Round 9 Review

Redan held off a barnstorming finish from North Ballarat to win by three points at City Oval. The result makes it a hat trick of wins for the Lions who are now just percentage outside of the top six.

The Lions won the opening three-quarters of the game to set up a 26-point lead at the final change before Brendan McCartney's men went to work, booting five goals to one in the last only to fall three points shy. While honours remain deservedly with the winners, North Ballarat's belated efforts were to be commended after losing Jarrod Curran (collarbone) and John O'Brien (heavy knock) for the second half.

Lions goal shark Isaac Grant finished with five goals to feature prominently while underrated wingman Pat Fitzgibbon provided some much-needed drive in a position where you can easily be exposed by North Ballarat. Lachie George was among the better players for the winners, buoyed by the return of Cooper Craig Peters from VFL duties.

For North Ballarat, the usual suspects nearly willed them over the line with significant contributions from Jack Riding (4 goals), Riley Polkinghorne, Cam McCallum, Simon McCartin, Brock Leonard and Ryan Hobbs.

Redan most certainly needed the points with Melton, East Point and Sebastopol to come over the next three weeks. North Ballarat will aim to bounce back over the coming fortnight against Melton South and Darley.

What the coaches said...

Jarrett Giampaolo (Redan): "Stressful win! We dominated play in the first half but were very wasteful and should have been up by a lot more and potentially had the game won. But North Ballarat were persistent and took the game on in the last quarter.  A few of their good players got off the leash but our boys were able to grind out the last five minutes and hang on."   

Brendan McCartney (North Ballarat): "We were outworked in the first half. Redan were very good in the contest which consistently gave them first use of the ball. We responded well in the second half, down two important players. Our endeavour, competitiveness and desire were fantastic. Great game of footy, the better team won on the day."

Heath Pritchard's Melton South ended a 14-game losing streak in Ballarat dating back nearly five years when they hung on to defeat Lake Wendouree by six points. The Panthers, although ninth on the McDonald's Ballarat Senior Men's table are just one game and percentage outside the top six in what is shaping up to be an incredibly even competition.

When a 16-point half-time lead to the visitors became 24 points at the final change it was looking more like 'how far' for the Panthers, but Jack Fitzpatrick's Lakers dug in for the fight, drawing level in the latter stages before a Daniel Vasjuta late goal sealed the game.

What was more encouraging for the Panthers in their third away win of the season was the make-up of the best players, with a few of the lesser-knowns standing up when it counted most. Sam Hurst, Daniel Vasjuta (3 goals), Jarrod Bibby and John Kovarik were influential in the win, while Will Thornton-Gielen's three-goal return also helped the cause.

The Panthers had seven goalkickers on the day, the Lakers just five as young Laker Rory O'Keefe (3 goals) led Geelong VFL-listed Scott Carlin and Nathan Pring who finished with two. Harrison Robertson and Brayden Helyar were considered the best players out of the losing camp along with O'Keefe. 

The Panthers will hope to improve on their 0-5 record at home this week when they face North Ballarat, who have lost three of their last four games.

The Lakers will prepare for a trip down the highway for a meeting with Darley who have lost their last two against finals contenders Ballarat and East Point.

What the coaches said...

Jack Fitzpatrick (Lake Wendouree): "Football is a hard game at the best of times, made harder when you give the opposition a head start. Credit to Melton South, they came to play and we took a quarter to get going, which was the difference in the end."

Heath Pritchard (Melton South): "Pleasing result at the end of the day following a number of changes. We were dominant in the first quarter and hit the scoreboard. A stalemate prevailed through the middle stages before the Lakers, to their credit, took the game on and started to score. Pleasing from our boys when Lakers drew level we found a way to get the ball forward and score late."

Ballarat arrested a 16-point half-time deficit to steal a one-point win at Alfredton Oval and move into outright second on the ladder ahead of their bye in Round 10.

Dangerous Swans forward Andrew Hooper (5 goals) capitalised on his side's momentum swing as their midfield and half-back lines hit their straps in the second half, creating enough opportunities to finish ahead of the ledger on the final siren. Rebound defender Nick Weightman continued his impressive season to be named best along with Hooper and youngsters Rhys Perry and Will Liston.

For the 'Burra Jed Hill finished with four goals and fearless leader Tony Lockyer three. Hill took the honours in a losing side, while Liam Stow and Dean Robertson battled manfully in the absence of first-choice ruckman Jack Richards. Bailey Veale and James Keeble continued their rich vein of form but it wasn't enough to deny the Swans in a nailbiter.

The Swans will savour the bye with a smile while it's back to the drawing board for the 'Burra as their four-game winning streak came to a dramatic end. Sebastopol is at home to Bacchus Marsh this Saturday.  

What the coaches said...

Joe Carmody (Ballarat): "Sebastopol's pressure was excellent throughout the game, restricting our ball movement. We were able to get on top at stoppages and rebound off half-back a bit better in the second half creating scoring opportunities for Andrew Hooper and Josh Gibson."

Michael Searl (Sebastopol): "Disappointing result when you've led for 95% of the day. We started really well but weren't as efficient as we would have liked. The inside 50 count was 18-4 at quarter time. Some crucial turnovers by foot in the last (quarter) also hurt us. We regroup and we go again, no point dwelling on it."

Kangas star forward Jordan Johnston proved the difference - booting nine goals to be clearly best on ground in their come-from-behind win over the Devils at Eastern Oval.

The visitors led by as much as 17 points midway thru the third term before the reigning Premiers booted 10 of the last 12 goals of the game to win going away.

'JJ' kept the Kangas in it with six of their first seven goals. Even the Darley faithful were left contemplating, what can you do? Jordy has 35 goals from his last seven games, firming well and truly into Henderson Medal calculations.

Kangas midfielders Mickijta Rotumah-Onus and Matty Johnston won the midfield battle on the back of some tireless work from Joel Van Meel in the ruck, giving 'JJ' and youngster Jack Jeffrey (3 goals) the supply needed to post a winning score.

Devils forward Nick Rodda (5 goals) looked threatening all afternoon while  Mace Cousins' rebound out of defence was pivotal in setting the league improvers up with an early advantage.

What the coaches said...

Jake Bridges (East Point): "Plenty of evidence of living our trademarks today! Great team effort and response from the group."

Dan Jordan (Darley): "Spirited effort against a quality side. Great learnings on playing four-quarter football for our young side. We were in it for a long way, full credit to East Point."