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REDAN V SEBASTOPOL
Sebastopol is giving itself every chance of playing finals in the Ballarat Football League this season.
The Burra took its biggest and most siginficant step yet towards breaking a 19-year absence by taking apart Redan by 49 points at the City Oval on Saturday.
With all the Sebastopol big names standing tall, Redan was found wanting in the face of sustained pressure.
Sebastopol showed it has what it takes to play finals.
It now faces the challenge of sustaining it, beginning against the might of Melton and Darley - importantly at Marty Busch Reserve - in the next two rounds.
Redan, on the otherhand, has to pick itself off the canvas after two consecutive losses and rediscover the form which only two rounds ago had it on top of the ladder.
With ruckman Orren Stephenson withdrawing from Redan's selected side and tough onballer Liam Hoy unavailable, the Lions were unable to match the Sebastopol midfield structure led by ruckman Toby Thoolen, the dash of Lachie Cassidy and bustling Luke Kiel.
The Burra's forward combination was also irrepressible.
Brett Goodes, playing deep forward, led the Redan defence a merry dance with James Keeble and Michael Powell.
Goodes ensured Sebastopol asserted itself on the game early and was unstoppable with four majors, while Keeble (five goals) as a hit-up forward kept the momentum going late as the Burra cut loose with five last quarter goals.
As impressive as Sebastopol looked and delighted as coach Leigh Hutchinson was, he stopped short of nominating the game as its best four-quarter performance of the year.
He said it was though the Burra's best pressure game.
Hutchinson said this aspect had been the key factor in opening up so many opportunity on goals - 29 scoring shots to 15.
"It's great when the plan you put in place is played out."
He said there was still a lot of work to do though.
Sebastopol is fourth and just one win o
Sebastopol 3.4, 8.5, 11.9, 16.13 (109)
Redan 4.1, 6.1, 6.2, 9.6 (60)
GOALS - Sebastopol: J. Keeble 5, B. Goodes 4, M. Powell 2, J. Harvey 2, D. Widgery 1, T. Lockyer 1, B. Weightman 1. Redan: A. Harvey 3, B. Thomson 2, L. George 1, G. Bell 1, L. McLean 1, T. Robertson 1
BEST - Sebastopol: L. Cassidy, T. Lockyer, L. Kiel, B. Goodes, B. Trew, D. Widgery. Redan: D. Mathews, A. Cleary, L. George, A. Harvey, C. Craig-Peters, B. Thomson
EAST POINT V DARLEY
East Point rallied late to defy Darley and move a game clear at the top of the Ballarat Football League ladder at the Eastern Oval on Saturday.
And with the 22-point win - 15.9 (99) to 11.11 (77) - for the timebeing claim premiership favouritism.
After trailing at every change, East Point finished the stronger with six goals to two in the last quarter.
The Kangaroos had to dig deep after losing Clay Bilney and ruckman Jaykeb Lench to injury early.
East Point coach Jake Bridges said was proud of players given the adversity caused by the injuries.
"It was one of those games where you just have to dig in and sacrifice, and have a couple of balls bounce your way.
"They're a good side. They structured up really well in the first half, and we had to fix a few things, but (I'm) really proud of the way the boys executed," he said.
Darley coach Heath Scotland was far from impressed with the result.
"I thought it was more a game that we lost rather than they won.
"We had control for most of the game and lost our way structurally late.
"It was certainly an opportunity we missed out on," he said.
Darley fought hard to construct a six-point advantage at quarter time after the Kangaroos jumped out of the blocks, lifting the lead to 10 points at the main break.
Darley's Darren Leonard, as he so often is, was superb for the Devils - leading from the front.
The game continued to be a tight tussle for the second half, with the margin never exceeding 10 points until the last quarter when East Point was able to run over the top as Bryson McDougall kicked back-to-back majors to finish with four goals.
East Point 3.2, 6.3, 9.7, 15.9 (99)
Darley 4.2, 7.7, 9.9, 11.11 (77)
GOALS - East Point: B. McDougall 4, J. Johnston 4, J. Taylor 2, J. Brown 2, C. Lovig 1, D. Tung 1, J. Baird 1. Darley: J. Edwards 2, B. Graham 2, L. Spiteri 1, D. Leonard 1, M. Hanson 1, J. Cadman 1, L. Herring 1, L. Baker 1, J. Ancrum 1
BEST - East Point: J. Brown, M. Rotumah-Onus, B. Jones, M. Johnston, J. Johnston, J. McQueen. Darley: S. Page, T. Angwin, J. Edwards, B. Graham, M. Hanson, N. Graham
BACCHUS MARSH V LAKE WENDOUREE
Bacchus Marsh captitalised on a bright start to keep Lake Wendouree at bay by 25 points at Maddingley Park on Saturday.
The Cobras did the bulk of the damage with Jack Lalor (two goals) anchoring a four-goal opening term, while Lakers were unable to take their chances to go goalless.
Lake Wendouree worked back into the game with four of the opening five goals of the second quarter to get within a kick.
However, Jake Owen played a main role in steadying the ship for the Marsh with two goals to set up a 22-point lead at the half-time.
From there it was goal-for-goal, with the Cobras doing enough to stay within a game of the top six ahead of a clash with Redan.
Bacchus Marsh coach Peter Davey said the Cobras always felt comfortable in what he described as a real tussle despite Lakers closing the gap.
Al;though at the same time, Davey there was an element of luck right ot the outset when Lake Wendouree missed opportunities on goal.
The Marsh did miss suspended ruckman Daniel Burton, but Tom Wardell and Aaron Willitts did enough to cover ther absence.
Veterans Simon Lafranchi, Daniel Velden and Tyson Shea were prominent.
Lakes coach Dale Power said they had had plenty of good looks at goal, but had not capitalised.
He said Lake Wendouree had been good in patches, but unable to sustain it.
Power said the end of the third quarter provided an example of this, allowing Bacchus Marsh to "steady the ship" after some "disappointing" work in the midfield allowed the Cobras to get important clearances.
With the loss almost certainly goes any hope the Lakers had of playing finals.
They now faces North Ballarat City
Bacchus Marsh 4.3, 8.5, 9.10, 11.13 (79)
Lake Wendouree 0.6 4.7, 5.10, 7.12 (54)
GOALS - Bacchus Marsh: J. Owen 4, J. Lalor 2, T. Shea, J. Parente, N. Stuhldreier, B. Griffiths, D. Phyland. Lake Wendouree: J. Norton 2, S. Clifton 2, N. Pring, C. Hepworth, J. Bibby
BEST - Bacchus Marsh: R. Stuhldreier, J. Owen, S. Lafranchi, D. Velden, T. Wardell, T. Shea. Lake Wendouree: S. Carlin, B. Taylor, J. Lohmann, A. Simpson, S. Willmott, O. Yeung
MELTON v MELTON SOUTH
Melton was made to work hard to shrug off Melton South by 42 points at MacPherson Park on Saturday.
The Panthers could smell blood early, but there was always going to a response from Melton and South was unable to sustain the early effort.
Melton South coach Heath Pritchard said the Panthers had enough of the football in the third quarter, but after surging to really threaten could not kick on.
He said despite losing touch late it was South's best four quarters since defeating Lake Wendouree in round six and gave cause for confidence going into a home game against Ballarat.
"I was fairly happy.
"We paid for skill errors and lapses, but collectively we worked much better," Prtichard said.
Port Melbourne VFL-listed Isaac Conway was eye-catching in his debut for the club and first game in a year after a knee reconstruction - playing 50 per cent game time..
Pritchard said he could not have been more impressed by the way Conway bought in to the club.
Conway is expected to play at least one more game in the BFL before considered for a return to Port Melbourne.
Teenager Ben McMahon continues to impress for Melton.
Daniel Walker also made a mark on his return from an ankle injury.
Melton faces Sebastopol at Marty Busch Reserve next round in a game which could shape each side's finals hopes.
Melton 2.6, 5.7, 7.10, 10.15 (75)
Melton South 2.1, 3.2, 5.2, 5.3 (33)
GOALS - Melton: L. Carter 2, B. Archard 2, R. Davis 2, M. Orr 1, M. Denham 1, D. Stevens 1, C. Griffiths 1. Melton South: M. Notman 1, P. Bower 1, C. Chapman 1, M. Sullivan 1, J. Vincent 1
BEST - Melton: B. McMahon, D. Walker, B. Crofts, M. Denham, B. Archard, D. Stevens. Melton South: C. Chapman, P. Bower, D. Houghton, W. Thornton-Gielen, I. Conway, M. Sullivan
NORTH BALLARAT CITY v BALLARAT
North Ballarat City is at last giving its season some impetus after completing back-to-back wins against Ballarat in the BFL at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
Being two games outside the top six means finals are a long shot, but North does have three games against sides in the bottom half of the competition plus a bye to come which keeps the slightest of hopes alive.
City stifled the Swans from the outset, getting six goals before the visitors scored early in the second quarter.
Although Ballarat finally found its feed, there was never ever going to be a comeback against Ryan Hobbs, Mitch Gilbert (4 goals) Ryan Luke and Sam Bromley-Lynch-led North Ballarat.
Ballarat coach Joe Carmody said North Ballarat been too good on the spread.
He said although the Swans worked their way back into the contest the margin which North estabished early was always well beyond them.
Carmody said turnovers had really hurt.
He said while the defence toiled hard and did well not to allow North to score even more, Ballarat's forward line did not function and would need to be looked at.
Shane Pongho, Bailey Van de Heuvel and Taylor Sutton were part of Ballarat's backline, which found itself under fire from the outset.
North Ballarat City 4.2, 9.7, 13.10, 14.14 (98)
Ballarat Football 0.0, 3.2, 5.4, 7.6 (48)
GOALS - North Ballarat City: M. Gilbert 4, I. Johnson 2, H. Loader 2, S. Willian 2, W. Young 2, S. Bromley-Lynch 1, F. Loader 1. Ballarat: G. Baldwin 2, N. O'Farrell 1, S. James 1, B. Fraser 1, L. Dawson 1, J. Blackburn 1.
BEST - North Ballarat City: R. Hobbs, M. Gilbert, R. Luke, S. Bromley-Lynch, C. Jenkins, H. Loader. Ballarat: S. Pongho, B. Van de Heuvel, C. Prendergast, M. Powling, L. Dawson, T. Sutton