Tara Murray
The focus on local talent has finally paid off for Melton in the Ballarat Football League with the club winning its first premiership since 2005.
In the wettest and lowest scoring grand final in recent years, the Bloods held on late as Sebastopol threw everything at them.
With scoring hard to come by at Mars Oval, every point was important in the biggest game of the year.
The Bloods managed to do enough, winning 5.9 (39)-4.10 (34).
Bloods coach Aaron Tymms said this is what they had been working towards for a number of years.
“I’m pretty stoked,” he said. “A lot of hard work has gone into this.
“We’ve been talking about this since day one and it’s nice that the hard work is getting rewarded.
“Last night was fantastic. We couldn’t move when we got back to the joint when we got back.
“It’s a pretty close club.”
The wet and cold conditions in Ballarat weren’t what the Bloods had wanted as they headed up the highway.
Tymms said it made the task of ending their premiership drought just a bit harder.
“The conditions weren’t really flash and the ground was under water. It wasn’t great for the guys.
“It played a little more in the favour of Sebastopol. We’re a side that likes a clean ball and are a real running side.”
The Bloods kicked three goals to one in the first quarter and extended their lead to 19 points by half time.
The Burras started to find their game in the third quarter and reduced the margin to just six points heading into the last break.
The final quarter proved to be a hard slog. Both teams were separately seeking a goal. Neither would find one, as the Bloods hung on to win.
Tymms said had he any hair, he wouldn’t have had any left after the game.
“We kicked three goals in the first quarter and then two for the rest of the day,” he said.
“Sebastopol started to peg us back, they were pretty hungry. It was one of those things that you had to set back and watch.
“It was a toss of the coin who was going to win.”
The Burras had two chances late in the piece to have shots on goal to get the win. The first was touched, the second they passed but was spoiled by the Melton defenders.
Tymms was full of praise for the backline group with a waterlogged ball meaning kicks were falling well short of what they normally would.
“The defence really stood up,” he said. “In the third quarter they had 16 inside 50s to our four. They were just really resilient all day.
“There were some really scary moments. I’m proud of them.”
Blake Soutter was awarded the best on ground medal. Tymms said he was clearly best on ground.
Tymms said the three Walker boys, Jack, Lachlan and Riley, along with Jaycob Hickey were also good as everyone had their moments.
The win comes on the back of focusing on the players who have come through the club’s junior system.
Under the player points system, just two players are worth more than one point. One of those Lachlan Watkins is from Melton as well.
Tymms said the club knew this was the best way for the long term success of the club.
“It’s one of those things we spoke about,” he said. “Try and bring the kids through and hope for the best.
“Adrian Monitto has played every game this year and has won a flag as an 18-year-old. The oldest player yesterday was 26 or 27.
“Hopefully there’s still plenty of success to come.”
The Bloods reserves weren’t able to add their own premiership to the cabinet, losing to the Sunbury Lions.
The Lions, who also won the 2019 reserves premiership, won on Saturday 6.5 (41)-2.5 (17).
Tymms said the Lions were the best team all year.
