A wild and windy weekend produced plenty of remarkable results as quarter-by-quarter tussles and astonishing comebacks filled the grounds to kick off finals.
Melton
def.
East Point
Minor premiers Melton won the battle against fellow league heavyweights East Point to book their place in Saturday's second semi final with Darley.
This highly anticipated affair, 15 weeks on from their one and only meet earlier this year was marred by strong winds that it made it difficult to score, asking questions of all 22 players from both sides to have an impact.
To describe the wash up in its simplest form, all 16 goals of the match were scored at the Bacchus Marsh town end on Darley Park.
Just who could inflict the most damage on the scoreboard during their time with the breeze would go a long way validating the result.
While there were typical moments reflective of the stakes, the game provided little on the form front given the impact of the strong, gusty winds.
Essentially it was the Bloods who outscored the Kangas with the breeze, nine goals to seven. Both sides had their chances into the breeze on rare occasions but every attempt on goal went awry in one way or another.
Bloods swingman Conrad Farrugia highlighted his versatility with a standout three goals when forward and relentless will to compete when asked to provide some relief for number one ruckman Brett McIntrye.
Farrugia took some great grabs and finished off his work in style, making the most of his opportunities.
Not dissimilar on the opportune front for the Bloods was livewire forward Jordy Kight who too finished with three invaluable goals in a relatively low scoring affair where goals came at a premium, requiring their own level of high skill and control.
Midfielders Jaycob Hickey, Jack Walker and Lachlan Walker registered good numbers, just reward for their incomparable work rate.
Harrison Handley had arguably his best game for the Bloods in just his fifth game at senior level for the season.
For the Kangas, a forgive run is granted. They weren't far off the Bloods having led at quarter time and three-quarter time but the lead never reached the comfortable stage.
Jordy Taylor, Mikitja Rottumah-Onus, Alex Molan, Bryson McDougall (three goals), Joel Van Meel and Liam Howard all earned the nod of approval from Joe Carmody's staff to be named in the best players.
East Point meet Ballarat on Sunday with a preliminary final berth up for grabs.
Should be a belter!
STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE
Matt Johnston (East Point) - 31 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 12 clearances
Adrian Monitto (Melton) - 33 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 14 intercept possessions
Brett McIntyre (Melton) - 43 hitouts, 8 contested possessions, 4 marks
COACHES’ VERDICT
Troy Scoble (Melton)
"Most challenging conditions for the year and both teams cracked in worthy of a finals game. The margins were very small in all phases of the game. Fortunately for us we were able to be in front at the end. Credit to both teams trying to play their method. A bounce of the ball here and there separated the game. For us I am proud of our squad, so much adversity through the year to win a final is a step forward for us from last year. Hopefully the weather improves for next week but today showed it is an even finals series for those teams that remain."
Joe Carmody (East Point)
"Very tough conditions, proud of the effort of our boys. Melton are a high class and well coached side and will be hard to beat from here. Great experience for our young guys and we go again."
Ballarat
def. by
Sunbury
Surprise packet Ballarat kept its ground-breaking season alive with a stunning come from behind win over Sunbury.
Chris Maple's never-say-die Swans trailed by as much as 36 points at three quarter time before storming home with a seven-goal-to-one final term to progress to a first semi final showdown with East Point.
Elation was clearly palpable for the winners in the aftermath, while you couldn't feel anything less than heartbreak for Matthew White's Lions who did plenty right, outplaying the Swans for three quarters.
Maple wouldn't mind me saying his boys looked rattled for three quarters, with little resemblance of the team that were unbeaten since round 10 heading in.
Descriptions varied from 'haven't shown up' to 'bubble's burst' as word spread of a one-sided affair unfolding at Marty Busch Reserve.
Credit to Sunbury, led by their Captain Tyson Lever who dominated from the outset holding the Swans goal less for the first 40 minutes of the game!
Jake Sutton, Nathan Doyle and Ben Cameron hit the scoreboard for the Lions to aid the advantage with two goals each.
Blake Watson, Riley Miller, Cody Bramble and Jake Egan led the charge before the arrival of a Swans tsunami hijacked any further discussions around an 'early crow'.
Tristan Maple led the revival to be named best ahead of a host of Swans who are becoming more familiar to the broader competition from week-to-week.
The Rinaldi brothers Zak (four goals) and Lewis were super while Rhys Perry, Bailey Fraser and Wil Liston were considered best of the rest according to the Swans’ hierarchy.
Experienced forward Andrew Hooper kicked two vital goals in a massive day for Maple and his beloved Ballarat Football Club.
All this on the back of a late out for the Swans as Lachie Dalgleish (illness) withdrew on the eve of the match.
It was truly an unbelievable climax to a game that saw Sunbury lead for 119 minutes and 53 seconds. Miraculously the Swans were able to find the line with their noses in front at the right time for long enough - all seven seconds to be precise.
STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE
Tristan Maple (Ballarat) - 43 disposals, 17 intercept possessions, 11 rebound 50s
Tyson Lever (Sunbury) - 30 disposals, 18 intercept possessions, 12 marks
Zak Rinaldi (Ballarat) - 18 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 11 score involvements, 4 goals
COACHES’ VERDICT
Chris Maple (Ballarat)
"Very proud of how our young group for hanging in there, and then executed plans well in the second half and get up to win. Still a lot to improve on. An important day for our footy club moving forward."
Matt White (Sunbury)
“A rollercoaster day in the end. Pressure was up three quarters, and momentum is a funny thing. Couldn’t do too much wrong in the first half and in that last quarter Ballarat found a way to score with the wind and made it count.
Darley
def.
North Ballarat
Darley proved too strong for North Ballarat to progress to a semi final showdown with Melton.
The Devils didn't have it all their own way early as trying conditions made it difficult to execute safely on the basic fundamentals.
After the Roosters won the toss and kicked with the aid of a four or five goal breeze the Devils’ defence were able to stave off numerous forward 50 entries to restrict Brendan McCartney's young band to just two goals.
With scores level at the first change there were thoughts among a large crowd in attendance the Devils would kick away with the advantage, but it wasn't to be.
In fact, if not for an Andy Azzopardi in the dying seconds, Dan Jordan's more favoured combination would've trailed at the main break.
After a recess of sorts the Devils raised the bar after half time to outscore the Roosters in the second half 8.8 to 2.2 to run away comfortable winners.
Small Devils’ forward Harley Inglis (three goals) and key target Brady Wright (two goals) were a handful for the Roosters and made significant contributions alongside Joel Cadman, Mitch Hovey, Luther Baker and Leigh Spiteri who made ball handling look easier than it was.
The Roosters were typically brave with their intent but overcoming the Devils on their own deck was always going to be tough.
Ned Nash booted three goals to give the Roosters a pulse while Elliot Lamb, Cam McCullum, Isaac Carey and Josh Sparkman shouldered much of the workload.
The Devils have every reason to savour the win but what lies on the horizon in the form of Melton who remains unbeaten since round seven (12 games) looms a different assignment altogether.
STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE
Brett Bewley (Darley) - 33 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 12 clearances
Joel Cadman (Darley) - 24 disposals, 13 intercept possessions, 12 contested possessions
Cam McCallum (North Ballarat) - 64 hitouts, 16 contested possessions, 12 clearances
COACHES’ VERDICT
Dan Jordan (Darley)
"Very pleased with the result. We were able to wear down a persistent North Ballarat in the second half to keep our season alive. Shorter break this week, little time to dwell, rather use this opportunity to prepare and get ourselves right for Melton this Saturday. Wishing Macca all the best in his next footballing venture with Port Melbourne and the remaining teams the best of luck in the finals."
Brendan McCartney (North Ballarat)
"Got beaten by a better team today. They handled the conditions better and took the game away from us in the second half. So proud of our club and players to keep being super competitive to the very end. It's been a tough year with plenty of obstacles, but we kept fighting as a group. Best wishes to teams still playing in the finals series."
