BFL Interleague Wrap: Courtesy of the Geelong Advertiser

THE Bellarine Football League will need to wait another year to begin its quest for respect at representative level after a final quarter blitz handed Murray a 39-point victory in Bendigo.

While the Bellarine squad was as talented as it has been for the past three seasons, the Sharks were no match for a rampant Murray side that executed with precision both by foot and by hand.

Despite being disappointed by the result, BFL coach Dave McNamara could not fault the commitment of his players.

"We came up here to win and we didn't get the job done. We had our chances and we didn't take them," he said.

Bellarine hit the ground running in the opening quarter, with Barwon Heads midfielder Jeremy Power and Bull Bennett Medallist Tom Limb controlling play through the centre of the ground.

For all their dominance in the opening stanza, the Sharks failed to convert on the scoreboard.

Four goals to two in the second quarter saw the Murray side claim the ascendancy heading into half time, with ex-Hawthorn and Geelong forward Tim Hargreaves looming as a dangerous option up in attack.

Bellarine's coaching panel was working overtime to hault Murray's momentum, with McNamara forced to contend with losing star forward Lucas Murphy to a hamstring injury midway through the term.

Murray's dominance continued in the third term as captain Duane Hueston and James Scambler caused headaches for an undersiege Bellarine defence.

But a goal to Anglesea forward Marcus Smith after the three-quarter time siren saw the BFL within eight points heading into the final term.

Forward coach Heath Jamieson implored the Bellarine side to take risks and utilise their run, but it was all to no avail as Murray's class shone through.

The Northern Victorian league ran rampant in the final quarter, booting seven goals to ice a deserved win that leaves the Bellarine's interleague reputation in question.

"The skills weren't really there and some of the marks that got dropped were almost unexplainable. It was just one of those days where we really didn't play to our ability," McNamara said.

The result means the league has now lost its last four interleague matches and has not won in the competition since 2007.

The Sharks will now face off against the Sunraysia Football League next year after slipping to 11th in the VCFL rankings.

Final Scores:

Murray FL 15.14 (104)

def

Bellarine FL 9.11 (65)

Murray FL

Goal Kickers: T. Hargreaves 3, D. Hueston 3, A. Grigg 2, L. James 2, J. Scambler 2, A. Douglas , C. Edmonston , J. Lucas
Best Players: T. Saunders, S. Robinson, K. Boyer, T. Hargreaves, R. Hudson, J. Lucas

Bellarine FL

Goal Kickers: J. Finch 3, M. Smith 2, L. Murphy , B. Lynch , C. Mamalis , E. Grout
Best Players: T. Limb, J. Power, B. Dowie, T. Edwards, J. Dalton, P. Davis