Persistent and dangerous Calder Cannons pushed their way within eight points, halfway through the final quarter in this TAC Cup under-18 clash at Eureka Stadium on Saturday. The Cannons were fighting to reinforce finals footing. North Ballarat Rebels needed to earn back winning momentum, after a loss in Morwell last week, and continue their bid for the minor premiership – two weeks out from finals.

Rebel Joel Cowan nailed a set shot from 50 metres about 20 minutes into the last term, then Matt Johnston and Yestin Eades added majors to the finishing buffer. The Rebels looked good to claim the win, just as they had in patches through the game. It was the patches in between that kept letting the Cannons work back in.

The Rebels had started strong and built a four-goal lead by quarter-time.

Rebels head coach David Loader said players started to stray from the game plan and how they wanted to play.

“I thought the boys had worked themselves into the game pretty well and then we probably just broke down. We broke down really with our entries inside-50 in the second quarter so we tried to address that as the game went on,” Loader said.

“It worked in patches so we had 10 minute blocks when we used the ball really well and probably 10 to 15-minute blocks when we went away from using it as well as we could. There’s still plenty of work to do, there’s no doubt about it, but to get a win, we’re happy with that, and Calder is a good competitive team.”

Lloyd Meek carried the Rebels’ ruck load, with the Rebels effectively down to one ruck, against a towering Cannons outfit. Meek worked hard and remained strong as play wore on.

Rebels’ leaders Darcy Tucker and Jacob Hopper set a sound, consistent tone and Matt Johnston continued his steady form. Hugh McCluggage was handy. Yestin Eades, back from a taste of Victorian Football League, was best on ground.

The Rebels sported 10 goal-kickers in a sharp multi-pronged attack that featured five players booting two goals apiece. This puts the Rebels in good stead leading into finals.

They have dropped three games this season, two to Geelong and one last week on the road against Gippsland, have secured a finals double-chance and are playing to lock in top spot.

The Rebels last captured the TAC Cup minor premiership in 2012, with three losses, in coach David Loader’s second year at the helm. 

They now prepare to host finals contender Oakleigh Chargers in the final home-and-away round at Eureka Stadium on Saturday. The match is a curtain-raiser to North Ballarat Roosters’ VFL season finale.