The Courier |
A final-quarter blitz from Ballan resulted in a stunning 20-point victory over Skipton on the weekend.
After trailing by 12 points at the last change, the Blues kicked seven goals in the final term to storm home.
The victors were led by an inspiring performance from Hawthorn premiership player Mark Williams, who was instrumental in his team's resurgence.
Williams kicked five goals for the contest, three of which came in the final term. He also set-up several others in a dominant forward display. Williams said the win was a result of persistence and belief.
"I told the boys to just stay in the game, and that it isn't over until the final siren goes," he said.
"If we could play contest by contest, I thought we would go very close. The boys stuck in there, wore their opponents down and we got over the line."
Williams, who recently took on the role as a playing coach of the team, said the transition has been seamless.
"It's probably a bit earlier than I wanted to coach, but with the boys getting behind me and wanting to play for me, it just makes my job so much easier."
Ballan will face Carngham-Linton next weekend in its final game of the season.
The loss dashed Skipton's hopes of making history and reaching the finals, a result all the more disappointing given the Emus were in a winning position.
In the end, they lacked the composure late to get the game back on their terms.
Coach Matt Rea said his team was unable to produce a four-quarter effort.
"The boys are shattered about the result," he said.
"We played some good football in patches again, but in the first and last quarters we didn't play the way we wanted to."
