Second Swans draw keeps finals hopes alive

RESULTS will need to go Ballarat’s way, but the Swans’ finals flame remains alight following a come-from-behind draw against reigning BFNL premiers Melton last Saturday.

For the second time this season, a Swans match ended in a tie in what may ultimately prove detrimental to their finals chances.

They also drew with North Ballarat in round one.

Entering the final home and away round, the Swans are in eighth place on the ladder, two points behind the fifth-placed Roosters.

Bacchus Marsh and Sebastopol are sandwiched in between, but level on 28 points with the Swans.

With one of the Cobras or Burra likely to take the four points from their clash at Marty Busch Recreation Reserve, and given their inferior percentage, the Swans will be counting on getting over the top of Redan this Saturday, and for top-placed Darley to take care of North Ballarat to force their way into finals.

Swans coach Ash Baker was happy to bank the two points, after watching the Swans come from 11 points down at three-quarter-time to snatch a gutsy draw.

“The boys were pretty good. The effort was there, but there are some areas we can improve in,” he said.

“We were generally pleased with how the boys cracked in and had a go.

“It was pretty windy down there at Melton, so tricky conditions.

“At the end of the day, we’ll take the two points. Two’s better than none.”

In a dramatic finish at Macpherson Park, the Swans levelled the contest with a goal with about 90 seconds on the clock, but turned the ball over on their next foray forward.

The Bloods got one more look in inside their own 50 before time ran out.

While there is plenty to play out in terms of finals scenarios, Baker said the Swans’ sole focus this weekend would be on overcoming Redan.

“It’s out of our hands as to what happens from there,” he said.

“North Ballarat is every chance to win and move to 34 points, so there is a bit that can play out.

“It’s a tight race for those last two spots, but it doesn’t mean much if we don’t win.”

Baker doubled down on his sentiment from the previous week’s win over Bacchus Marsh by insisting his team’s best would be capable of matching it with the top sides should they get the chance in finals.

“The boys have been good over the last month, so we’d like to get the chance to continue that on,” he said.

“When we got a chance to move the ball, I thought we did it well.

“We like to use our handball a bit and once we got that going, we were able to open things up and give us some scoring opportunities.

“It was pretty tricky into the wind, so our short kicking was pretty effective.

“Overall the effort from the boys was really strong.”

Riley Constable impressed in defence on Liam Carter; Zak Rinaldi was lively with four goals, including a pair of crucial ones in the final quarter; while Lewis Rinaldi, Tristan Maple, Luke Gray and Fraser Perkins were all prominent for the Swans.

Melton will finish the minor round season in either third or fourth spot, depending on the result of its match against Sunbury this Saturday at Clarke Oval.

The Bloods will overtake the Lions in third spot with a win.

Melton won the teams’ earlier season meeting by 23 points.

Saturday’s draw against Ballarat continued a run of nail-biters for the Bloods.

Six of their last seven matches, including the previous week’s win over East Point, have been decided by a goal or less.

FINALS SCENARIOS – FIFTH AND SIXTH

North Ballarat (fifth): Needs a win against Darley to stay put. Can still play finals with a loss, but only if Redan upsets Ballarat, or if Sebastopol and Bacchus Marsh draw.

Bacchus Marsh (sixth): Win and the Cobras are in. A loss ends their season.

Sebastopol (seventh): Win against Bacchus Marsh and the Burra leapfrogs the Cobras and can even jump to fifth with a North Ballarat loss. A loss ends their season.

Ballarat (seventh): Needs a win over Redan and a North Ballarat loss to make it. A win and a draw between Sebastopol and Bacchus Marsh will also see them qualify for finals.