A 10 goal fourth quarter onslaught has handed Skipton one of its most dominant wins of the season at the weekend, beating Creswick by 61 points.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Despite a strong showing from Brownlow medalist Dane Swan for the Wickers, Skipton's run and carry was too much, 19.14 (128) to 10.7 (67) winners.
READ MORE SPORT:
Emus' co-coach Sam Willian told The Courier after a slow start he was impressed with how his side ran out the game.
"Sometimes you've got to win ugly I reckon and we played ugly footy for three quarters and then just clicked (in the fourth term)," he said.
"I think we had 20 inside 50s for 10.6, we (scored) 75 per cent of the time whereas probably in the other quarters we weren't even close to that, so I was very happy."
Skipton's overlap run and short kicks inside the corridor was what won it the game in the final quarter, however, it was slowed down by Creswick in the first three terms.
In perfect conditions, not a breath of wind and the sun shining, the Wickers got off to a flyer, Jarryd Underwood and Ricky Pearson kicking two goals for the home side to hand them a three-point lead at the first break.
Swan lined up at half-back, a position on the ground footy fans are not accustomed to seeing him in, but it came naturally to the former AFL star.
He took three intercept marks and gathered plenty of the ball in the opening term as Creswick put Skipton under plenty of pressure.
At the quarter-time break Willian implored his side to stop bombing the ball long down the line to the likes of Swan and to use their skills, run and carry and hit targets going inside 50.
It worked to a certain extent in the second term, but Creswick were up for the challenge, a goal-fest ensuing for the next 25 minutes.
Five lead changes occurred in a back and fourth quarter, the Emus heading into the main break eight points the better.
To open the second half Swan went full circle positions wise, starting in the middle of the ground and floating forward as fans had come accustomed to seeing in his AFL career.
Skipton's Mitch Gilbert and Sam Willian kicked-off the third quarter scoring with a goal a-piece, extending the lead to 22 points.
Swan answered for the Wickers, his opponent holding him off the ball and handing him the easiest of goals from the tip of the goal square.
Just minutes later he marked on the lead but his set-shot slid right.
Skipton transitioned the ball down the other end and goaled quickly through Willian, a possible 11-point deficit if Swan had kicked truly, now out to 22 points.
It was then that Skipton began to get its game going, its handball and short kicking game getting its better midfielders involved in the play and letting them use the ball going inside 50.
Down by just four goals at the final change, Creswick were well and truly in the game despite Skipton's dominance around the ground with ball in hand.
Swan nabbed another major to bring the deficit back to just 21 points in the fourth, however, it was all Skipton from then on, 10 goals enough to seal the deal.
Emus' co-coach Andrew Pitson said he was pleased with how his side got on top with how it wanted to play.
"I think when we get our run and carry game going I think we can play some pretty good footy," he said.
"It's just finding that consistency is the issue at the moment with this new, young list that we have.
"Some promising signs I think for sure."
Pitson kicked another five goals for the Emus, Jake Maddock and Daniel Kilpatrick their better players.
Swan bagged three for Creswick and was named second best for the Wickers.
The home side will also hold its breath on star midfielder Patrick Taranto who left the field with a hamstring injury.
Taranto is the current leader of The Courier's Player of the Year award.
In other results, Waubra was too strong for Ballan 18.9 (117) to 4.4 (28).
Newlyn got the better of Beaufort 15.8 (98) to 12.10 (82).
Clunes held off a strong finishing Carngham-Linton 10.7 (67) to 6.10 (46).
Dunnstrown got over Buninyong for the first time since 2010 by five points, 9.14 (68) to 10.3 (63).
Hepburn beat Springbank easily 19.10 (124) to 9.6 (60).
Learmonth held on for a clutch two-point win over Daylesford, 9.9 (63) to 8.13 (61).
Rokewood-Corindhap was too good for Bungaree, 14.10 (94) to 9.7 (61).
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.