Burnside Heights will quite happily pocket two points from a draw with Taylors Lakes and move on in the Essendon District Football League division 2.
The Bears struggled for most of their match against Lions on Saturday and trailed by 25 points at the last break.
Something switched though and the Bears took control of the match and worked their way back on the scoreboard.
The Bears would have the final shot of the game, which would go left for a behind and leave the two teams locked at 8.8 (56) apiece.
Bears president Justin Peagram said they were lucky to get anything out of the game.
“We weren’t in the contest for three quarters,” he said.
“It reached a moment in the third quarter when we were four goals down, we had only kicked three goals for the game.
“Finally everything clicked in the last quarter but we left our run too late.”
Peagram said they changed a few players around including moving Kristian Rocci into the midfield.
It allowed them to control the middle of the ground, while their forwards started to get into the game playing a bit deeper.
He said having a couple of late withdrawals including Anthony Fawcus, may have played an impact early on too.
Theodore Sapountzis was the only multiple goal kicker for the Bears with four.
Tyson Iglesias was named their best, with Peagram saying the defenders had kept them in the game in the first three quarters.
The draw keeps Burnside Heights in third position, only two points behind the top two teams.
Peagram said they were getting some reward for effort.
“We weren’t sure where we would be,” he said.
“We had a few personnel changes and late recruits coming in, so it was going to take some time to gel.
“The Jacana game we don’t know how to play, otherwise all the other games have been close.
“The guys are fitter than previous years. We’re in a good position for the next eight weeks.”
The Bears will get a good idea where they sit the next couple of weeks playing the top two sides Oak Park and Keilor Park.
The Bears women’s team has had a tough start to the season, without a win after six rounds in premier division.
On Saturday they lost to Aberfeldie, 6.8 (44)-3.7 (25).
Peagram said they weren’t able to put together four quarters of football this season.
“We had a few people come back late and a few who had come back after a year off,” he said.
“There’s been a change of pace of the game. We are competitive in a lot of games but we’re not putting together the consistency.
“Against Aberfeldie we lost a couple of girls early and it got away from us. The second half was even.”
In other results, Hillside’s men’s side had a win in division 1, while their women’s side last in premier division.
Tara Murray
