The Courier | Ballarat completed a remarkable turnaround against Melton, coming from as much as 29 points down in the second term to storm home and record a 38-point victory, 17.14 (116) to 11.12 (78).
The Bloods controlled the match early, their superior accuracy in front of goal and ability to swarm forward in numbers, when coupled with a Mitch Brockwell blitzkrieg of three goals in five minutes, saw them lead by 29 points early in the second term.
But from there all signs pointed to a Ballarat comeback, with Shane Hutchinson finding the ball in all parts of the ground, but the Swans could not find the middle of the goals.
Two late steadiers from Melton saw the lead remain what looked like a handy 17 points at the main break, despite the Swans having three more scoring shots than their opponents.
After half time though it looked like only one team came out of the sheds, with Ballarat piling on seven goals to none in a devastating third term.
What little hope the Bloods harboured in the last term was snuffed out early on as their coach Brad Murphy hobbled from the field.
Murphy returned, briefly, but the Swans added yet more pain and extended their lead to the final margin of 38 points.
Hutchinson found the ball all game while excellent second halves from countless Swans, including O’Farrell, Tom Stapleton, Zane Thompson and Daniel Kennedy engineered the comeback.
