Tara Murray
The Sunbury Lions weren’t able to stop a fast finishing Ballarat in a Ballarat Football League elimination final on Saturday.
For the first three quarters, the Lions seemed to be the side that would be headed to the next week of finals.
The Lions kept the Swans scoreless in the first quarter and were well in control of the match at three quarter time, leading by 36 points.
The Swans came home hard in the final quarter and were able to snatch the lead and the win with six seconds to go, winning 10.5 (65)-9.9 (63).
Lions coach Matt White said it was disappointing to go out like that.
“To keep a club to three goals in the first three quarters and let them get seven goals in the final quarter and run over the top of us is disappointing.
“We will get better from that.”
White said there was a swirly breeze and they were able to make the most of it in the first quarter before staying on top in the next two.
He said the Swans threw everything to the wind in the final quarter to try and keep their season alive.
The Lions couldn’t stop them.
“Being a final you can throw everything around and they did,” White said. “They got three in a row and we were able to get one back and look like we had steadied the ship
“We just couldn’t shut them down properly and with six seconds to go they scored.”
Ben Cameron, Nathan Doyle and Jake Sutton kicked two goals each for the Lions.
White said captain Tyson Lever was their best in his best performance for the season.
Joel Muir, Cameron and Josh Guthrie were other standouts.
White said everyone played their role at times but just was not able to stop the Swans when needed.
While disappointed to go out in the first week of finals, White said this season was a good starting point to move forward.
“We had a good year and we’re back in finals for the first time in five years,” he said. “We’ve only scratched the surface.
“I’ve been there for about 10 months and I want to keep building this club to where we want to be.”
While the seniors were knocked out, the reserves and under-19s are both still alive.
The reserves will play off for a grand final spot this weekend, while the under-19s will play a knockout semi final after losing on Saturday.
White said they would continue to get around those sides and the netballers.
