BALLARAT Football League round 1 in review.
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Ballarat 12.16 (88) d Sebastopol 11.6 (72)
By David Brehaut
EXPERIENCE and an ability to make something out nothing enabled Ballarat to throw off a determined Sebastopol in the Ballarat Football League at Marty Busch Reserve on Saturday.
Showing poise, the cool-headed Shane Hutchinson and Corey Grills each snapped goals from congested situations within three minutes of each other early in the last quarter to signal the end of Sebastopol’s hopes of a dream start to the season.
This gave the Swans a 13-point, which proved to be decisive with a wind at their back.
Sebastopol did make another surge with three goals in seven minutes from the 16-minute mark, but that was only after Ballarat had kicked away to a 27-point advantage in greasy conditions.
The Burra had enough time, but not the legs as Ballarat managed to smother the contest for the last 10 minutes in a dogged battle to the line.
Swans coach Ash Baker was encouraged by his players’ commitment to stick to the task in the second half.
He said Ballarat was well aware it would run into a fired up Sebastopol, which was coming off a big off-season headlined by the signing of former AFL player Brett Goodes.
Baker said his young team had coped well to fight off the Burra on their home turf.
He said it was great to get up and going with in a win first-up, with the result certain to instill some confidence into the Swans, They lost their first six games last year – breaking the sequence against Sebastopol.
Sebastopol had every opportunity to secure the premiership points, but Ballarat’s ability to run out the quarters better was crucial. The Swans scored three goals in time-on in the second term to wrest the lead from Sebastopol.
Hutchinson worked tirelessly for Ballarat in a display in which was hard-nosed and classy – consistently providing inspiration to ensure the Swans found something extra when required.
Recruits in mobile ruckman Marcus Powling and ball magnet Brad McDonald caught the eye along with the ever-menacing Tom Stapleton, while Tom Mooney and Hayden Hughes were dangerous with three goals apiece.
Goodes gave Sebastopol supporters plenty to get excited about, with his hardness at the ball directly setting up four goals as he attracted a lot of attention from the Swans. Ben Trew had a big day out across half back. The wiry Toby Hutt was handy in front of goal as Taylor Stewart late in the day.
North Ballarat City 13.10 (88) d East Point 10.15 (75)
By Michael Hankin
NORTH Ballarat City held off a wasteful East Point by 13 points to give new coach Jordyn Burke just the start to Ballarat Football League season he wanted at the Eastern Oval on Saturday.
Burke highlighted the importance of not relying on too few players to contribute.
“There are so many young blokes just looking to be given opportunities, so I wanted to really make sure we spread that load.
“We want to give the young blokes confidence that they can play good footy. That was my biggest objective coming into a new role” Burke said.
Having suffered a heavy loss in last year’s grand final and undergone a change in coach and key playing personnel all eyes were on North Ballarat.
The response took some time to come, but was City which ultimately settled the better to make the early running.
Jesse Murphy and Nick Hind were among East Point players to ensure the home team responded.
In particular, Hind provided inspiration for his teammates with a long run and goal to cut the margin to within a kick late in the second term.
Burke led from the front in the third term at each end of the ground, while Mitch Gilbert was also impressive and Jarryd Graham created chances through the midfield.
Staring at a 20-point deficit at the last change, it looked like East Point would rue chances that it was unable to capitalise on in the first half.
North Ballarat was well in control when its increased its lead out to 31 points early in the last quarter ands it looked a matter of how far.
However, East Point was not done with.
The Kangaroos rallied – kicking three goals in a row as Rhys Monument, Jack Watkins and Mitch Walsh all hit the scoreboard o cut the margin to 13.
It was not to be enough though.
North Ballarat City held firm to get the round one victory ahead of an all-important clash with Redan at the newly redeveloped Eureka Stadium on Saturday – the day after its grand opening.
East Point coach Glenn Wilkins was satisfied to an extent with the Kangaroos’ performance,
However, he touched on the missed opportunities that hindered his team.
“We seemed to get momentum, but then would have a string of behinds.”
He said North Ballarat also seemed to be a little bit cleaner with the ball.
“They seemed to hurt us too often on the rebound when we missed some opportunities,” Wilkins said.
Lake Wendouree 11.13 (79) d Redan 8.6 (54)
By David Brehaut
LAKE Wendouree saved its best for last to get the better of Redan in a Ballarat Football League night match at Wendouree’s Ballarat Isuzu Oval on Saturday.
Pressing hard, Redan was in control for a large part of the match as the Lakers were forced into a defensive mindset – unable to break through the Lions’ midfield lockdown.
Lake Wendouree set up the 25-point win in the third quarter with three goals into a stiff breeze to trim an 18-point deficit to three.
This was all it needed. The Lakers shut down Redan with a five-goal to one term.
Luke Bucknall and Ben Hayes were consistent contributors for Lake Wendouree, and it was the likes of Steve Clifton and Ben Taylor in his first game back with the club who were instrumental when the game was on the line.
Redan ruckman Matt Cullinan easily had the better of the big man duels to assist the likes of Dean Mathews and Callum Currie.
Bacchus Marsh 13.12 (90) d Sunbury 10.11 (71)
By Tyler Maher
BACCHUS Marsh lifted a gear in the last quarter of a scrappy affair to kick off its Ballarat Football League season with a telling 19-point win over Sunbury at Maddingley Park on Saturday.
The game opened up in the final stanza as players began cramping and the Cobras pounced to finish relatively comfortably and continue their winning run against the Lions, which they defeated twice last year.
Cameron Richardson showed that stepping down from the pressures of coaching will only serve to improve his output for Bacchus Marsh this year with a classy performance for his successor Travis Hodgson.
He booted four important majors and provided a focal point for the majority of the Cobras’s forward forays.
For Sunbury, big man David Kovacevic ensured his midfield brigade had first use of the football as he dominated the ruck all day. This was evident from the first bounce, with the Lions having the first five centre clearances of the match.
Sunbury was unable to capitalise enough though, with the likes of Liam Mullen, Declan Phyland and Hamish Coulton repelling its charges.
The game was in the balance at three quarter time with Sunbury four points in front, but despite a passionate plea from Lions coach Rick Horwood for his players to muster one final effort, it was the Cobras who went firing – adding five goals to one to ice the contest.
Matt Denham, Alec Del Papa and Coulton each kicked two goals each to go with Richardson’s four, while for the Lions’ Jesse McInneny snagged four as well and was supported by a brace from Aik Magin.
Bacchus Marsh now faces arch-rival and reigning premier Darley in blockbuster on Sunday.
Melton 13.4 (82) d Melton South 3,8 (26)
By Tyler Maher
MELTON v Melton South under lights. This match-up was always going to struggle to be a master class in elite disposal.
But the heavy mist that descended upon MacPherson Park midway through the first quarter and did not dissipate until well after half-time ensured that the encounter was never a chance to be that on Saturday night .
In a dour affair, Melton comfortably accounted for cross town rivals Melton South by 56 points.
The Bloods dominated for almost the entire match, but could not hit the scoreboard early – only taking a three-goal lead into the first change.
The trend continued in the second, with only two goals to one booted before.
In a rare highlight for the night, Matthew Notman broke the game open with a trio of third term goals to break the elastic and contribute to a comfortable Melton win. Jake Gleeson was best afield, while Braeden Kight also booted three goals.
This leaves the Panthers winless after two outings.