arguably 6 or 7 of their best 12, the backs to the wall 'Burra kept the '21 Minor Premiers goalless for three quarters (0.9) to stun those who were watching what transpired. It was 36 to no score at quarter time - unbelievable!

Tony Lockyer was 'outstanding' for the winners while James Keeble's four goals in a game that yielded just 10, on the whole, were priceless. Chase Dummett and Ben Trew were important while 17-year old Tommy Mitchell 'showed plenty'.

According to Roosters coach Brendan McCartney, "Sebastopol were very good in all areas of the game," conceding that his boys "didn't play their best". According to Macca, with more work, "we will keep getting better."   

'Burras coach Michael Searl was obviously up and about on the back of his club’s first home win of the season. "It was a terrific performance from our entire group," he said. Searl was especially impressed with the nature of the win, the way his boys denied his more fancied rivals the game on their terms.

"We completely strangled their movement and forced them down the line," he said. "Our pressure was relentless."

Nobody could deny the 'Burra a reason to celebrate after an indifferent start to a year soured by injuries to key players. North Ballarat had a couple of outs their own. Two of the 'North Four' Thomas Hotchin and Jamie Quick missed, while VFL affiliates Sam Glover and Josh Chatfield were unavailable.

Sebastopol will savour the bye this week, while North Ballarat get another timely footy audit' against Melton ahead of their bye in round seven.