The Sunbury Lions knew that Melton would come at them in the final quarter of their Ballarat Football League match at Clarke Oval.
In recent weeks, the Bloods have played in two games that went down to the wire, and this week it was no different.
On Saturday, the Bloods left too much to do in the final quarter and weren’t able to run down the Lions’ 28-point three-quarter-time lead though they came close with Sunbury scraping home 14.11 (95) to 14.6 (90).
In a seesawing match it was the Lions who got the jump early and dominated most of the first term.
When the Bloods did get the ball, it was under pressure and in their defensive end.
In the second term, it was the Bloods’ turn to control the play with the Lions having to work a lot harder to get their goals. By the main break the Bloods had trimmed the trailing margin to seven points.
The third quarter was where the Lions won the game, breaking it open with five goals to two.
In the final quarter, it was the Bloods who dominated play and the scoreboard, but fell just short as the Lions put three players behind the ball.
Lions coach Rick Horwood said it was a good experience for his young team.
“We’ve had 13 first-year players play for the club this year.
“There was three first-gamers out there today and it was a terrific experience for them.
“Today we had 22 blokes who wanted to win the footy and it sets up our season being 4-2.
Horwood said the side still had a lot to work on after the win.
“We made basic mistakes in the final term and didn’t have too many four-quarter performers.”
Seventeen-year- old Dylan Tarczon was best- on-ground, showing composure and strength beyond his age.
David Kovacevic and Joshua Burgess both kicked three goals each for the winners.
The win has the Lions sixth on the ladder, only percentage below third-placed Lake Wendouree.
This week the Lions face Sebastopol.
