While the best of the best chase finals glory, some Melton football clubs are already looking ahead to next year. Star Weekly sports reporter Liam Twomey takes a look at why these sides missed finals, and what they want to do about it.
Bacchus Marsh (BFL)
Finished: Seventh
Record: 8-8
How the season panned out:
With two rounds to go in the Ballarat Football League season, it looked like Bacchus Marsh was up for finals action. The equation was simple – beat competition strugglers Ballarat and Sebastopol, and the sixth spot on the ladder would be theirs. But things turned pear-shaped in round 17 when the Cobras suffered a horror loss to the Swans. After holding a four-point lead at quarter-time, Bacchus Marsh gave up 14 goals across the next three quarters to lose by a whopping 53 points. The result proved costly – the Cobras missed the finals on percentage to rival Sunbury.
Looking ahead:
The off-season will be a busy one for Bacchus Marsh, which is on the hunt for a new coach. Cameron Richardson steps down after two years in charge and it’s unclear whether he will stay on at the club in a playing capacity. Speaking towards the end of the BFL season, Bacchus Marsh football manager Steve Denham said the key for the club was closing the gap between its best and worst. “We can only get better by playing those top sides,” Denham said. “We know where the competition is at and we know where we have to get to. We need to try to bridge that gap over the next couple of weeks and over summer.”
Melton (BFL)
Finished: Ninth
Record: 3-12-1
How the season panned out:
Momentum is everything in sport and, had a few things gone their way, the Bloods would have enjoyed an entirely different 2015 season. The drag on confidence started in round one with a draw against local rival Melton South. The Bloods then went on to lose to Bacchus Marsh by a sole point then to Sebastopol by four points. Had those results fallen the club’s way, the Bloods would have been in finals contention. But Melton was on the wrong end of every tight finish this year, and lost touch with the top six by the season’s halfway point.
Looking ahead:
It was a busy season for Melton coach Brad Murphy, who was battling an Achilles injury throughout the year. He has also had to weigh up his coaching future, with his contract up at the end of the season. After originally announcing he would step down from the role, Murphy backflipped on his decision and will now lead the Bloods into 2016. The club has already turned its attention to recruiting players.
Melton South (BFL)
Finished: 10th …
Record: 2-13-1
How the season panned out:
Melton South went into the season knowing this would be a year of rebuilding and, as such, was out of the finals race early. The club’s two wins both came against bottom-of-the-table Sebastopol. The other highlight for the Panthers was in round one when they played arguably their best match of the season against rivals Melton. Despite going into the match as underdogs, Melton South was moments away from causing a major upset. It wasn’t until a behind in the final seconds that the match finished in a draw.
Looking ahead:
Melton South will continue to throw its support behind its youth policy next year. Club president Peter Earl is hoping the Panthers will have a better run with injuries, which will help them push back up the ladder. Earl said some of their losses had happened in the final moments of games. “We’ve been right in it for three quarters,” he said.” I assume that next year we will finish three or four games higher than this year. That will create a bit more of a buzz around the place, and we can continue to grow naturally. It will only take us to get a couple of those big guys back, and then the younger guys will get a little bit more competitive.”
Rockbank (RDFL)
Finished: 11th
Record: 2-14
How the season panned out:
After making finals in 2014, it has been a tough season for Rockbank. A combination of opposition sides being ready for the Rams and a number of key players not returning to the club left it out of the finals race early in the season. The club did show signs of its best, with wins against Melton Centrals and Kilmore in the season’s second half.
Looking ahead:
While the end results didn’t reflect expectations, the Rams are happy with first-year head coach Gavin Sporle. Rockbank club president Mark Smith described Sporle as a great operator, and he’s confident he will lead the club back up the ladder. “Gav has been great. He’s doing more than what he should be doing … coaching, team managing, sorting jumpers out before the game and working with personnel,” Smith said. “We’re rapt with the hard work he has put into the club.”
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Melton Centrals
Finished: 12th
Record: 2-14
How the season panned out:
Like a number of their local rivals, the Centrals knew this year would be focused on development. That didn’t stop the young side from giving its supporters a glimpse into the future, with a brilliant round one win against last year’s finalists Rockbank. After that, wins were hard to come by, with the Centrals registering just one more for the season, which came against Kilmore in round seven.
Looking ahead:
It will be a combination of youth and experience for the Centrals going into 2016. Head coach Glenn Hopkins was rapt to be able to play 11 players from the club’s under-18s side in the seniors during the season, and he believes they will only improve. He’s keen to add some more experienced players to the group as well, players who will be able to help the club’s rising stars take that crucial next step.
