Poor kicking could cost Cobras

Bacchus Marsh 8.15 (63) defeated by Melton 13.11 (89)

ANOTHER bad day in front of the big sticks, particularly from powerful forward duo Jake Owen and Aaron Willitts, has cost Bacchus Marsh against the second placed Melton Bloods in round 11 of the McDonalds Ballarat Football League.

Owen and Willitts combined for six of the Cobra goals for the afternoon, but the eight behinds they also registered was the telling point of the game, missing very gettable opportunities that was ultimately the difference in the 26-point loss.

At the other end of the field, it was the ever-accurate Carter brothers who combined for five majors with their ‘adoptive’ forward brethren, team captain Braedan Kight, kicking three of Melton’s first five goals.

It was a beautiful sunny day at Maddingly Park with the league playing its first official game in front of no spectators due to the latest COVID 19 restrictions.

This didn’t dower the atmosphere of this great Eastern Bloc clash, with the win confirming Melton as a top two finisher in season 2021.

The Cobras could only manage two goals in the opening half with their eight behinds allowing the Bloods a 31-point half time lead.

Melton made it a game high 49-point margin midway through the third term off the terrific work in defence from Blake Souter who stopped any forward entry in his direction.

Speedster Jack Walker is an outside fancy for this year’s Henderson Medal and put in again another arguable best on ground performance only for his greatest competition for that award this year, Dan Burton, asserting his dominance to lead a Cobra comeback.

Five unanswered goals from the Marsh got it to within 12-points at the 25-minute mark of the final term, but then Lachie Walker broke Cobra hearts and put the game beyond doubt, and ending Bacchus Marsh’s undefeated run at home in 2021.

With a bye next week, Bacchus Marsh will remain outside the top six in the with the equation simple, they now must win their remaining two games to make the post-season.