Daniel Vasjuta boots goal after the siren to win game for Melton South

Daniel Vasjuta lived the childhood dream, kicking a goal after the siren to win the game, and snapped Melton South’s Ballarat losing streak.

Will Thornton-Gielen in action for Melton South. Picture: Hamish Blair

Daniel Vasjuta lived the childhood dream on Saturday.

The Melton South forward kicked a goal after the siren to secure the Panthers a six-point win over Lake Wendouree in a BFL classic at Brown Reserve.

Leading by four goals at three-quarter-time South looked to have the game won before Lake Wendouree mounted a last-gasp comeback to tie the scores.

However, with just seconds left on the clock, Vasjuta was awarded a free kick and with the siren blown kicked truly from 40m out to spark wild celebrations on the Panthers’ bench.

Missing stars Dylan Conway and Jake Thornton-Gielen, the 12.4 (76) to 10.10 (70) win also snapped Melton South’s 17-game losing streak in Ballarat.

Panthers coach Heath Pritchard credited his players for fighting until the last second.

“It got a bit tighter than we would have liked being four goals up at three-quarter-time,” he said.

“Lake Wendouree got the game back even steven and we managed to eek out a goal after the siren.

“We’d led all day, the last quarter we made some errors but the pleasing thing was we got headed but still found a way to win.

“It was really pleasing for the group, we had a few blokes out again – no Dylan Conway and no Jake Thornton, who are really important players for us – and some of the guys that don’t get noticed as much were in our best.”

South jumped out to a 23-point lead at quarter-time and held a 22-point buffer at the last change.

However, Lake Wendouree, desperate to move off the bottom of the ladder, booted four unanswered goals to level the scores and almost snatch two points but it wasn’t to be.

In his first senior game of the season, Vasjuta’s third goal of the day will likely be his club’s best of the year.

Matthew Sullivan in action for Melton South. Picture: Hamish Blair

Will Thornton-Gielen also booted three majors, while Sam Hurst was named best-on-ground after a strong display at full-back, while Jarrod Bibby impressed on his return from Western Jets duties.

“Sam played full-back and had an excellent game,” Pritchard said.

“He repelled a number of forward entries from Lake Wendouree with his punching and backing himself in the air to mark as well.

“Jarrod is a young kid who’s had a couple of games at the Western Jets, come back this week and played half-back and a little bit of inside mid, and was pretty influential.”

The win moves Melton South two games clear of Lake and Sunbury at the bottom of the ladder.

It equals last season’s tally of three wins in one fewer game and surpasses 2019’s tally of just two wins.

The Panthers will look to end another drought when they host North Ballarat on Saturday.

EDFL: HOW RUPERTSWOOD BLEW PREMIERSHIP RACE OPEN

LEADER: GET YOUR BALLARAT FOOTY NEWS HERE

HUNGRY: VICTORIA’S TOP LOCAL FOOTY GOALKICKERS

“Interestingly, enough we haven’t won a game at home this year so it would be nice to break that duck after breaking the Ballarat duck,” Pritchard said.

“We’ve lost 17 games in a row up there and obviously we’ve had some tough times in recent years.

“The fact we were able to break that duck was really important for us as a club and the key was even contribution across the board.”

Conway is a confirmed starter against the Roosters, while Thornton-Gielen will face a fitness test.