Devils take swan dive

THE Ballarat Swans got it done on the road when it mattered most to hold off an inaccurate Darley Devils by eighteen 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 often had two or three to beat in the air yet somehow the Swans were able to win the ball at ground level.

Swans midfielder 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 players after the game and welcomed the return 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.

Darley 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 and on the road trip to Eastern Oval.

– BY TODD WHELAN