The Sunbury Lions feel they’ve had the perfect warm up to the Ballarat Football League finals.
Having sat in the top four all season, the Lions have had some big tests in the last few weeks.
They will finish off the season against Melton on Saturday.
Coach Matt White said they felt they were in a good place heading into the pointy end of the season. Last season they limped into finals.
“I couldn’t think of a better way to finish off the season,” he said.
“Sebastopol has been fighting for finals, Lakers had nothing to lose and Bacchus Marsh is playing for a finals position as well.
“Now we get Melton at Melton. We are a lot healthier than last year. We don’t have Cody Bramble and Josh Guthrie, but we’ve found some replacements and guys like Zachary Stevens, have come in and shown they can play a role.
The Lions got the job done against Bacchus Marsh on Saturday but were pushed all the way.
Sunbury started strongly and led at quarter time.
The margin was brought back to just two points at half time, before the Cobras led by a point heading into the final break.
The Lions scored early in the quarter to lock in the 14.13 (97)-12.8 (78) win.
“It was trying conditions and half way through the second quarter it looked like we would run away with,” White said. “Bacchus Marsh stuck fat and changed things a little around.
“It became an arm wrestle. We would get momentum and they would get momentum.
“In the final quarter we knuckled down and had accuracy in front of goal which helps.
“We got out to a two goal lead and were able to hold on.”
Jake Sutton kicked four goals for the Lions, while Brock Landt kicked three goals.
Fraser Ampulski, Tyson Lever and Jake Egan were named the Lions best.
The Lions sit in third spot heading into the final match against the Bloods.
White said having not beaten Melton this season, it would be good to pick up one right before finals.
“We pushed Darley at home and got over East Point at home, but Melton we have not been able to beat,” he said. “Whoever wins is likely to finish third.
“We can’t do that if we don’t play our best footy. We want to take that confidence into the finals series.
“We’re more worried about what we are doing than what might happen.”
The Lions netballers have locked up the minor premiership with a big win against the Cobras on Saturday.
There were no issues at all for the Lions on the way to an 86-33 win.
Rebecca Hicks shot 78 goals for the Lions.
The Lions will face Darley in the first week of finals, no matter the results in the final round.
