East Point is celebrating its first Ballarat Football League senior premiership.
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The Kangaroos held out a brave Melton by two points in a classic at the Mars Stadium on Saturday – 15.7 (97) to Melton 14.11 (95).
East Point appeared to have the flag in its keeping with 15-point lead and 30 minutes gone in the last term.
However, an immediate response by Melton and then another goal on 34 minutes suddenly opened up the game again.
As it turned out there was just six seconds remaining and the day belonged to the Roos.
East Point was formed at the end of 2000 with the merger of East Ballarat and Golden Point, but up to Saturday the ultimate success had eluded it – losing the 2006 and 2009 grand finals.
Club president Gary Wilson and coach Jake Bridges each highlighted this premiership was for the whole East Point Football Netball Club community.
Bridges said a lot of people had played a part in this success – sentiments echoes by Wilson, who is in his first year in the chair.
“It’s more than just the player group.”
Wilson said the win had made so many people happy.
Roos captain Paul Koderenko said the premiership was a reward for effort.
While East Point finished with the spoils, Melton looked to have one hand on the silverware after an emphatic opening quarter in which it almost took the grand final away from the Roos.
Striving for its first premiership since 2005, Melton out-played East Point in almost face of the game by jumping away with six goals to lead by 26 points.
While the match tightened up in the second, Melton still held sway and still had the match in hand with a 22-point advantage.
The match then changed complexion.
East Point turned the grand final on its head with four goals in seven minutes to hit the lead.
The Roos went on a run of 50 points to seven with a nine goal third term to lead by 15 points at the last change.
East Point took 16 minutes to score in the final quarter and was just able to do enough.
DETAILS
Melton 6.2 7.7 10.8 14.11 (85)
East Point 2.1 4.3 13.5 15.7 (97)
GOALS – East Point: J. Ottavi 3, D. Semmens 3, M. Johnston 2, C. Bilney 2, B. Whittaker, R. Monument, M. Rotumah-Onus, J. Brown, J. Johnston. Melton: C. Griffiths 2, B. Kight 2, R. Walker, M. Denham, B. Crofts, R. Davis, T. Button, M. Orr, J. Hickey, B. Souter, B. Kennedy, L. Carter
BEST – East Point: M. Johnston, P. Kodorenko, C. Bilney, D. Semmens, J. Brown. Melton: J. Hickey, R. Walker, B. Kennedy, L. Walker, J. Cotter, D. Walker