Footy Wrap Rd 16 | The Courier | August 12, 2023
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00:00 Welcome to our weekend wrap of everything in the Central Highlands and Ballarat Football
00:05 Leagues. I'm David Brugge and I'm joined by my co-host Edward Holland.
00:09 G'day David, how you doing?
00:11 Not too bad. Good to see you again. Let's just give a small taste of perhaps what you've
00:16 got coming up in your review of the Ballarat Football Netball League and then we'll get
00:21 straight into the Central Highlands.
00:22 Yeah, well I think everything actually lived up to expectation. Ballarat, an upset win
00:27 against Redan, keeps that finals race alive for at least one more week so that's exciting.
00:32 Yeah, you've got two weeks to go and the Central Highlands Football League has the one round
00:38 remaining. Okay, let's get stuck into round 16 in the Central Highlands League. Penultimate
00:43 round, the most predictable round of the season with every game going the way we expected.
00:50 There was only one game that had two of the finalists engaged and one game that had no
00:58 finalists so the rest were fairly lopsided match-ups and that's exactly how it panned
01:05 out. So let's quickly run through the results first of all. The match of the round, well
01:10 unfortunately it didn't live up to those expectations in the sense that it was a one-sided affair.
01:16 Hepburn at home, far too good, too classy, too strong, anything you like to say for Carnum
01:22 Linton. 21-9, 135, defeated Carnum Linton 9-12, 66. This game was over by half-time
01:30 so on the scoreboard you'll see things levelled out a little bit after the main break but
01:36 the game was already gone. Hepburn, they're just hitting their straps. You can see how
01:41 much they've improved over recent weeks, beating Bungaree last week and now Carnum Linton,
01:47 two of their fellow finalists. It's just another reminder for the Saints that they've got a
01:55 little way to go. They're going to play finals and I was out there today for the broadcast
02:01 and I kept highlighting that. They've done a fantastic job to make finals coming from
02:05 where they are and no one is saying anything else but that about the Saints but they're
02:10 finding out in the last couple of weeks against Gordon and Hepburn Games, we've been waiting
02:14 to see how they measure up and they've come up short when it comes down to being a premiership
02:20 contender. They've got a chance actually in the finals in a couple of weeks, they'll play
02:24 an elimination final and I'm not ruling out that they'll win an elimination final because
02:28 I think there's just now a bit of a gap between the top and some of the rest of the top eight
02:34 but anyway today, look, just far too good, Hepburn and they're marching towards a big
02:41 finals campaign. Jackson Carrick, one of several multiple goal kickers for the borough, he
02:47 kicked six, his second game back after a holiday break. So they threw a few things around today,
02:53 they played Quade Butt, who's best known as a key defender, big body player but he went
03:01 forward and he also got among the goals. So they tried a few things and Carnum Linton,
03:07 they tried everything they could but every time they went near the ball they were under
03:10 pressure, they were hurried, they missed targets and so they were just out of the hunt by half
03:16 time. So a good win to Hepburn, that locks them into the top four and the double chance
03:23 in the finals which is all very important for those premiership contenders. Quickly
03:28 running through the other results, Dunstown 167, defeated Warbra 72. Newland, hit their
03:35 highest score of the season, 128 to Dalesford 65. Bunningong and Balland, the two sides
03:41 that played each other, they're not playing finals. Bunningong got the points there, 74
03:46 to a, looks like a fighting Balland, 44. Gordon convincing over Creswick, 131 to 85. We go
03:57 down to Bungaree, they had quite a tussle on their hands and we said this would probably
04:01 be the case at Clunes, a tough ground to play. They've pushed a lot of good sides this year
04:06 Clunes without having got over the line. They went down by just 12 points Clunes, Bungaree
04:12 97 to 85. So it keeps Bungaree in the hunt for that minor premiership. Skipton, they
04:18 also had a bit of a battle to three quarter time before just getting away over Beaufort,
04:22 75 to 39. And Springbank, they kept Roquid Currandap goalless for a large part of the
04:29 game before Roquid got on the board late, but they won 82 to 74. So a quick look at
04:35 the later with one round to go. The top four is now settled, particularly when we look
04:39 at the fixture. Right now it's Springbank on top with 56. They're again clear of Bungaree
04:46 and Gordon. This percentage is not much in at Springbank, 174.19, Bungaree 171.88. Of
04:55 course, while they're again clear Springbank, they have a bye. So their home and away season
05:00 is done. They get a week off. So Bungaree, if they can pick up two and a half percent,
05:07 they will actually finish on top. So it'll come down to percentage. I'm sure they'll
05:11 win their last round. Gordon, as I say, they can't really pick up. They're nine percent
05:16 off the pace. But those three teams, fair chance they'll all finish on 56 premiership
05:21 points. Hepburn today go to 48. So that locks them in because they should win their last
05:27 round next week against Creswick. And then we're going to have Carlin Linton and Skipton
05:33 both on 44 and Dunstown and Newell, both again adrift of that. So we're going to have Springbank,
05:43 Bungaree, Gordon and Hepburn in qualifying finals in two weeks time with a double chance.
05:48 And Carlin Linton, Skipton, Dunstown and Newell will play off in the cut rate elimination
05:54 finals. What order they finish in, how the matchups will occur, we'll have to wait another
05:59 week. But there you go. A quick summary of a predictable day in the Central Highlands
06:04 Football League as we just a week to go. Then finals. You've already alluded to a big result
06:10 for the Swans in the sense that while they can't make finals, it just puts Redan, you
06:16 know, just a little bit of doubt there, even though the draw suits them, doesn't it? But
06:20 it keeps East Point in the race. Absolutely. Yeah. So if Redan won today, they would have
06:25 locked up the final spot. There's still, it's still mathematically possible that East
06:29 Point would have made it. But like you said, if everything goes to plan, then we can kind
06:32 of predict who will be there. But they didn't win today. Ballarat got a 19 point win over
06:37 Redan. The Swans are actually down five goals at quarter time. There was an almighty Chris
06:43 Maple spray that inspired the comeback. The Swans kicked 11 of the last 13 goals of the
06:48 game. And also a bit of Marcus Powing magic on the siren, which is on the career footy
06:54 Facebook page. But yeah, Ballarat, like you said, they can't make finals. They won't be
06:59 playing finals. But earlier in the season, they took down Sunbury at home in an upset
07:03 win. And they've been a bit of deja vu today doing the same to Redan. But yeah, I think
07:09 Redan has Milton South next week. So that's four points there. But Sebaspo on the last
07:13 round. So they're battling with East Point at the moment for that last spot. And also
07:18 Sunbury actually lost two spots in the top six. So what this result does is it just keeps,
07:25 lets me talk about the top six battle for another week at least.
07:28 Because East Point lost today. You'll get to that in a moment in a close run to Sebaspo.
07:32 But just tell us that situation, ladder wise with Redan and East. Because while we've got
07:37 that result fresh in our mind.
07:39 Yeah, so Redan is sixth place on 28 points. East Point is also on 28 points, but just
07:45 in seventh is about four or 5% between them, I think off memory. Sunbury is a game ahead,
07:50 but they've got Backersmarsh next week. But Backersmarsh, yeah, they had a big result
07:54 today. So you never really know.
07:56 But it's down to two really, isn't it?
07:58 Yeah, eyes are on, have been on those two teams for the last couple of weeks.
08:02 So teams got?
08:03 Melton South and Sebaspo.
08:05 Right, so maybe let's say one win. Going to form, that would get them to 32 with possibly
08:12 a superior percentage. East Point, who have they got?
08:15 I think they have North Ballarat and Sunbury, but that's me forgetting.
08:19 Right, but basically East Point would have to win two games. Because they look like they'll
08:24 be dragging the chain on percentage.
08:26 Yeah, yeah. But before I actually get into too much about East Point's situation, I should
08:30 just mention back to that Ballarat game, I was able to catch up with Mitch McGrath from
08:35 the Swans, who was all smiles after today's result.
08:38 Joined here by Mitch McGrath from a very happy Ballarat Swans outfit. Mitch, how goes that?
08:43 Yeah, it's fantastic, mate. The boys put in a lot of hard work over the last couple of
08:46 months, so it was finally good to see a result.
08:49 Just have to quickly touch on a little quarter time spray by Chris Maple. You boys were down
08:55 quite a bit midway through the first quarter and he let you know about it.
08:59 Yeah, yeah. We didn't start off great. We let them get the contested ball and we were
09:04 second to the ball all the time. So they started off with about five, got the first five or
09:08 six goals I reckon to about one of ours. So come in at three quarter time and Maples gave
09:13 it to us, which we definitely needed and it seems like it worked, so it was good.
09:17 Once you did get going and fight back, it seems like you were almost unstoppable. I
09:21 think you held your dead to maybe two goals after a quarter time. So what was it like
09:25 when everything was clicking?
09:26 Yeah, it was fantastic. Our mids got in first and won the ball and gave us the first opportunity.
09:31 It got down there quick. Our backs were fantastic as well, helping each other out, coming in
09:35 third and up and killing it. So it was a real team performance. The A-lists were huge standouts.
09:40 Like, the list they got tagged all day but still fought through it. It was fantastic
09:44 in the ruck. Our backman Mitch Bishop and Reece Petty and Sam Fisher were fantastic
09:49 down there as well.
09:50 All good, mate. Thanks for that.
09:52 Thank you.
09:52 So that was Mitch McGuire in the rooms after Ballarat's 19-point win over Redan, keeping
09:57 the finals race alive for one more week. And just going through the rest of the results,
10:01 we've spoken a little bit about East Point. They were actually ahead late in the fourth
10:06 term against Sevastopol today and let it slip. So it was a game of momentum. East Point,
10:11 through Matt Johnston, actually kicked the opening two goals. And yeah, it's just back
10:15 and forth contest non-stop. But Tony Locker, two goals on return as well, which was good
10:21 to see. But yeah, they're treating every single game like an elimination final at the
10:27 moment. But luckily, I mean, you don't really get a second chance in an elimination final,
10:32 but luckily because of Ballarat's win against Redan, they do get a little bit of a second
10:36 chance. So they'll keep going on to next week. But yeah, they'll be kicking themselves
10:40 because they snuck in front late in the fourth and Sevastopol just got another.
10:45 Yeah, that would have really put the cat among the pigeons, wouldn't it?
10:50 Yeah, it was almost like one of those live ladder type days in the BFNL with your eye
10:55 on East Point's game and Redan's game. But there's plenty more of that to come this
11:00 season with two weeks to go.
11:01 So is Sebastien pretty well locked into third, do you think?
11:04 I'd say so.
11:05 That's that favourite spot that they had a few weeks ago that could be going to work
11:10 out really well for them. Because if they finish third, they're going to be probably
11:14 playing Redan, the way you predict.
11:19 Or East.
11:20 Or even Sunbury because Redan might...
11:23 Go ahead of them.
11:25 There's still a lot to go.
11:26 I don't think that would help third place, playing Sunbury, but I think Redan would be
11:30 the one. We'll wait and see.
11:32 That's what I'm saying. I could talk about it forever, but we'll have to wait and see.
11:35 But I'll just run through the rest of the game. So North with a 12-point win against
11:39 Sunbury at Mars Stadium. Depending on the ladder, a bit of an elimination final preview.
11:44 But Sunbury missed some opportunities early in the contest, but North seemingly had an
11:50 answer to everything. Anytime Sunbury looked to try and wrestle back momentum, North Ballarat
11:55 just kept going. Jamie Quick and Jack Riding returned and they were sensational. So very
12:03 handy inclusions for the Roosters.
12:05 Has Sunbury got many out at the moment?
12:08 Yeah, they're missing maybe five of their best, but they should have at least two of
12:11 them back next week. They made a good return through the return.
12:14 So look to finals. They may actually be... They've only lost that by 12 points. They've
12:18 got players to come in. So they could be quite a threat if they can get through that first
12:22 week.
12:22 Yeah, yeah. So it's exciting times for all finals-bound teams. You want to be fit and
12:30 firing at the moment with finals around the corner. But probably a surprise. I mean,
12:35 Bacchus-Marsch went in favourites, but...
12:39 The margins are surprising.
12:40 Yeah, they didn't go in as 92-point favourites. So a 92-point win over Lake Wendaree at Madden
12:45 Lene Park. Last time they met, it was a 10-point win for the Cobras. So that's a big result
12:51 for Bacchus-Marsch. Jason Williams' fourth win as coach there. Ninth against tenth on
12:57 the ladder, which is a little bit interesting. So apparently there was 92 points between
13:01 ninth and tenth, and then Lake Wendaree, tenth, and Melton South, eleventh. Lake Wendaree
13:06 beat Melton South by 102 points, I think. So that's all happening down there.
13:11 We'll get into that next one as painful as it is.
13:13 Yeah, so...
13:14 Make it quick.
13:15 Mention Melton South. They went down by 212 points to Daly today. 33 goals for the Devils,
13:21 which matches their last time against Melton South. Actually, 33 goals on point there.
13:28 Seven for Will Johnson and seven for Billy Myers.
13:31 Enough said. Don't give all Korean bragging about that.
13:34 No, no.
13:35 It's a satisfying win, but I think you just move on, don't you? Because it was a bit like
13:39 the Hepburn game today. It wasn't about the margin, it was the way they win. So as long
13:43 as they did everything that the coaching panel wanted, they wouldn't be looking at the scoreboard.
13:49 Though Daly would be saying, "Right, let's just get everything right, because we know
13:52 we've got to be spot on in a few weeks."
13:54 Yeah, well, they've got Melton next week, so...
13:56 Oh, they've got to be spot on next week.
13:57 That's a big-time clash. Looking forward to that one.
14:00 Well, that's going to be a real teaser towards finals, isn't it? But anyway,
14:05 still a lot to take in. As we said, the Ballarat Football Netball League, two rounds to go.
14:11 So still a bit to play out there. And in the Central Highlands Football League, just one
14:16 round to go. I don't know where it's gone. The second half of this season has just absolutely
14:21 flown by. Top eight is settled. That was settled last week. And then this week, with all the
14:25 results going as expected, the top four is sorted. So everyone knows who's getting the
14:31 double chance. It's just a matter of how they finish up those two match-ups.
14:35 So thanks for joining us for another action-packed review. And we look forward to bringing you
14:41 any other news during the week, because at this time of year, there's always something
14:45 that perhaps pops up, and especially when there's, you know, still that search for coaches
14:51 going on, and we never know. There's a few rumours floating around, as we mentioned the
14:54 other day, but nothing in concrete. But, yeah, so we may see you later during the week. But
15:00 if we don't, certainly we'll catch up with you on Thursday night for our regular team
15:05 talk. So, Edward, good evening to you and good evening to our viewers.