BFL
Redan 23.10 (148) d East Point 15.10 (100)
REDAN is grand final bound again after an eight goal preliminary final victory over East Point, on Saturday at Eastern Oval.
The Lions gradually but almost inevitably worked their way ahead of the Kangaroos, eventually triumphing 23.10 (148) to 15.10 (100).
The results sets up a rematch of last season's grand finalists, with Redan to take on Sunbury.Despite a lopsided injury list, East Point made a bold start.
In a free flowing and high scoring opening term, with little contact, the Kangaroos led the reigning premier by five points at the first change.As the game slowed down, Redan began to take control.
Grant Bell kicked three goals in the second term as the Lions edged ahead by a couple of goals.
Bereft of three key players at the start of the game, East Point's luck got worse when Alex Bartlett (knocked out) and Matthew Bilton (hip) were injured.
In the third quarter it was Damien Horbury's turn to play an important cameo, kicking four goals in an 18-minute period. The margin at the final chage was five goals.
If there was the faintest flame of an East Point revival, it was snuffed out by four Redan goals in a row to start the final quarter. East Point playing coach Dan Jordan, who started in the backline, kicked two late goals to limit the extent of the margin.
Darley bundled North Ballarat City out in the reserves football 12.13 (85) to 10.10 (70), while Bacchus Marsh did the same in the under-18.5s, 15.5 (95) to North Ballarat City's 8.4 (52).
In senior netball Lake Wendouree defeated East Point in a thriller 49-48, while the reserves netball went into overtime before Redan defeated East Point 35-33.