“THAT’S a finals warm-up.” With those words Darley coach Rod MacPherson hailed his team’s stirring away victory against Ballarat Football League contender North Ballarat City on Saturday.
The Devils first matched North City and then surged past their premiership rival on the way to a 9.11 (65) to 6.8 (44) win at Eureka Stadium.
In the process they moved into fourth position on the Ballarat Football League ladder, just 12 months after a winless, wooden-spoon season.
“It’s been interesting to see how quickly this team has rebounded from last year,” MacPherson said.
“We were 10 goals off the top teams at the start of the year, and then we’ve reduced that.
“And now we’ve beaten Sunbury and (North Ballarat) at their own grounds. Self belief is a commodity you can’t have too much of in footy.”
North City held a two-goal lead at the start of the last term, but given the strength of the wind favouring the Creswick Road end of the ground it was not enough. The Devils dominated, kicking five goals to seal victory.
– Gav McGrath, Ballarat Courier
