RARELY would one expect 47 goals to be kicked between the Ballarat Football League’s bottom two sides in one game, but Saturday’s shootout at MacPherson was a match to remember.
In the battle of the winless sides, Melton notched its first win of the year in electric fashion against Sebastopol.
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In a highly entertaining match, the Bloods booted 10 out of the last 11 goals in the final quarter to storm home to a 29.17 (191) to 18.8 (116) win over the Kookaburras.
It was apparent from the outset of the match that the score-keepers would be kept busy, with Sebastopol’s Michael Powell nailing a goal just 40 seconds into the game.
Although riddled with errors, both teams moved the ball through the midfield at will, providing their forwards with multiple opportunities.
From that point onwards it was a genuine roller coaster of a match.
Melton often threatened to run away with the result, extending its lead with flurries of goals.
In one electrifying burst in the second term, the Bloods booted four goals in two minutes, courtesy of the unstoppable Darren Haby.
Haby booted eight goals in the first half, on his way to 10 for the match.
Sebastopol coach Shawne Dummett tried half a dozen different players on the Bloods full-forward, but with four out of his best six defenders not playing, the task proved impossible.
Jake Gleeson continued his stellar year, as did Matthew Notman.
Melton coach Bob Heaney said the way his side moved the ball with ease through the midfield was a reflection of the game plan he had been trying to implement all year, made easier by the fact he finally had a near-full playing list on the park.
“It’s the first time we’ve had that core group out on the field and they all played well,” he said.
“The confidence had really dropped off before this game, but now we can start to get some of it back.”
Melton will try to keep the momentum going into this weekend’s match against Ballarat (sixth, 4-5).
Around the grounds, Sunbury 19.7 (121) beat Ballarat 11.12 (78), East Point 14.21 (105) beat Lake Wendouree 7.10 (52), and North Ballarat City 15.13 (103) beat Bacchus Marsh 6.9 (45).
The Cobras were within 14 points at half-time against the unbeaten ladder leader but struggled to find a match-up for Shaun Lyle, who kicked eight goals.
“We could easily have put numbers behind the ball and it might have been a four- or five-goal margin,” Marsh coach Doug Hawkins said. “But we thought we’d have a crack. I don’t think it was the flogging the scoreboard suggests.” Bacchus Marsh (ninth, 2-7) plays at Lake Wendouree (eighth, 3-6) this weekend.
Other Round 11 fixtures pit Redan against North Ballarat City and Melton South against East Point.
— Ballarat Courier
