Stirring fightback steelsSebas for do-or-die showdown

A FIVE-goal final-quarter blitz by Sebastopol against North Ballarat has set up an exciting climax to the BFNL home and away season.

The Burra kept their own finals hopes alive and put an obstacle in front of the Roosters’ aspirations with a gutsy 18-point win at Mars Stadium last Saturday.

It’s thrust the Burra into a make-or-break confrontation with Bacchus Marsh this Saturday, with the winner to snare one of the two open finals vacancies.

Having done well to work their way into fifth spot on the back of a solid second half of the season, the Roosters face missing out altogether if they can’t do what only Melton has done this season and beat competition benchmark Darley.

With a superior percentage to the three other aspirants, North Ballarat can hang on regardless of a loss if the Burra and Cobras draw, or if Redan upsets Ballarat, which is poised to pounce from eighth spot.

Sebastopol served notice of its finals intentions by coming from six points down at three-quarter-time and 13 midway through the final quarter for a stirring 18-point win.

The Burra slammed on five unanswered goals in a little over 12 minutes of football to keep their finals dream alive.

Testament to the Burra’s character, they have come from behind at three-quarter-time in each of their last three wins against Melton, Redan and North Ballarat.

Their last eight games have yielded five wins and creditable losses to East Point (five points) and Sunbury (13 points) in games they led at three-quarter-time.

Burra coach Tony Lockyer praised his players’ persistence after the reward for their efforts had not come early in the contest against North Ballarat.

“It felt like we had good opportunities and controlled most of it in the first half, but we just couldn’t hit the scoreboard,” he said.

“We locked in early and had some good looks and entries, but it was pretty sloppy conditions.

“It was a bit of an arm-wrestle for that first half, but I did feel we were on top.

“North put a fair bit of heat on us in the third quarter; they changed their tactics a bit.

“But the response in the last quarter with five unanswered goals was amazing.

“It was very pleasing.”

A strong contender for best on ground honours alongside prolific midfielder Lachlan Cassidy, Toby Hutt kick-started the final-quarter charge, goaling from a mark in the square about 13 minutes in.

Lockyer levelled the scores when he found himself on the end of a Lachlan O’Keefe handball for a running goal from 30m out on a difficult angle.

Having firmly seized the momentum, the Burra hit the front about 90 seconds later when Ashley Munari kicked truly from a set shot 45m out, before Adam Forbes put the seal on an astonishing victory with two late goals.

Lockyer said the win would only fuel the Burra’s self-belief ahead of their season-defining showdown against Bacchus Marsh.

“We are really looking forward to Bacchus Marsh; we had a great contest against them early in the year,” he said.

“It’s pretty much an elimination final for both teams. Our second half of the year has been pretty good.

“It was probably a disappointing performance against Darley (in round 16), particularly in the second quarter, but other than that we are pretty happy with the form and momentum.

“Momentum is a funny thing in football, so hopefully we can carry that through into next week and then see what we can do in finals.”

The Burra will be aiming to end only a one-year hiatus from finals, after missing out last year when they finished seventh.

North Ballarat finished sixth last year, eliminated in the first week of finals by Darley.

Round 18: Ballarat v Redan; Darley v North Ballarat; Lake Wendouree v East Point; Sebastopol v Bacchus Marsh; Sunbury v Melton.