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Tristan Maple, Andrew Hooper, Fraser Perkins, Lewis Rinaldi and Paddy Simpson were the pick of the Swans against Darley.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere on Saturday, Sunbury came out on top in an arm wrestle against East Point at Clarke Oval.<\/p>\n
The Lions trailed at every break, including by two points at three-quarter-time, but were able to grind out a nine-point win on the back of a two-goal-to-nil final term.<\/p>\n
They were led by best on ground Jack Newitt, whose three goals proved crucial to the outcome.<\/p>\n
Lions coach Matthew White was pleased with the Lions’ resilience and fighting spirit.<\/p>\n
“It was a really good win in the end \u2013 a hard-fought win,” he said.<\/p>\n
“East really brought the pressure onto us and we were just able to fight our way through the whole game.<\/p>\n
“Jack (Newitt) kicking three from the midfield was a massive blessing for us.<\/p>\n
“We had some other guys step up. I thought Blake Walker was absolutely fantastic in his first real game of senior footy.<\/p>\n
“It was great to see him grasp the opportunity.<\/p>\n
“I’d love to have an easy win at some point this year, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.<\/p>\n
“We are going to have to keep battling our way through, but it was a great result to have a win like we did.”<\/p>\n
The Lions’ fourth win has them in sixth spot on the ladder at the halfway point of the home and away season, a game clear of Melton and East Point, which rode a three-game winning streak into Saturday’s clash.<\/p>\n
White believed his side had slowly worked itself into a good position.<\/p>\n
“We obviously had a lot of injuries this year, but the way we are playing, it’s starting to turn,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully we will continue that on for the rest of the year.”<\/p>\n
Deng Lual, Cooper Glenwright-McGuane, Joe Dodd, Jesse Cairns and Jacob Brown (four goals) were all prominent for East Point, which faces top side Sebastopol at Eastern Oval this Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Burra moved to 8-1 with a 40-point win over Bacchus Marsh, led by experienced hands Lachlan Cassidy, Luke Kiel and playing coach Tony Lockyer and gun recruits Joel Edwards and Felix Henderson.<\/p>\n
Ruckman Luke Goetz, Rye Penny, Cody Gates, Tarkyn Findlay, Sam Griffiths and captain Jack Parente led the way for the Cobras, who are fifth on the ladder at 5-4.<\/p>\n
At C.E. Brown Reserve, Jye Lockett booted four goals in North Ballarat’s 50-point win over Lake Wendouree.<\/p>\n
Josh Morris (two goals) was dominant for the Roosters, alongside Dom Penny, Samuel Artz, Elliott Lamb and Taj Bowman.<\/p>\n
Alfred Jarnestrom, Logan Clark (two goals), Corey Rich and Kyle Anderson toiled hard for the Lakers.<\/p>\n
At City Oval, Rory Gunsser, Nicholas Barker, Jacob Werts and Daniel Bond shone in Redan’s one-point win over Melton.<\/p>\n
It was the Lions’ second win of the season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DARLEY coach Dan Jordan has lauded a return to his side’s brand of football in a five-point victory over an in-form Ballarat last Saturday. The Devils had to dig deep on their home deck at Darley Park to hold off a fast-finishing Swans, who trailed by 43 points at half-time. A five-goal-to-two third term brought […]<\/p>\n