Wet weather sees North back on the winner’s list

IN a round of football that saw atrocious weather conditions, North Ballarat City kept their finals aspirations alive with a big 85-point victory over the bottom placed Panthers.

Mars Stadium is regarded one of the best surfaces not only in the McDonalds Ballarat Football League but country Victoria, yet not even this AFL standard ground could handle the torrential rain that saw the park resemble a lake.

North Ballarat regained spearhead Will Young as well as interleague representative and Ben Simpson, who played his first game back since injuring his hamstring in the opening five minutes of interleague footy in May.

Youngster, Fletcher Loader, had a breakout game up forward booting four majors in the soaking wet conditions. Ruckman Cameron Mccallum was best on ground with his dominance evident, as his three goals were highlights throughout the day in sort of game where you don’t normally expect the big men to shine.

North booted 7.7 to nothing in the last quarter to blow the margin right out of proportion with the Panthers smashed on the scoreboard but not disgraced in defeat as there horror season continues.

City club President Leon Jones was elated to get back on the winners list but said the team understands how tough the road ahead is going to sneak into the finals this year

“We probably have to win at least seven out of our last nine games… This is a really even competition in the Ballarat Football League this year, there is a number of the clubs that can win it so if you get there you are as good of a chance as anybody, but our issue is going to be getting there,” Jones said.

North host the Ballarat Swans next week who got their first win of season 2019 in a huge upset victory over last year’s grand finalist Melton.

From there a blockbuster clash with Lake Wendouree follows, but the club likely to be without inside midfielder Tim Spiers, who is still battling a knee injury but will recall stalwart defender Ryan Luke after being rested against the Panthers.