Redan capitalised on North Ballarat City’s inaccuracy to run away with a Ballarat Football League elimination final at the Eastern Oval on Sunday.
City had it chances to stay in the premiership race, but it was the experienced heads of Redan led by Callum Currie, Nathan and Damien Horbury, and Liam Hoy who were the steadier in a 31-point win.
Ruckman Matt Cullinan also stood tall. On one leg for most of the day, he was again prominent in what has been a fine season for him and capped off the day with some critical grabs in defence when City was making one last effort.
North Ballarat totally broke down offensively after a promising start, but it was not for want of opportunities.
City kicked 1.14 after quarter time and went goalless in the second half.
Redan just kept chipping away, but it was not until the last quarter that it finally broke the back of last year’s grand finalist.
Redan coach Eammon Gill described the effort as “fantastic”.
“We knew it would be tough. We wore them down.”
And the Lions needed to after North Ballarat could easily have gone to the main break with a handy break with better execution.
Gill said the persistence eventually allowed Redan to open up and stretch North Ballarat – something City also did to the Lions early with pace and outside spread.
He said Redan had delivered, it now now needed to back it up against Lake Wendouree in the first semi-final.
Hoy was instrumental in the Redan victory – hardly giving potential match-winner Derick Micallef a touch.
The pacy Josh Bromley-Lynch gave North drive, while Matt Johnston was its most effective forward.
