NORTH BALLARAT CITY 9.11 (65)

Redan capped off a fight-back by scraping home by five points over North in the Ballarat Football League at Eureka Stadium on Saturday.

If working their way back into the driver’s seat was not enough, the Lions then had to withstand a spate of late North City surges into its 50m. 

Redan has made a bright start to the season with its only loss in three outings coming with a kick by Lake Wendouree after the siren.

At the other end of the scale, North Ballarat City has lost two on end after a commanding win over Melton South.

Redan coach Brendan Peace spoke about the importance of the success.

“We probably let North dictate terms in the first quarter and were pretty lucky to still be in the game at half-time.

“Fortunately we improved significantly in the third and despite missing some shots of our own in the last, we were able to hold on for a victory, which was really pleasing.”

North Ballarat City coach Jordyn Burke was frustrated by his team’s inability to take its opportunities late in the day.

“We certainly had our chances to hit the front in the last three or four minutes, but we were pretty inaccurate. 

“Our kicking efficiency really let us down today and we continually missed those hit up targets, so that really killed us today,” he said.

It looked ominous early for Redan when North kicked five of the six first-quarter goals, with the much hyped Lions defence under the pump,

The goals dried up though for Burke and his men in the second term, with a goalless quarter seeing a 20-point lead evaporate and cut to one point at the main break.

While it was the old heads like Dean Matthews and Callum Currie who dragged Redan back into contention, the contribution of first-season players Ben Smyth and Tom Morrish was also apparent, which Peace took time to highlight. 

Inclement weather made it difficult for each side, with North Ballarat having particular difficulty moving the ball forward with any fluency. 

This enabled Redan to hurt City on the counter attack, while Will Young and Derrick Micallef for the second week running were unable to have a major influence for the home outfit.

Four goals was enough for Redan to take a three-point lead into the last quarter, with the importance of a victory weighing heavily on the two sides’ minds.

The last quarter was an old-fashioned tussle, with Redan and North Ballarat City each getting just one goal.

It was enough for Redan though.

North Ballarat City now has two weeks off with a bye after the inter-league weekend and then games against East Point and Lake Wendouree.

MELTON 15.9 (99) 

BALLARAT 12.6 (78)

Melton has injected life into its Ballarat Football League season.

The Bloods gave a huge sigh of relief after overpowering Ballarat by 21 points at Alfredton on Saturday for its first win after three losses.

And it can give a massive thanks to Dyson Stevens for his match-winning contribution.

Back from the Carlton-aligned Northern Blues in the VFL and in only his second appearance with Melton in two seasons, Stevens was the stand-out player on the ground.

The highly mobile tall was all class as he dominated clearances and capped off his work with three goals.

Melton coach Brad Murphy said it had been a “fantastic” team response and put the Bloods’ season back on track.

He said he had been unsure what to expect pre-match and after Ballarat kicked its fifth goal on 22 minutes in the opening quarter remained uncertain.

Murphy said from that point on he could not speak highly enough for the player-driven resurgence.

He said there were still a few areas to clean up, but dedication and determination had played a major role in getting this win.

Murphy said Melton had been well aware of the Swans’ outside pace.

“We went with a team based on pace and we beat them at their own game.”  Lachlan Walker was pivotal in this.

The Bloods’ superior height and strength was also a factor, with recruit Ben Archard prominent in the ruck and defence, where Matt Huckstepp also had an influence, and Gus Grigg providing a headache in attack for Ballarat.

Ballarat carried on from its previous round’s win over North Ballarat City by flying out of the blocks.

The Swans kicked the first three goals and answered a Melton surge early in the second quarter.

Melton had the better of the second half, although three minutes into the last quarter the scores were level.

Three goals in the next 10 minutes put the game away for Melton.

Nick O’Farrell was a livewire with four goals for the Swans. Mitch Martin was a strong four-quarter performer and Shane Hutchinson did not stop working through the midfield.   

While on a high with the win, Melton will have to climb a mountain to continue the rebuild with Lake Wendouree and Bacchus Marsh up next.

MELTON SOUTH 16.15 (111)

SEBASTOPOL 6.8 (44)

Mitch Banner kicked seven goals to be the catalyst for a workman-like victory by Melton South over Sebastopol in the BFL on Saturday night.

Banner produced a copybook display set up the 67-point margin, kicking the opening three majors of the match as he out-shone an inaccurate Brendan Fevola.

While Fevola finished with four goals after a couple of freakish snaps, he was well off target from set shots.

The Burra matched Melton South is most facets of the contest early, but was not rewarded on the scoreboard in front one of the biggest crowds seen at Marty Reserve in many years.

It was not until the last term that Sebastopol finally sprung to life in attack, adding three unanswered goals to provide some damage control.

Mark Lynch and Nick Kommer led a dominant Panther midfield, which fed off the outstanding work of ruckman Ben Sortino. Young Billy Sullivan also impressed.

South’s Mark Notman did not play after straining a calf in the opening quarter.

DARLEY 10.13 (73)

SUNBURY 11.6 (72)

“We got out of jail.” This is how coach Heath Scotland described Darley’s one-point win over Sunbury in the BFL at Sunbury on Saturday.

The Devils fell over the final line by one point to deliver even more anguish to Sunbury, which continues to play better than its one win suggests.

“We had every chance,” Sunbury coach Ben Jordan said. “There’s a lot of good signs, but it’s disappointing not to get the win.”

Sunbury had by far the better start to lead by 16 points at quarter time before Darley tightened up in the midfield after lowering its colours to ruckman David  Kovacevic and likes of Alik Magin and Josh Guthrie.

Dan Roy led the Darley resurgence, which enabled it to hit the lead midway through the last quarter and then survive some late shots on goal by Sunbury.

Darley lost Matt Inglis (ankle) before the match, and had key position player Kyle Docherty yellow carded and reported.

LAKE WENDOUREE 17.7 (109)

EAST POINT (13.13 (91)

An improved East Point gave Lake Wendouree a scare in the BFL at the Eastern Oval on Saturday.

While the 18-point margin was comfortable, it was far from convincing for the undefeated Lakers.

Kangaroos coach Jake Bridges said East needed to improve on its previous week’s heavy loss to Redan and it had achieved this in a contest of ebbs and flows.

Lakers made the most of kicking to the scoring end in the opening quarter with five goals.

However, East Point responded in the best possible way with six in the second term.

Although the Roos held a handy advantage early in the second half it was to be Lakers which had the last say with a seven-goal last stanza.

Bridges said inaccuracy in front of goal continued to hold back East Point.

Nick Peters took on the role of goalkicker with four majors for Lakers as part of an impressive on-ball division with Jayden Hooper and Steve Clifton.