Back-to-back for Bridges’ brigade

IT’S again the year of the Kanga in the McDonald’s Ballarat Football League, with East Point too good for Sebastopol in difficult conditions on Saturday at Mars Stadium, talking the flag 6.9 (45) to 4.7 (31).

The 14-point victory was highlighted with fantastic tactical awareness shown by ‘Roos coach, Jake Bridges, who was able to manufacture a way to stop Sebas scoring pretty much altogether.

The Burra were stifled off half back, with their usual pinpoint transition almost non-existent as the Kangas controlled not only the tempo of the game, but spatial territory throughout the afternoon.

Winning one premiership in a league as even and competitive as the BFL is tough enough, but to go back-to-back is an even more remarkable feat and post-game Bridges wasn’t shy in admitting it.

“One of the words we spoke about pre-game was hunger, because when you are playing against a side that hasn’t played finals for 19 years you most certainly got to have a relative amount of hunger to go back-to-back,” he said.

The Kangas held firm in the final term especially with Sebas throwing everything they possibly had at them through their superstars Tony Lockyer, Lachlan Cassidy and surprise packet, Jordan Gercovich.

“I was happy with the four quarter effort, I just think it is one of those days win lose or draw you’ve got to play the same way and even though they came hard at the end we stood firm and, yeah couldn’t be more proud of the boys,” Bridges said.

Throughout the year Sebastopol went 0-4 against the premiers, only able to win five quarters in total including the final term in this year’s grand final. The results highlight that despite having a fantastic season overall it was evidentially clear that East Point were Sebas coach Leigh Hutchinson’s Achilles heel.

East Point’s Jacob Brown stared on the big stage once again with his three goals ultimately the difference, and being an ex-Burra junior, he showed that he was no doubt one that slipped away.

The class of the Johnston boys shone throughout for the ‘Roos with Jordan kicking two important goals in a low scoring game and Matt leading from the front, as he always does as the club’s skipper, both on and off the field.

But all in all, it was Mickitja Rotumah-Onus who was awarded the medal for his best on ground performance with the inside midfielder not only celebrating his second premiership, but also fatherhood after his partner gave birth to a baby boy the night before the game.

Mickitja said post game, “It has been a big 48 hours from me, I was at the hospital all last night, ducked home for a quick three hour sleep, and yeah from there was just absolutely with the effort I was able to put in for the boys on field today and just to play my roll to get us over the line in the end.”

Sebas can only be proud of their efforts in season 2019. The club made a grand final for the first time in almost 20 years and no doubt have set a major platform to get to that position again.

The Kangaroos have established themselves as the number one powerhouse in the Ballarat Football League and proved that pound for pound they may be the best side in local football.

With a few more sneaky editions in a big off-season on the horizon, there is no doubt that the East Point juggernaut could roll on for many more years to come.

 

Ballarat Football League

MCDONALDS BALLARAT SENIORS

CARLTON DRAUGHT SENIOR GRAND FINAL

 

EAST POINT v SEBASTOPOL

East Point 6.9 (45)

Sebastopol 4.7 (31)

Goals – East Point – Jacob Brown 3, Jordan Johnston 2, Matthew Johnston 1

Sebastopol – Lachlan Cassidy 2, Jordan Gercovich 1, Luke Kiel 1

Best – East Point – Mickitja Rotumah-Onus, Jacob Brown, Dallas Martin, Daniel Tung, Matthew Johnston, Jake McQueen

Sebastopol – Hugo Papst, Tony Lockyer, Brett Goodes, Luke Kiel, Jordan Gercovich, Tom Petersen

 

MARS RESERVES

SUNBURY v EAST POINT

Sunbury 10.8 (68)

East Point 5.8 (38)

Goals – Sunbury – Harry Power 2, Ben Guthrie 2, Ben Brennan 2, Trent Luke Stead 1, Daniel Jurczyluc 1, Nathan Bridgland 1, William Healy 1

East Point – Rhys Monument 3, Brodie Murphy 1, Chris Banwell 1

Best – Sunbury – Mitchell Trimboli, Nathan Bridgland, Ben Brennan, Roger Allen, Sam Hogan, Timothy Hill

East Point – Andrew Maconachie, Lachlan Thornton, Rhys Monument, Chris Banwell, Andrew Stevenson, Joseph Dodd

 

BALLARAT TOYOTA U19S

NORTH BALLARAT CITY v REDAN

Redan 8.6 (54)

North Ballarat City 5.9 (39)

Goals – Redan – Kayne Councillor 3, Declan Murphy 2, Jack Jones 1, Ryan Jerera 1, Jack Richards 1

North Ballarat City – Fletcher Toose 1, Mitchell McKee 1, Charlie Perks 1, Dylan Graham 1, Riely Ranieri 1

Best – Redan – Ryan Jerera, Declan Murphy, Liam Phillips, Kayne Councillor, Ryan Thiesz, Sam McDougall

North Ballarat City – Ryan Polkinghorne, Riley O’Keefe, Isaac Pertzel, Fletcher Toose, Dylan Graham, Jarrod Curran