DAYLESFORD 16.7 (103) d BALLAN 12.13 (85)
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THE Daylesford Football Club theme song rang out loud and clear on Saturday after the Bulldogs stormed home to record a thrilling 18-point win at Ballan.
The young Doggies trailed for much of the second and third terms and were staring at defeat after Ballan's Zac Peoples put the Blues 20 points up in the opening minutes of the final quarter.
Enter Max Risstrom, who ignited the Bulldogs’ stirring comeback when he screwed through the goal of the day from the wrong pocket for a left footer and then followed up with a pack-busting mark and long goal to cut the margin to just eight points.
Best on ground Seb Walsh then got the grandstand shaking when he struck twice in two minutes to put the visitors in front for the first time since early in the first term.
The Blues had some golden opportunities to reclaim the lead, but could only manage to level the scores with four straight behinds.
Pat Rowe then kicked truly under enormous pressure and the Bulldogs never looked back.
"... I was pretty pleased that even when we're not playing good footy we've been able to hang on in games,” winning coach Marcus Goonan said.
... I was pretty pleased that even when we're not playing good footy we've been able to hang on in games.
- - Daylesford coach Marcus Goonan
Ultimately, Ballan couldn't defend a four-goal lead from early in the last term, despite the best efforts of Jake Wilkinson, Dan Nielsen, Jason McNamara and People's game-high four majors.
HEPBURN 26.16 (172) d SKIPTON 8.6 (54)
HEPBURN sustained a brief period of resistance from Skipton on Saturday, but eventually pulled clear to record an 118-point victory.
Playing at home, the Burras led by two points at quarter time before kicking clear over the remaining three terms. Andy McKay booted five majors to be among Hepburn’s standouts alongside ruckman Michael Watt, while Tom Breed kicked four goals for the Emus, which named Angus Mason as their best.
LEARMONTH 16.20 (116) d CLUNES 7.8 (50)
LEARMONTH suffered a handful of significant injuries while marching to a 66-point victory against Clunes.
Lakies president Matt Hines said forward Tyson White had a suspected anterior cruciate ligament injury, while ruckman Ryan Barnes (hamstring) and defender Nathan Ross (shoulder) also went down during the clash.
Learmonth led by 71 points at half time before the home side finished with six goals to five.
- More results page 23
