Harper Sercombe
Things remain positive for the Sunbury Lions in the Ballarat Football League amid a loss to ladder leaders Melton.
The Lions were around the mark in Saturday’s clash, trailing by only 13 points at half time. They stayed in the fight in the third term being down by only 17 points at the break.
In the last, Sunbury got to within two goals, three times but was unable to get a goal to bring them within six points before the Bloods were then able to extend their lead, winning 13.11 (89)- 9.8 (62).
Although, coach Travis Hodgson said he was “rapt” with how his team performed.
“It was always going to be a tough ask, but we took some good form into it, and gave ourselves an outside chance,” he said.
“I think our system held up really well and we were actually in the game until really late.
“At the end of the day we probably made a few mistakes when the real heat was on, and didn’t take some chances.
“You don’t come away happy from losses but it’s really hard to be disappointed with how the boys performed.”
The Lions sit a game clear in fifth spot, and are looking like they will play finals with only three rounds to go in the season. Hodgson said their performance against last year’s premiers shows they are not far off it.
“We haven’t quite secured a spot yet, but we’re in a strong position to ensure we play finals,” he said.
“Going into it (Melton) we called it an audit, that’s where any of your flaws get exposed.
“It was good to come out of the other side of that with a lot of belief that we’re really close to it, not that far away.”
The Lions young side has been troubled by injuries this season, however with finals just around the corner Hodgson is hopeful their list could be fully fit if they were to make it.
“Everyone gets injuries but we feel like we’ve had a lot of them to our real key playmakers, so that hurts,” he said.
“But we’re the strongest on paper we have been since round one, we’ve only got about five missing at the moment.
“With some luck in the next couple of weeks we could be full strength by Darley in the last round of the season.”
Next week the Lions face off in what could be a finals preview against North Ballarat. The Roosters sit in fourth at the end of round 15, meaning the winner would end up in that spot.
“It’s a pretty big game of footy,” Hodgson said.
“But another chance to really challenge ourselves after the weekend, and to see if we’re professional enough and mature enough to bring the same sort of game and back up the effort.
“That’s the challenge for us.”
