Ballarat playing coach Ash Baker gave his charges a rev-up at the main break after letting Sunbury control the opening half.

“Our efforts weren’t where we’d normally expect them to be, so we had to regroup at half time,” Baker said.

“We were far too loose in the first half, letting (Sunbury) run off us but after half time we just tightened up and played accountable footy in pretty trying conditions.”

After the Lions booted the first goal of the final quarter to reduce the margin to just two points, wet-weather specialist Shane Hutchison slotted one in return from the pocket to steady the Swans and lead them to an 8.8 (56) to 7.4 (48) win.

Ballarat’s decision to switch Luke Brennan from the forward line to the midfield in the second half proved a matchwinner, with the former Hawthorn utility sparking the Swans’ improvement.

Baker also praised the efforts of midfielder-forward Tom Stapleton, who is back to his best after a knee reconstruction last year, VFL-listed ruckman Sam Conroy and on-baller Lachlan Cassidy.

The win cemented third place for the Swans, two matches clear of fourth-ranked Sunbury but trailing frontrunners North Ballarat City and Redan.

“We went into the game knowing we’d come out of it either on the same wins as Sunbury or two wins ahead of them, so it’s definitely given us a boost,” Baker said.

Ballarat’s finals campaign will be given another leg-up later this month when VFL premiership player and 2009 JJ Liston Trophy winner Myles Sewell joins the club.

Sewell applied for a clearance from home club Newlyn last week.

He has spent the season abroad but will return to play in the Swans’ last four home-and-away matches and finals.

Baker said the Swans were “looking forward to having him as part of our campaign”.

“Someone with his experience and knowledge will really be able to help our younger guys,” Baker said.

In other Ballarat league matches yesterday, North Ballarat City continued its unbeaten season with a 19-point win over Bacchus Marsh, while East Point trounced Melton by 11 goals.

Melton South accounted for winless Sebastopol by 68 points and Darley capitalised on a nine-goal quarter-time lead to defeat Lake Wendouree by 63 points.