Sebas secure second chance

Sebastopol 11.7 (73) defeated North Ballarat 6.10 (46)

IT was another comprehensive victory, and for the third time this season, as the Burra defeated archrivals North Ballarat in the McDonald’s Ballarat Football League second elimination final.

The victory sees Sebastopol move towards a showdown with Melton this weekend, with the winner the first side into this year’s grand final.

Yet the victory has come at a cost with captain Tony Lockyer injuring his ankle and in serious doubt for the rest of the finals series.

In what has been a troublesome season for Sebas on the injury front, the blow comes at a time when Michael Searl was finally able to get his best 22 on the park.

Lockyer went off early in the second term forcing Searl to swing Hugo Papst into defence with the promising youngster living up to the task in an arguable best on ground performance.

Riley O’Keeffe was super in defence keeping danger man, Josh Chatfield, goalless for the afternoon with unsung heroes, Ben Trew, Jordan Crone and Grady Snowden all solid in defence for the Burra again.

Toby Hutt kicked a game high four goals, three coming in the third term as the Burra slammed home five majors to kick away in the contest with brother Ben kicking the sealer to close out the victory.

The outcomes was a disappointing finish for North as they were many pundit’s pre-season favourites to go all the way in season 2022.

They now head back to the drawing board and will have eyes on next year and the return of Elliot Lamb and Tom Hotchin, who missed the back of the current season.

Melton awaits Sebastopol and the game acts as a genuine free swing for the Burra with the old wise tale about the advantage of finishing third in the Ballarat Football League will come to the forefront once again.