Bloods book grand final berth

Melton 12.14 (86) defeated Sebastopol 6.7 (43)

AFTER trailing by twenty-six points at the first break, Melton have stormed home to be the first side to secure a place in the McDonald’s Ballarat Football League grand final.

Aaron Tymms side has made their second final under his regime after falling agonizingly close back in 2018, with the Bloods now seemingly firm favourites to go one better this season.

In typical blustery conditions at MacPherson Park, Melton were always going to be strong favourites to get the chocolates and took their home record to an unbeaten 10 game winning streak.

For the Burra they were without captain Tony Lockyer who missed with and ankle he damaged in the second term the previous week in the elimination final win over North Ballarat.

Yet, to make matters worse his deputy in Hugo Papst also failed to travel down the highway battling an extraordinary case of shingles.

The Bloods chose to not roll the dice with a double chance in hand on ruckman Mark Orr as he continues to recovery from kidney bruising.

That move was costly early with a strong breeze to their back the Burra got the jump, kicking the first five goals of the game with acting skipper Lachlan Cassidy leading the way from the midfield with a best on ground performance.

However, the Bloods kicked 12 of the next 13 goals to storm home to a 43-point victory, an impressive showing from a hungry side ready to stand up to any challenge thrown at them.

The Carter brothers, Liam and Ryan, booted three goals each, Kyle Borg was electric with his dash all afternoon, and Riley Walker was Melton’s best keeping Toby Hutt goalless and having plenty of footy in return.

The Burra have another chance this weekend as Ballarat awaits with all eyes again on Michael Searl and his selection panel come Thursday night.