Melton produce repeat of 2019 elimination final win over Sunbury

Despite missing several key players, Melton stormed home in the second half to secure a critical win over rival Sunbury in a rematch of the 2019 elimination final.

Melton sing the song after beating Sunbury.

Missing several key senior players Melton’s youth brigade stepped up to secure a critical win over rival Sunbury on Saturday.

In a rematch of the 2019 BFL elimination final, it was a repeat result for the Bloods as they secured a 17-point victory at Clarke Oval.

The likes of Dyson Stevens, Ben Archard, Kevin Klix, Luke Heaney and Lachie Watkins are already missing and the club fears Matt Denham has suffered a serious knee injury.

Despite the injury list it was the Bloods that charged home in a wet second half, kicking six goals to two, to secure a 8.8 (56) to 5.9 (39) victory.

Melton coach Aaron Tymms was rapt with his team’s performance in difficult conditions.

“It’s the first time since I’ve been involved we’ve beaten them (at Clarke Oval) and a few of the boys reckoned they haven’t won there for a while. We actually spoke about it before the game, just achieving little goals,” he said.

“We got a few more outs so hopefully we can get a few back because we’re a little light on at the top end.

“Our top-end sort of guys might be out but our kids are playing some really good football at the moment.

“We’ve got a really good junior program, we’re pretty lucky in that aspect, with some really talented kids coming through.”

With a bag of four goals, Braedan Kight was Melton’s best performer, while Blake Souter, Lachlan Hickey and Bailey Mawson also impressed.

Kight was a danger across the ground and produced the highlight of the match with a spectacular aerial mark.

“He was the difference, our big forwards struggled a little bit, but Kighty got off the leash after half-time,” Tymms said.

“We moved him up onto into the middle of the ground and onto a wing just to get him around the ball a bit more and it worked and he took a couple of good grabs.”

David Kovacevic, Josh Goater and Dylan Featon were Sunbury’s best with Alec Goodson the only multiple goal scorer with a brace.

After a physical, contested match played in wet, heavy conditions the Bloods will need to recover quickly for a home clash against Sebastopol fresh off the bye.

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Like breaking its drought at Clarke Oval, Tymms was hoping to snap another Melton hoodoo.

“They had a good win over East in Round 1 and then the bye, they beat us three times in 2019 so they’ve got the wood on us but hopefully we can turn it around,” he said.

“The east to west travel isn’t great for most sides in the comp when we go over to Ballarat and Ballarat sides coming our way.”

Sunbury faces the daunting task of bouncing back on the road against reigning premier East Point on Saturday.