SUNDAY UPDATE
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The Ballarat Football League is expected to award Lake Wendouree the win over Redan after their round three game ended prematurely when lights failed at the City Oval on Saturday night.
While the AFL Victoria rules make it clear that the team leading at the time in these circumstrances is to be awarded the premiership points, AFL Goldfields regional operations manager Aaron Nunn said the BFL board would wait until it discussed the matter before formally declaring the result.
The BFL board of directors is scheduled to meet on Monday, with the decision appearing to be a formailty.
The future of another City Oval night match between Redan and East Point scheduled for next Saturday is also likely to be on the agenda.
Lake Wendouree was leading by 13 points – 8.17 (85) to 7.10 (52) – when the lights, which were being powered by a generator, went out with three minutes, one second of play remaining in the last quarter.
AFL Victoria country rule 10.6.2(c) states that if a match is interrupted after half-time and unable to proceed within a 30-minute period, the scores at the time shall be deemed to be the final scores.
Players remained on the the blackened ground for 30 minutes before umpires called time and led them from the ground.
The match was the first played under lights at the City Oval following a City of Ballarat-funded $1.6m upgrade, which included new drainage and irrigation, a reconfigured and new playing surface, and lighting.
Nunn said a generator had been required for ground lighting owing to it not yet being connected to the mains power supply.
Although still waiting for the official decision, Lakers left the City Oval as the winner.
Lake Wendouree coach Dale Power said his Redan counterpart Brendan Peace had conceded defeat in an on-field discussion before the match had been called off.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Lake Wendouree is set to collect the premiership points after a lighting failure caused its Ballarat Football League clash with the City Oval on Saturday night to be called off late in the last quarter.
Lakers were leading by 13 points when the lights went out with three minutes, one second left to play – 8.17 (65) to 7.10 (52)
The centrals umpires declared the match over after 30 minutes of darkness in accordance with AFL Victoria country rules.
Rule 10.6.2(c) states that if a match is interrupted after half-time and unable to proceed within a 30-minute period, the scores at the time shall be deemed to be the final scores.
Redan had reduced the lead from 30 points early in the last quarter when the newly installed lights, which were being powered by a portable generator, went out at the 23-minute mark in the first night game at the redeveloped venue.
With uncertainty as to whether play would, players and officials remained on the field until 30 minutes had passed.
Lake Wendouree coach Dale Power said he and Redan coach Brendan Peace had reached the conclusion in a in an on-field discussion that the premiership points should go to the Lakers.
“He showed great sportsmanship,” Power said of Peace.
“Redan’s been great.”
Despite understanding that they would be awarded the win, Lake Wendouree refrained from the usual tradition of singing the club song in celebration as a mark of respect to Redan given the circumstances.
“It’s not the way you want to win,” Power said.
Once the victory is confiirmed, Lake Wendouree will end round three as one of three unbeaten teams with East Point and Sunbury.
Power said it had been a tough battle overcoming Redan.
“We took steps forward.”
Although the game went its way, Lake Wendouree added to its injury worries with youngster Mitch Phillips breaking a collarbone and ruckman Arthur Armstrong injured his left ankle.
Armstrong’s departure early in the game left teenager Tom McKechnie, who played under-16.5s last year, to carry a large part of the ruck load on debut.
Redan veteran ruckman Orren Stephenson also strained a hamstring to add a the Lions’ growing list of soft tissue injuries.
The Redan and Lake Wendouree blackout ended a day of drama in the BFL.
East Point came from 20 points down at the last change to defeat Melton by two points, while Sunbury outlasted reigning premier Darley by one point.
Bacchus Marsh ended North Ballarat City’s winning run in no uncertain terms by 93 points, but it came at a cost.
Scott Sherlock dislocated a shoulder, veteran Simon La Franchi strained a groin and Lachie Phyland accepted a one-match suspension for having struck Sam Dunstan.
OTHER FINAL SCORES
Sunbury 9.9 (63) d Darley 9.8 (62)
East Point 13.7 (85) d Melton 12.11 (83)
Bacchus Marsh 25.15 (165) d North Ballarat City 10.12 (72)
Sebastopol v Ballarat on Sunday