Ballan’s Zachary Peoples entered new territory on Saturday, kicking 23 goals as the Blues smashed Smythesdale in the Central Highlands Football League.
According to club football manager Darren Hodge, it’s the most goals kicked by a Ballan player.
“I think before that the record was 18 or 19 goals,” he said.
While Peoples’ haul dominated the scoreboard, it was far more than a one-man show. The Blues recorded a 315-point win, 48.33 (321) to 1.0 (6), at Ballan Football Oval.
Hodge said Peoples made the most of the work put in by players downfield.
“It was a team effort. It wasn’t just an individual game by him, there was a spread of goal kickers around him.
‘‘We had a first gamer from under-18s get his first goal and a couple of other younger players also got on the scoreboard.’’
Playing coach Mark Williams kicked eight majors.
Ryan Closter kicked six and Kyle Doyle booted four.
Peoples, Williams, Closter and Doyle were among the best on ground.
Hodge said everything clicked from the opening quarter, when the Blues kicked 13.9.
“There have been some big scores against Smythesdale this season,’’ he said.
‘‘It was a good start and the game plan seemed to be the right one.”
In other matches, Gordon lost to Waubra by one point, 14.11 (95) to 14.10 (94).
Waubra started the better of the two sides and managed to get out to a 19-point lead at half-time.
Gordon hit back in the third quarter and reduced the margin to one point, which ended up being the final margin.
Buninyong also got up in a close one, defeating Carngham Linton by five points, 9.14 (68) to 9.9 (63). Springbank and Bungaree had easy wins against Dunnstown and Skipton respectively.
