BALLAN blew a 42-point lead to be stunned by Skipton and go down by 26 points in Central Highlands Football League at the weekend.
The Blues hit the wall after half-time, kicking just one goal to six in the 12.10 (82) to 7.14 (56) result.
Aided by a strong breeze, Ballan held the early ascendancy with prize recruit Mark Williams marking strongly for two early goals and proving more than a handful for the Skipton defence.
On-ballers Luke Whitehouse and Danny Mullane were dominant, as were defenders Dan Neilson and Sam Sims and had the Emus on their knees, leading by five goals at quarter-time.
The Emus’ stunning comeback was ignited by skipper Adam Slater, who put Ballan to the sword with four goals, including three in a dominant final term to seal victory for the hosts.
Williams finished with three goals while Neilson, Whitehouse and Joseph Saliba were better players.
At Gordon, visiting Dunnstown led at every change and won by 10 points, 9.10 (64) to 7.12 (54).
Gordon dominated early but the Eagles could manage only one goal from six attempts, whereas Dunnstown took its limited chances, kicking two majors to lead by three points at quarter time.
The third term highlights belonged to Gordon’s Mark Gunnell, flying high above the pack to take a hanger in defence, before kicking two goals at the other end to keep the home side within a kick at the final change.
Dunnstown managed to hold off a gallant Gordon and kicked the only goal for the final quarter to record its first victory for the season.
Gunnell finished as the Eagles’ only multiple goal-kicker while Ashley Munari and Matthew Raworth were other better players.
– with David Bilbrough & John McGregor, Ballarat Courier
Gordon 7.12 (54) lt Dunnstown 9.10 (64)
GOALS – Gordon: M. Gunnell 2, A. Munari, T. Murphy, M. Raworth,
B. Hallam, J. Lee
Dunnstown: B. Duffy 5, A. Lyon 2, C. Morandi, S. Gleeson
BEST – Gordon: A. Munari,
M. Gunnell, M. Raworth, J. Lee, S. Tudor, A. Turley
Dunnstown: B. Gleeson, B. Duffy, S. Roache, K. Mullane, S. Cameron, T. Hill
Skipton 12.10 (82) d Ballan 7.14 (56)
GOALS – Skipton: A. Slater 4, T. McKay, S. Pye 2, Z. Thorne,
T. McKimmie, P. Keirl, T. Pye
Ballan: M. Williams 3, J. Saliba, D. Galea, L. Whitehouse, A. Kitchen
BEST – Skipton: A. Slater, G. Lench, M. Collins, M. Slater, B. Conroy, S. Pye
Ballan: D. Nielsen, J. Saliba, L. Whitehouse, R. Watts, A. Mullane
Other results: Beaufort 13.13 (91) d Creswick 9.8 (62), Daylesford 17.9 (111) d Hepburn 15.17 (107), Learmonth 3.9 (27) lt Clunes 16.12 (108), Newlyn 12.6 (78) d Buninyong 6.15 (51), Rokewood-Corindhap 3.17 (35) lt Bungaree 17.21 (123), Springbank 19.16 (130) d Illabarook 2.4 (16), Waubra 16.9 (105) d Carngham-Linton 3.6 (24)
