SEBASTOPOL and North Ballarat are on course for a top two showdown in a week’s time after the Burra stunned reigning premier Darley for a 22-point win at Marty Busch Reserve on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Burra fought back from a 10-point three-quarter time deficit to overrun the Devils for a stirring 15.12 (102) to 12.8 (80) victory.<\/p>\n
It was the Devils’ second defeat in three weeks after their 23-game winning streak was ended by Melton in round 4, dropping them to fourth on the ladder.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Burra have joined North Ballarat (top) and Ballarat (third) on 6-1 in second place.<\/p>\n
Keen to keep a lid on things, Burra playing coach Tony Lockyer said it was nevertheless pleasing to show what they were capable of against ‘quality opposition’ following a poor effort the previous week against Sunbury.<\/p>\n
“You are always going to get a good contest against Darley and that’s how it was today (Saturday) \u2026 it was fierce but fair,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We were fortunate to get the outcome we did.<\/p>\n
“I’m super proud of the boys for bouncing back from a disappointing day last week.<\/p>\n
“It was a bit of a reality check for us \u2013 some bad habits had crept back in over the last month.<\/p>\n
“We really couldn’t have played any worse, but Sunbury came out of the blocks firing.<\/p>\n
“All credit to them; they put some heat on us and we were way off the mark.<\/p>\n
“In this comp, if you have a bad day, you are not going to win a game of footy.”<\/p>\n
In sparkling form early in the contest, Lockyer conceded it would have been disappointing for the Burra to undo their good early work against the Devils.<\/p>\n
They led by 23 points at quarter time and 11 at half-time, before the Devils rallied with a five-goal to one third quarter to take the ascendancy into the last.<\/p>\n
“Even the start of the last quarter probably went Darley’s way, but we just responded really well,” he said.<\/p>\n
“It might have even been 16 points their way half-way through the last, but we lifted and willed ourselves over the line.<\/p>\n
“It’s great for the group’s belief.”<\/p>\n
The Burra were led by experienced hands in Luke Kiel, Toby Hutt, Lachlan Cassidy, Bailey Medwell, Ben Hutt and Lockyer.<\/p>\n
“Kiely had a role with (Brett) Bewley to minimise his impact, but as we know, it’s impossible to rule out his impact; he’s such a great player,” Lockyer said.<\/p>\n
“But Kiely did a good job.<\/p>\n
“And Toby Hutt just continued the brilliant form he’s been in over the last six weeks and kicked a couple (three) of pivotal goals.”<\/p>\n
Adam Forbes was lively also and finished with three goals.<\/p>\n
For Darley, Jayven Tanner shone with four goals, while Nick Hind was his usual busy self.<\/p>\n
Joel Cadman, Michael Edwards, Lachlan George and Duncan Cadman were similarly prominent.<\/p>\n
The Devils again showed patches of their brilliant best, particularly during the third quarter, but were in the end overrun by a Burra team high on belief and confidence.<\/p>\n
With a third of the home and away season done and dusted, Lockyer could not be happier with how the Burra are progressing.<\/p>\n
Albeit, in the knowledge there is still much to be done if they are to realise their finals aspirations.<\/p>\n
“If you had said at the start of the year we’d be 5-1 going into the bye, I would have taken it every day of the week,” he said.<\/p>\n
“In a competition like this that is so strong, we’ll absolutely take it.<\/p>\n
“We were extremely disappointed against Sunbury \u2026 it was a poor performance.<\/p>\n
“But in the overall scheme of things I’m really happy with the start and looking forward to a big game against North Ballarat.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
SEBASTOPOL and North Ballarat are on course for a top two showdown in a week’s time after the Burra stunned reigning premier Darley for a 22-point win at Marty Busch Reserve on Saturday. The Burra fought back from a 10-point three-quarter time deficit to overrun the Devils for a stirring 15.12 (102) to 12.8 (80) […]<\/p>\n