Tara Murray
The Sunbury Lions showed their growth and maturity to come away with an opening round win against North Ballarat in the Ballarat Football League.
Traditional slow starters, the Lions were able to find a way in the second half to come away with the 10.15 (75)-9.10 (64) win.
Lions coach Travis Hodgson said they were happy to get the win on their home deck.
“It was especially with us being slow starters and doing it against a good opponent,” he said.
“It was a good game and it would have been good to watch the game as a spectator.”
Hodgson said it was an even first half, despite the Lions trailing by 20 points at the half.
He said they felt they were really in the game, with 10 more inside 50s but had failed to convert with the two sides having the same amount of scoring shots.
“We were the better side in the middle of the ground, through the arcs,” he said.
“In the first half they were better at both ends. Stewart Crameri and Josh Chatfield were both looking dangerous.
“They had Harry Loader in defence who was taking a lot of intercept marks. As the game went on we were able to keep control of the midfield and find a way to score.”
Five unanswered goals in the third quarter turned the game in the favour of the Lions. They then finished off with 10 scoring shots in the final term, but were again wasteful.
Hodgson said their forward line took a little bit of time for the forward line to settle.
“Five unanswered goals in the third quarter was pretty good,” he said. “North Ballarat is one of those sides you don’t get a hold of.
“Five in a quarter unanswered is a really good thing.”
Leigh Brennan in his 300th career game and Harrison Minton-Connell kicked two goals each.
Hodgson said that Mitch Lewis and Josh Guthrie were the two standouts on the ground, saying they wouldn’t have won without them.
The two were among the key signings in the off season, coming to the club full time from Victorian Football League commitments.
Hodgson said Tyson Lever was hard to get past in the backline, while Harry Power was starting to get to the stage of playing consistent football at this level.
Joel Muir was the other key player, helping curb the influence of Brendan McCallum.
Hodgson said besides getting the four points, the most pleasing thing was the way that they won the match.
“Our season last year was defined by close losses, so to win one in these circumstances. We knew we had improved a little and we’re probably more mature as well.”
The Lions have one injury concern out of the game, with Corey Mobilio hyper-extending his knee.
Outside of that, the Lions are only a couple of players short of being at full strength.
The Lions now face reigning premiers Melton this Saturday.
Hodgson said it would be an acid test for them and they believe they’re in a good position to have a crack at them.”
