by David Brehaut

NORTH Ballarat City rose to the top of its powers to sink a disappointing East Point by 103 points in the Ballarat Football League at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.

City coach Jordyn Burke described the demolition of the Kangaroos as “clinical”.

As impressive as North Ballarat was a week earlier defeating top team Lake Wendouree, Burke had no doubt this performance was even better.

He said City’s execution was spot one. “It’s was just as you want it to be.”

It was also highly efficient – to the point where East Point was powerless to do anything about it.

Each had plenty to play for. North Ballarat City wanted third position back, while East Point was fighting to improve its hopes of playing finals.

City achieved its aim, with an improved percentage taking it past Redan and Sunbury.

The Kangaroos are now two games out of the top six with a weakened percentage and have dropped behind Ballarat to ninth.

East Point has lost its past three games to the top three teams. While this is no surprise, the downward spiral of its form has been.

Exciting City forward Derrick Micallef put in a masterful display playing out of the goals square, with him capitalising on impeccable delivery into the 50m arc. Micallef kicked eight goals and also handed off  several opportunities to teammates.

While the magic of Micallef put the icing on the cake in the second half, captain Simon McCartin and Daniel Jones were instrumental as City laid the foundation with a nine-goal first quarter to crush the life out of East Point.

North was smooth and clean in everything it did, while East was at the other end of the scale as it struggled to pinpoint targets or even get its hands on the ball.

There was only 14 points in the game after 16 minutes, but within six minutes North Ballarat City added four goals and the home team was off and running.

East Point did provide a momentary glimpse of hope with back-to-back goals at the start of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 43 points, but it did not last long.

While the contest did tighten and the Kangaroos took the honours for the quarter, North remained in control.

City had winners everywhere, with the ever vibrant Ryan Luke always in the game along with Joe Symons and Matt Johnston.

Chris Quinlan battled hard as East’s only multiple goalkicker, but few Kangaroos had a major influence.

BALLARAT 25.18 (168) d MELTON SOUTH 9.11 (65)

by Tyler Maher with David Brehaut

BALLARAT joined what is now a four-way battle royal for the last spot in the Ballarat Football League finals campaign with a ruthless display against Melton South on Saturday..

The Swans still face an uphill battle to sneak into the top six, but did their chances no harm with a thumping 103-point victory at Melton Recreation Reserve.

Other results have also been kind to the red and white army of late, with East Point and Darley each suffering back-to-back hidings to bring their respective percentages plummeting to within fanciful striking distance for the Swans.

With Melton and Darley having a bye, each landed four premiership points to stay in sixth and seventh positions respectively.

Ballarat’s win lifted it past East Point by a game and kept it within one win of Melton and Darley.

Remarkably, it is a possibility that the Swans could lift themselves into the top six next round.

They play East Point, which is down on confidence and which they defeated under lights earlier this season.

Melton and Darley also have tough assignments, which could open the door for Ballarat.

The Bloods play a red hot Bacchus Marsh and Darley meets an equally in form North Ballarat City.

It is still a long shot that Ballarat finds itself in the top six at any stage, but there is suddenly much more to play for at Alfredton in what has always been a development year for the Swans.

Despite the conclusive margin, Ballarat did not have it all its own way.

Playing at home and desperate to get its first win of the season, Melton South showed great intensity and fight early.

What hurt the Panthers though was Ballarat’s ability to slam on multiple goals in quick succession at various crucial points of the match.

The Swans booted four red-time goals in the first quarter and kicked three goals in a minute midway through the third quarter – after Melton South had threatened before both avalanches.

In the end Ballarat was simply too classy. The Swans were able to dominate the centre clearances and feed their forwards with ease in the second half to canter away on the smaller Melton Recreation Reserve 

This led to seven multiple goalkickers, including a bag of six to Hayden Hughes and hauls of three for Alex Stepnell, Zane Thompson and Brad McDonald.

Shane Hutchinson, Tom Stapleton and Sam James were all brilliant in the Ballarat engine room.

Hughes has kicked six goals in three of his past four outings – twice against the Panthers. 

This gives him 32 for the season and sixth spot on the BFL goalkicking table.

For the home side, skipper Shaun White was again a standout – especially in the second half when it looked like most of his teammates had put the cue in the rack.

Ruckman Ben Sortino was again to the fore in what has been a solid season. Anthony Hibbert was another who kept giving.

The task of snagging a maiden victory for the season will not be any easier for Melton South against Sunbury next round either in another home fixture.

With a bye in the last round, Melton South has just two games to play, with Darley the last. 

REDAN 12.18 (90) d SEBASTOPOL 4.11 (35)

REDAN overcame Sebastopol and blustery conditions on neutral ground in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.

The Lions took a half to get going, but when they did one big quarter was enough to put the Burra away and kick on to a 55-point win at Alfredton.

Not unlike the first time they met, Sebastopol was not too far off the pace early.

The Burra trailed by five points at half-time and with its opportunities could have led had it been able to make more of its forward forays. Sebastopol added 2.7 in the second term – following Redan’s 3.8 with the wind at its back in the opening stanza. 

A seven-goal burst in the third term was more than enough for the Lions to seal the deal.

Sebastopol coach Shane Snibson said he had been encouraged by the opening half, but disappointed the Lions had been able to stretch the lead to a point of no return.

He said the Burra had tired late and not been able to go on with the job as it would have liked.