IT started brightly enough for East Point.
The Kangaroos had six goals to three in the first quarter, playing coach Dan Jordan had five on the board, and the visitors led by 17 points.
But then the Swans flicked the switch.
Ballarat steamrolled East Point with 15 goals to five after quarter-time on Saturday to record its first victory for the season.
It ended with a five goals to one final quarter that saw the Simonds Swans race away with a 18.15 (123) to 11.9 (75) victory, although the 48-point margin was an unfair reflection of how competitive the contest had been for the first three quarters.
Ballarat playing coach Shane Hutchinson described the way his team started the match as “selfish”, as the Red Lion Kangaroos dominated the clearances and put the Swans defenders under enormous pressure.
“We went away from everything we train for,” Hutchinson said. “I think guys were bit a selfish, just trying to get a kick, and they didn’t help out our back line in the first quarter.
However, his onball division responded after a blast from the coach at quarter-time.
As midfielders Ash Baker, Nick Garner and ruckman Chris Howgate got on top of their East Point opponents, the trickle into the Ballarat forward line became a torrent, giving Tom Anson (five goals), Daniel Chant (four goals) and James Quayle (two) plenty of opportunites to take advantage.
Baker himself managed to score three goals of his own in addition to several give offs to team mates.
At the other end of the ground, the ball stopped coming into Dan Jordan’s area of influence with any regularity.
Sam Caldow stuck to the job of minding the East Point playing coach, but it was Luke Brennan, Daniel Kennedy and Mitch Rodd who set up a wall across half-back that was rarely penetrated.
“Sam Caldow did a great job,” Hutchinson said. “Those marks (Jordan) took in the first quarter, you can’t stop those.
East Point’s best is very good but a lack of experience and depth in the midfield became apparent the longer the match went.
Matthew Bilton and 150th gamer Jason Delaney were overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers, although James Blood limited Hutchinson’s influence on the match.
“It is a very young group and means they will play in patches,” Jordan said. “They did a lot of the right things at times.”
The victory was not without cost for the Swans, with key forward Chris Prockter injuring his shoulder in the opening 10 minutes of the match.
Prockter has been cleared of any structural damage to the shoulder and should miss three weeks at most.
East Point debutants Matt Ringin (shoulder injury) and Devon Lock (dislocated elbow) are also unlikely to be available next weekend.
Ballarat 18.15 (123)
East Point 11.9 (75)