The stunning 52-42 victory puts an end to East Point’s 12-game winning streak and adds another dimension to the upcoming finals series that was increasingly looking like a two-horse race.

Ballarat set up the win with a stellar first quarter, taking an 11-goal lead into the first change which it ultimately held for the remainder of the match. Coach Leesa Battistello said it was clearly the side’s best performance for the season.

“It was the most outstanding game that we’d played. I just hope it sets a new standard for our team of how we need to play all the time,” Battistello said.

“We knew to beat a team like East that we’d have to start extremely well and then be able to maintain that sort of form for 60 minutes. I could not have been prouder of the way the girls started.

“They’ve been the benchmark team, I think they bring the best netball out in us. 

“Playing the top team you want to go in hoping to get a bit of a gauge of where you’re at.” 

Battistello said defensive duo Abbey Wiltshire and Chelsea McMahon were enormous in setting up the win against the league’s most prolific attack. While goal shooter Kelly Moran shot 45 of the 52 goals.

The victory will be huge for the fifth-placed Ballarat’s confidence heading into finals. Battistello believed a win like that would be massive for the team’s mindset.

“Last year and this year have been massive building years for us. The top four in the BNL are a real standout, for us to really push and actually beat the top team it gives our young girls so much belief.

“It will definitely make them go into finals thinking we can beat anyone.”

Ballarat has now strung together three consecutive victories and is set to welcome back some key players for the finals series in three weeks.

Ballarat will be without Katie Lindkvist and Hayley Fidler who won’t return this season. But will see Tara Domaschenz and Mikayla George return to the side in time for finals, adding to the club’s depth.