Swannies sour Darley’s epic comeback

Ballarat 16.9 (105) defeated Darley 16.8 (104)

IN one of the games of the season, Ballarat has won yet again another heart stopper to book a dream matchup with Sebastopol in the preliminary final in the McDonalds Ballarat Football League.

Seven times in season 2022 the Swannies have won by under seven points and the this victory by the slimmest of margins was remarkably their third of the season.

Sunday’s game was marred with selection catastrophe for both sides, with Ballarat welcoming back Josh Gibson, Rhys Perry, Tristian Maple and Sam Fisher, while in the Devils camp Brett Bewely passed the fitness test to play, but illness swept through their camp and Shane Page and Matthew Brett were late withdrawals.

In even more bizarre scenes, in the final moments of the warmup, Duncan Cadman clattered into an umpire, failed a concussion test and had to be replaced by Daniel Lalor.

The host of unexpected late changes seemed to unnerve the Devils, with Ballarat dominant in the opening half with Carter Prendergast and captain Sam James leading the way from the midfield to set up a 43-point half time lead.

With their season on the line, Devils coach Dan Jordan swung the magnets right around sending veteran Darren Leonard and Mace Cousins inside forward 50 with both players getting back-to-back goals to start the third term to give their side a sniff.

The Swannies responded with goals to Prendergast and Perry, only for the Devils to yet find another gear with Dylan Landt leading the way with a couple of big-time goals on the run from outside 50 to make it a single figure margin at final break.

In his third quarter address, Swans coach Joe Carmody pleaded for his leaders to find a way one more time in season 2022, highlighting Aiden Domic as the man to do it with his three-goal performance an inspiration for others to draw upon.

However, it was the Devils who reacted first, and youngster Brady Wright took a big pack mark as the final quarter headed to time on, and his third goal of the game miraculously out Darley in front.

Brett Bewely made it a game high 10-point margin lead for the Devils only for the masters of the close game in the Swans to find a way win again, with the ex-AFL experience of Andrew Hooper and Josh Gibson coming to the forefront, both kicking goals to secure the win.

Gibson finished the day with four goals and was clearly on one leg.

He continues to put in inspirational performance after inspirational performance every time he wears the red and white.

Come next week if he can get himself up he is again he’s sure to be the most important player on the ground.