Sunbury’s young guns step up to shock premiership favourite Melton

Sunbury produced one of the upsets of the Ballarat league season when it knocked off Melton with a number of youngsters impressing.

Nathan Woods tackles Braeden Kight. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Sunbury sent shockwaves across the Ballarat Football League on Saturday, knocking off premiership favourite Melton.

A stunning five-goal-to-one final term secured the Lions a come-from-behind 15-point upset win over the league leaders at Clarke Oval.

Essendon VFL-listed forward Jake Sutton sparked the fourth-quarter onslaught as the home team rallied from nine points down at the final change to win 9.14 (68) to 8.5 (53).

Tyson Lever was a wall in defence, taking a series of intercept marks, while skipper Daniel Toman was prolific in midfield.

However, it was the young Lions that most impressed as Sutton (three goals), Harry Power, Jack Newitt, Riley Miller and Harry Minton-Connell all played critical roles in the victory.

Sunbury’s Jayden Eales and Melton’s Brett McIntyre contest the ruck. Picture: Andy Brownbill

While Sunbury will not play finals, coach Travis Hodgson said the result and late-season form augured well for 2023.

“We’ve been playing some good footy in the last six weeks, so we certainly feel like we’re building,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it’s not going to result in anything special this year but it’s all part of our growth, we’re watching young players starting to really show their ability.

“It’s pretty exciting actually and it’s important that we finish our work to continue to build belief.

“You don’t lose seven games by under 20 points, it’s not bad luck all the time is it? It’s got to do with belief.

“I told the boys to trust themselves (at three-quarter-time) … if we get beat because we’re not good enough we can wear that but if we get beat because we stop playing that’s not acceptable.”

Sunbury controlled much of the match but couldn’t convert that dominance on the scoreboard.

The Lions booted 1.6 in the first quarter to concede a two-point margin to Melton at the first change.

The Bloods extended the lead to six points at half-time and nine points by the final change as Sunbury kicked a wasteful 4.13.

However, they found their range in the final term.

Melton’s Lachlan Hickey can’t stop Daniel Toman of Sunbury. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It was nice to be efficient, we ended up with 23 scoring shots to 13, so when it’s that lopsided but still game-on with five minutes left you’ve probably wasted a few opportunities,” Hodgson said.

“We had opportunities to build a good lead but then managed to kick some clutch goals late.

“Melton might have bigger fish to fry but no doubt they’re trying to build their form into finals so it’s a pretty comprehensive win.”

Lever continued his outstanding season in defence while Calder Cannons-listed youngster Jack Newitt played a key role negating the high-powered Bloods offence.

“(Lever’s) ability to read the ball in flight and intercept mark, it’s a big score-source for us – it’s our No.1 score-source,” Hodgson said.

“He’s pretty hard to get past and (Harrison) Minton-Connell and Jake Hannent are back there with him to give us plenty of rebound off half-back.

“Jack’s played Cannons for most of the year but been with us for the last three or four weeks.

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“He’s been playing predominantly forward and in midfield but we gave him a job back because Melton have got a couple of really good key forwards and won so many one-on-ones. He was big in defence.”

In his first game back from injury, Jack Walker was Melton’s best in defeat, while Lachlan Phillips, Jaycob Hickey and Brock Kennedy stood tall.

The Bloods face the prospect of back-to-back losses for the first time this season as they travel to face second-placed East Point on Saturday.