By Tara Murray
Melton is through to the Ballarat Football League grand final for the first time since 2005.
The Bloods have been on a run that not many believed possible.
With an eighth-straight win on Saturday, defeating East Point in the second semi-final, the Bloods became the first team through to the grand final.
For Bloods coach Aaron Tymms it’s been a little bit surreal.
“I’m pretty stoked,” he said.
“It’s not something I really thought could happen at the start of the year.
“How well we were facing up, the last couple of weeks I thought we were a chance.”
Tymms, who is in his first year as senior coach and second year at the club, said a grand final appearance meant a lot to the club.
“One of my assistant coaches [Andrew Button] was the captain of the 2005 side,” Tymms said.
“He thanked me after the game for bringing finals back,” he said.
“A lot of younger kids take it for granted. The club’s rooms were packed after the game.”
On Saturday against East Point, the Bloods were able to run the game out to win 12.11 (83)-9.10 (64).
The two teams traded the lead in the first three quarters, with the Bloods leading by 20 points at the last break.
They were able to hold on and stop East Point coming from behind for the second time this finals series.
Tymms said it was a good game to sit back and watch.
“It was hard fought, but we had a little bit more run which got us across the line,” he
said.
“It wasn’t until late in the last quarter we knew we had the win.
“They had come from 20-plus points
down with 14 minutes to go last time we played them.
“Last week they were 40 points down and got the win. The boys stood strong.
“They are young kids with mature heads.”
It was some of the Bloods’ more experienced guys who led the attack.
Tymms said Jaycob Hickey, Ben Archard, Mark Orr and Matt Denham were their best.
Braedan Kight kicked three goals in the win.
Tymms said while a few of the boys pulled up sore they had got through the game mostly uninjured.
He said Archard rolled his ankle, but had been able to come back on.
The Bloods have the week off before they face either East Point or Darley, who play in a preliminary final this weekend.
Having won eight games in a row, Tymms said they were hoping the week off wouldn’t end their momentum.
“The week off will be good with a couple of sore bodies,” he said.
“We’ll have a light week this week and train on Saturday.
“We don’t want to change too much.”
In other Ballarat FL news:
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/darley-scrapes-through/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/jordan-not-reappointed-at-the-sunbury-lions/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/hodgson-steps-down-at-bacchus-marsh/
