Kanga Brothers seal victory over Sunbury

IN dramatic fashion East Point have bounced back after consecutive losses by defeating a gallant Sunbury by five points, 9.18 (72) to 9.12 (67), in the McDonald’s Ballarat Football League seniors.

The last time these sides played, Alix Magin goaled with the last kick of game to snatch victory and that was almost repeated with the Lions having their chances late to claim an upset win at the Eastern Oval.

It was a grind for both sides all afternoon, with goals hard to come by until the 21st minute of the opening term, when the Kangaroos Clay Bilney kicked the first major of the day.

The next goal of the game didn’t come until 11 minutes into the second, and again it was down to Bilney.

The Pointers led for all but a few minutes and got the game to a game-high 17 point mark with Sunbury clawing the lead back time and time again.

East premiership coach, Jake Bridges, was animated at his three-quarter time address as some late Alec Goodson magic made it a two-point ball game at the final break.

Bridges pleaded for his players to be more ‘disciplined’, to not give away any more free-kicks and reminded them that there are 22 players on the field wearing a Kangaroos jersey and not just two.

In the end one of East Points best all day, Matthew Johnston, stood up at the 25-mininute mark of the final term when the scores were level, converted from 35 and was instrumental along with brother Jordan, in the Kangaroos holding on in the nail bitter.

East Point now has a bye, giving some much needed extra time for their injured players like captain, Paul Koderanko, to recover from that niggling knee injury.

Sunbury remain just outside the top-six but world be pleased with how they went against the reigning premiers and would back themselves to fight their way back in.

The solid defensive work of Daylan Kempster on the league’s current leading goalkicker, Brad Whittaker, was one massive positive with the Kangaroo veteran being held goalless and the pace of Lachie Bramble was on full display with his three goals the highlight of his best on ground performance.

However, Nathan Wood’s season looks to be over with the small defender, who was playing ever so well, breaking his collarbone in the second term.