Masterful Melton romp Redan

WITH key men missing, Redan have fallen to the Bloods at City Oval in the last game of the home and away season in the McDonald’s Ballarat Football League, going down 2.12 (24) to 14.10 (94)

Mark Orr starred up forward with four goals in a best on ground performance and if they ex-VFL listed key forward had his kicking boots on, the damage could have been much worse on the scoreboard for the Lions.

The win for Bloods means a match-up with the Sunbury Lions in the first elimination final, and with the footy that they played last Saturday, plus a victory over the Eastern bloc Lions three weeks ago, they will no doubt go in favourites to progress in the finals series.

Redan could only manage two majors for the afternoon with both goals coming from second gamer Kayne Councillor who scored early in the first, off the back off a 50-metre penalty, before kicking the goal of the day, and maybe season, in the final term.

The Lions were without the likes of Orren Stephenson, Dean Chester, Shaun Grigg, Brendan Peace and star on-baller Lachie George, who was suspended after an incident in a loss the week prior to Lake Wendouree.

Those missing players equated to almost 1000 games of football experience and the loss was no doubt felt by club president Garry Goyne.

“Having a guy like Lachie [missing] today was obviously maybe the difference but ultimately disappointing for us but the league too, he was a chance for the Henderson, and the way he coaches our kids on the ground, we missed that,” Goyne said. “He’s one of those hard nuts and great footballers you can’t replace.”

The loss means the Lions have finished sixth on the ladder and have the almighty task of travelling to Darley to play the Devils next week in the second elimination final, a ground that Darley have remarkably won their last 15 games on.