Devils flick the switch

By Todd Whelan

Darley piled on 15 unanswered goals in the second half to runaway 111-point winners over the Lakers last Saturday.

Reigning Henderson Medallist Brett Bewley starred with a game high four goals to head a list of 12 contributors on the goal front for the rampant Devils.

The win elevates Dan Jordan’s men into third place on the BFNL table with four rounds of the home and away season remaining.

Despite the emphatic nature of the Devils tenth win in 12 games, the performance was shy of “complete”.

Breezy conditions could be laid only part blame for an underwhelming first half that saw both sides struggle to execute the basic fundamentals. But for all of the Devils ball use frustrations, it was their errant ways in front of goal that had Jordan and his support staff scratching their heads. A 6.10 first half return for the (now) third placed Devils against an undermanned, one win, Lakers was simply not good enough.

In a rare sight at the main break the Devils playing majority were made to stay out on the ground and work on their goalkicking.

After an ‘adjustment’ period of sorts that saw the Devils’ inaccuracies blow out to 8.14 midway through the third term, a major change in the Devils fortunes unfolded.

As if it were a ‘flick of the switch’, Jordan’s army went from ‘average Joes’ to GI Joes, and boy, did they put on a show.

The Devils raised the bar tenfold resembling more of the version that thrashed Sunbury and overcame reigning Premiers Melton in the first half of the season.

The hosts were merciless over a 30-minute period with their run and carry, raising a brow or two converting with newfound accuracy adding 11 goals in the last quarter, while restricting the visitors to just one behind.

Bewley aside there were many contributors for the winners with their degrees of impact maturing the further the game went.

Matt Denham (two goals) and Shane Page (two goals) were solid again while Billy Myers and Luther Baker made critical progress on their returns from injury.

Defender Zane Lehuray was sound and disciplined in his role to warrant a mention as was Will Johnson (three goals) whose versatility is proving a real asset among the Devils arsenal.

Plenty had their share, the numbers will tell you, with varying levels of efficiency.

We learnt from Saturday that Darley’s best is as good as any. Just how often we’re privy to that version will surely seal their fate.

What the coaches said
Jordan (Darley) – “Happy with our effort to build into the game and finish off strongly. Credit to the Lakers who challenged us for three quarters. We stuck to our process and eventually clicked. Pleasing win.”
Shearer (Lakers) – “Pleased with our first three quarters today. Very disappointed with the final quarter and margin.”

FINAL SCORE
Darley 21.17-143 def Lake Wendouree 4.8-32

Darley (Whelan’s Best) – B. Bewley, M. Denham, S. Page, B. Myers, Z. Lehuray, W. Johnson , L. Baker, J. Cadman
Darley (Goals) – B. Bewley 4, W. Johnson 3, S. Page 2, M. Denham, D. Bishop, D. Leonard, L. Spiteri 1, Ad. Azzopardi, J. Cadman, B. Colley, R. Matricardi, B. Myers.