In what loomed as a danger game for Sunbury, as Ballarat looked to get their season back on track after a big win last week, the Lions dominated most of the match to record a 19.12 (126) to 9.8 (62) victory.

The win could have been much larger though had the Lions converted early, dominating the first term for only a four-point lead at quarter time.

The second term saw Sunbury extend that lead; with midfielders Matthew Medcraft, Andrew Duhau and Jack Landt moving the ball well, but it was the defenders that thwarted Ballarat’s repeat thrusts forward.

It was a different story in the Lions’ forward half, with Jack Sheahan marking everything in sight on his way to seven majors for the match.

With Zachary Klippel and Jack Blackburn both done for the game with leg injuries, the Swans struggled to keep in touch in the last term, with Sunbury booting six goals to one to canter to a percentage-boosting, 64-point win.

For Ballarat, Liam Youl and Shane Hutchinson were workhorses in the middle all match, while Sam James and Zane Thompson kicked three goals each.

Sunbury coach Rick Horwood praised his side’s ability to win the hard ball.

“We wanted to lift our intensity (from last week) and win the contested footy,” he said.