When it comes to attacking firepower, no one has been better in the Ballarat Football League than East Point this year.
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The Kangaroos have scored more than anyone.
They tallied up 1707 points in the regular season. Then came Bacchus Marsh on 1620 and North Ballarat City on 1405.
East Point topped 100 point nine times in home and away fixtures – led by Bryson McDougall, Joel Ottavi, Brad Whittaker, Jordan Johnston and Jacob Brown, who all finished with more than 20 goals.
Compare this with Melton’s defensive-based game, which had the lowest points against of 1028 in home and away games, and has only Braedan Kight and Darren Haby with 20-plus goals.
East Point coach Jake Bridges has repeatedly emphasised the importance of a spread of goalkickers, and more often than not it has delivered.
And it has predominantly been a result of the superiority of the Kangaroos’ midfield.
Matt Johnston and Mickitja Rotumah-Onus have led the way.
It is easy to see why East Point targeted the former North Ballarat Roosters VFL-listed Johnston right from the outset of a vigorous recruiting campaign.
There is no shortage of class in the engine room, with Daniel Semmens, Aden Nestor, Daniel Tung, Clay Bilney, Jake McQueen, Jacob Brown and Jordan Johnston getting various roles through what has been a growing rotation.
Semmens and Nestor are the more traditional onballers or centre-line players, while Tung and Bilney have a defensive edge, and Johnston, McQueen and Brown push forward the hardest.
Matt Johnston and Mickitja Rotumah-Onus – well they play the hard-nosed bustling roles.
For Johnston, he has the ability to find a way when East Point most needs it.
He knows how to find the hard ball and is never too far away from a contest
Rotumah-Onus has been a big improver. He has stripped much fitter and stronger, and gone from playing a support role to being one of the Kangaroos’ most important ballgetters.
He was missed badly when East Point lost to Melton in the second semi-final.
The East Point will get plenty of the football, but their delivery will go along to deciding the game.
This was nowhere near what it should have been in the Roos’ first two finals.
They won the ball, but let their forwards down by just bombing the football into the 50m arc.
East Point was fortunate to get out of trouble the first time – coming from 42 points down against North Ballarat City to escape with a win – but was caught out against Melton. It managed just 64 pioints in each game.
It rediscovered something like its best to defeat Darley in the preliminary and if it is to land a first flag it must stay strong to this style and game plan again.
East Point will never get a better chance for a flag.
SELECTION: East Point
KANGAROOS IN PROFILE
Joined BFL in 2002 with the merger of East Ballarat and Golden Point
Premierships: nil
Henderson Medallists: 2006 Dan Jordan, 2005 Ben Jordan
Coach: Jake Bridges non-playing (2nd year)
Captain: Paul Koderenko
2018 RECORD
First: 13 wins, 3 losses
Highest score: 24.20 (164) v Melton South
Lowest score: 8.14 (62) v Darley
Biggest win: 128 points v Melton South
Scored 100-plus points: 10 times
Leading goalkicker: Bryson McDougall 45
Henderson Medal leading votegetters: Paul Kodorenko 15, Mickitja Rotumah-Onus 14, Jake McQueen 10, Daniel Tung 8
Most games this year: Aden Nestor, Bryson McDougall, Joel Van Mee, Jordan Taylor, Lucas Dahlenburg 19
ROAD TO THE GRAND FINAL
QUALIFYING FINAL
East point 9.10 (64) d North Ballarat City 9.9 (63)
SECOND SEMI-FINAL
Melton 12.11 (83) d East Point 9.10 (64)
PRELIMINARY FINAL
East Point 15.18 (108) d Darley 5.6 (36)
LINE-UP
East Point
B: C. Lovig, M. Walsh, L. Dahlenburg
HB: D. Martin, J. Van Meel, D. Tung
C: B. Whittaker, C. Bilney, A. Nestor
HF: C. Quinlan, P. Kodorenko, J. Johnston
F: M. Johnston, B. McDougall, J. Brown
R: J. Ottavi, D. Semmens, J. McQueen
Int: J. Taylor, C. Carson, M. Rotumah-Onus, L. Thornton
Emg: J. Payne, A. Maconachie, R. Monument, J. Gallagher
