To win four premierships in a row at any level takes brilliance beyond measure.
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It was such brilliance that was on display from Redan in the last 40 minutes of the reserves grand final at Eastern Oval.
The Lions remarkably, after trailing by 20 points midway through the third term, piled on the last 14 goals of the match to romp to a 17.11 (113) to 6.13 (49) victory and their fourth premiership from as many years.
The Bloods looked in control for the majority of the match up until that point though, smothering Redan with high intensity tackling and countless pressure acts all over the ground.
The match began frantically, with both teams wasting golden opportunities in front of goal.
Redan held a slender lead at the first change but it didn’t last long, with Melton taking control of the second quarter to lead by 14 points at the main break.
After exchanging majors to begin the third though, a Tim Haase set shot from 30 metres out, one of his five goals for the match, kick-started an avalanche from the maroon and gold that had to be seen to be believed.
A ten-goal to none final term, inspired by the bullocking BFL best on ground trophy winner Scott Whiting, was added to the final four majors of the penultimate quarter to complete an unbelievable 84-point turnaround.
Geordie Lukich and Kyle MacKay joined Whiting, who also slotted four goals for the match, as the best players for Redan, with Haase’s five majors pivotal in the win.
For the Bloods, who seemed nothing more than witches hats in the last term, Harley Bongart and Tristan Batten performed serviceably while Daniel Walker booted three goals.
Redan coach Tom Jess noted after the match that it was the toughest game his side had endured throughout the finals series, despite the scoreboard certainly not indicating it.
“This was the most pushed we’ve been for the whole finals series,” he said.
“To be challenged like that and finish the way we did is how you want to win.”
The impressive feat puts Redan in the history books as without doubt the strongest reserves team since North Ballarat back in the 1990s.
The maroon and gold has now won five out of the last six premierships and six out of the last eight.
Saturday’s victory was made even more special given the players that were unavailable.
They were without Nick Willox, Liam Hunter, Jacob Short and Hayden Riley from the previous match, all ineligible due to playing too many finals games.
