EAST POINT 12.9 (81) to SUNBURY 10.17 (77)
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By David Brehaut
EAST Point coach Glenn Wilkins is bullish about the Kangaroos’ finals prospects in the Ballarat Football League despite an indifferent record.
He is convinced East Point is capable of matching it with the best on its day.
This is a big call given the hot and cold nature of the Kangaroos’ season, but he had every reason to put his players back on a pedestal after a four-point win over Sunbury on Saturday – 12.9 (81) to 10.17 (77).
East Point has hardly had a year to boast about after starting with high expectations. This was only its fourth win in nine games, but curiously two of those successes have been against teams vying for a top two finish – Bacchus Marsh and now Sunbury.
The Kangaroos have a long way to go before even thinking about locking in a finals berth. They have moved into the top six for only the second time this season and sit sixth – level on points with Darley (seventh) and Melton (eighth).
Right now sixth is the only finals spot up for grabs for this trio, with a two-game break to the next four teams above them in Bacchus Marsh, North Ballarat City, Sunbury and Redan.
What East Point did show against Sunbury is what it can produce when it needs to and it certainly did have its back to the wall after a forgettable 80-point loss to Lake Wendouree the previous week.
Wilkins said as impressive as the unbeaten Lakers were on the day and as well as they were travelling, there was no way they were an 80-point better team than East Point.
Wilkins said the preparation for the Sunbury trip had been all about improving effort and attitude.
“It’s not rocket science. It’s all about having a crack and that’s exactly what we did.”
He said it had needed and taken a total team performance to get over Sunbury, which was always hard to beat – especially at home.
Wilkins said the match had also highlighted East Point’s depth – an essential if it was to play finals – with seven changes and nine players under 19 years of age.
Sunbury on the other hand not only lost the game, but a chance to stay a game clear in second position.
For the Lions it was the game which got away.
Also eager to get back in winning form after losing to the Lakers before a bye, Sunbury had just the start it needed with a four-goal opening term to lead by 17 points.
The Kangaroos began chipping away at this in the second quarter, but it was still the Lions by two goals.
East Point’s big surge came in the third, with the likes of Drew Murphy and Ben Lusby being major figures in a five-goal burst to assume the lead.
Each had its chances in the last 30 minutes, with Sunbury adding 1.5 and East Point 1.4, but the latter was just enough.
Premier ruckmen Paul Koderenko (East Point) and David Kovacevic (Sunbury) provided one of the highlights of the day with an absorbing duel.
East Point has no time to rest in a make or break run. It now faces Darley at the Eastern Oval with sixth position up for grabs before meeting Lake Wendouree, Bacchus Marsh and North Ballarat City.
Sunbury’s season does not get it any easier either with North Ballarat City next.
DARLEY 13.10 (88) d MELTON 9.9 (63)
by Tyler Maher
DARLEY survived a late scare to hold off Melton in the Ballarat Football League at Darley Park and keep its season well and truly alive.
The Devils took the game by 25 points and is now back to with percentage of being in the top six and locked in a three-way battle with Melton and East Point for sixth.
The win is all the more important when you take into account Darley’s run home.
The Devils play every team in the top six in the seven remaining matches.
Darley took a while to shrug off a determined Melton, but by half-time it was coasting – thanks largely to the dominance of Rhys Ellis, Ryan Closter and Darren Leonard.
The trio put on an overhead marking clinic in increasingly greasy conditions, snagging almost everything that went their way. What they did not snatch Darley’s runners, led by Steve Kennedy and Luke Delahey, mopped up with precision and poise.
It was a different Melton which emerged after the main break though.
With Ryan Davis and Jack Walker leading the charge, the Bloods reduced a 45-point deficit to eight points with a seven-goal to one term. Darley steadied late though to keep Melton at bay.
Dane Grenfell finished with four goals for Darley, while for the Bloods Braedan Kight was lively and booted two.
Darley coach Jarrod Edwards was pleased with the win, but recognises that the gap between his side’s best and worst football is still something that needs to be addressed.
He praised his forward pack after the match, who stood up well in what became tricky conditions as a light drizzle set in throughout the day.
Melton’s Brad Murphy was buoyed by his charge’s fight back, but was clearly disappointed they were not able to get the job done in a match Melton went into with a high level of confidence.
Darley starts its devilish tough run home against what will be an upbeat East Point at the Eastern Oval.
Melton faces the undefeated Lake Wendouree.
NORTH BALLARAT CITY 17.11 (113) d BALLARAT 8.13 (61)
by Michael Hankin
North Ballarat City once again gave a timely reminder it is still a force to be reckoned with in the Ballarat Football League by disposing of a gallant Ballarat by 52 points Alfredton on Saturday.
While City increased its lead at every change, it took until the last term to put the polish on the victory,.
Ever dangerous forward Derrick Micallef, Simon McCartin and Nathan Olver all played impressive roles for last year’s runner-up.
For Ballarat, the effort and intensity it instilled on the contest was not represented in the final score.
City coach Jordyn Burke and his Ballarat counterpart Ash Baker each touched on the impressive passages of play that the young Swans were able to put together at times.
With Tom Stapleton and Daniel Kennedy continuing to impress, much of the Ballarat hype surrounded younger players such as Tyler Constable and Will Garner, who continue to lead the way for a wad of young talent making their way into the side.
When it came down to the crunch though, it was the class of North Ballarat City which proved the difference.
The back defensive six for the Northies all played prominent roles, with Ryan Luke and Daniel Jones among the stand-outs.
Burke heaped praise on the opposition, adding that it was a positive sign that his side could still win by a margin like that against an impressive opponent.
“When we were clean with the footy we looked really good.
“We were able at times to stop Ballarat’s run and force them to go down the line which was a key factor.
“Our back six stood up to get us out of trouble at times, but our ball usage was the major factor,” he said.
It was a step in the right direction for Ballarat.
“We still had our little lapses where they were able to score goals in bursts, but our effort over four quarters was clearly better than previous weeks,” Baker said.
“It’s just about trying to get more strong patches on a more consistent basis.
“There are a lot of guys who haven’t played much senior footy and they are continuing to learn and develop which is pleasing,” he said.
The Swans will get an opportunity to build on this effort in another home match against Melton South next round.
North Ballarat City faces a big test against a wounded Sunbury at Eureka Stadium.
LAKE WENDOUREE 19.13 (129) d MELTON SOUTH 9.14 (68)
LAKE Wendouree was expected to defeat Melton South in the Ballarat Football League at Melton on Saturday.
And this is just the way it panned out with the unbeaten Lakers getting home by 61 points from the winless Panthers.
However, not before Melton South gave the premiership favourite a real run for its money in the first half – being within 19 points at the major break.
Lakers coach Gavin Webb admitted the Panthers caught them napping.
“All credit to them. They put a lot of pressure on us and we weren’t switched on.
“It’s a lesson about our preparation, but we move on.”
Melton South was unable to keep up the pressure in the second half though and Lake Wendouree broke away.
Ruckman Ben Sortino, Shaun White and Blake Henderson were among Panthers to give the Lakers a shake up.
Lake Wendouree’s Tom Littore will have a knee scanned after limping off.
REDAN 15.12 (102) d SEBASTOPOL 4.8 (32)
REDAN goes to its first bye of the Ballarat Football League season exactly where it wants to be.
Seven wins in their past eight outings have the Lions poised to challenge for a top three finish.
Redan easily took care of Sebastopol by 70 points at the City Oval on Saturday.
Lions coach Eammon Gill said they were now in a position to capitalise on what had been a turn-around after a slow start.
“There’s a lot of hard work to come, but we’re where we want to be.” Fifth-placed Redan is one of four teams from second to fifth on 24 points.
Jack Jess and Ben Schiltz were the linchpins in setting up the Lions, which edged away with four even quarters on the scoreboard. Each provided drive from across half back and through the midfield as the Lions stretched Sebastopol on the spread.
The Burra had its share of the ball, but did not have any potency in attack or polish of Nathan Horbury and Callum Currie – too often and too easily turning over possession, to be hurt in transition.