The Courier |
HEPBURN claimed its seventh scalp for the year, defeating a dogged Ballan outfit by 19 points on Saturday.
It was an uphill battle for the home side right from the outset. Losing last week's best on ground Ben Fenwick with a head injury early, and with the Central Highlands Football League leading goal kicker Lee Cox looking ominous with three first-quarter goals, it looked like Ballan was in for a long day at the office.
It wasn't to be, however, as Ballan came out in the second quarter all fired up, looking the better side. If it wasn't for the first of three 100-metre penalties against the Blues for the day, they could have been leading at the main change.
After an incident that saw ex-AFL player Mark Williams yellow-carded for abuse, Hepburn defender Rohan Connors went from the half-back line to a shot at goal and put a halt to the home side's momentum, pinching the lead back just before the long break.
Hepburn controlled the game in the second half, and could have blown the game wide open if it wasn't for inaccuracies in front of goal.
Blues' Rodney Watts limped off the ground late in the third quarter, leaving Ballan to just two fit players on the bench and making the task so much more difficult.
The Blues fought gallantly all day, but numerous ill-disciplined acts proved costly, which you can't afford to do against quality sides like Hepburn.
In his 150th game, Hepburn's Andy McKay was brilliant in the midfield, alongside his brothers Mitchell and Brad, who all managed to get on the scoresheet in Andy's milestone game. Brad pipped his older brother with three majors.
Zac Graham was best on ground for the Blues, kicking four goals, as did fellow forward Anthony Kitchen, while Cox booted four for the visitors.
Hepburn coach Clive Raak wants his team to play more consistent football.
"We were up and down all day," Raak said.
"We were good at times, 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there, then we would lapse and fall asleep, then wake up again."
The Burras face fellow top-eight side Learmonth in round 11, while Ballan makes the long trip to Beaufort to try to claim its fourth win for the season.
