Melton survives Sunbury comeback to secure tough win

Melton produced one of the most impressive performances in club history to honour teammate Billy Sullivan, just days after his death. We go inside the emotional win decided after the siren.

Kyle Borg kicked the winning goal on Saturday. Picture: Hamish Blair

There wasn’t a dry eye in the Melton change rooms on Saturday night as the Bloods came together to reflect on a tough week which ended on a high on the football field.

Four days after losing their teammate Billy Sullivan, the Bloods dug deep in an extraordinary performance to beat Sunbury at Clarke Oval by four points, 8.11. (59) to 8.7. (55).

After almost rescheduling the contest as the club dealt with the grief of losing Sullivan, the Bloods instead fronted up and put in one of the best performances of the season.

Down at quarter-time and halftime, Melton fought back in the third term to lead by one point at the final break.

What followed was a final quarter which ebbed and flowed between the teams.

Sunbury took the lead again before a snap from Bloods VFL listed gun Kyle Borg, 30m out from a ruck tap, got the Bloods back in front by four points with a couple of minutes left.

The Lions then had a chance to win the game after the siren with Jake Sutton marking on the 50 as the siren sounded.

But Sutton’s torpedo went wide, missing everything, as Melton held on.

The celebrations after the win showed just how much the win meant to the club as everyone embraced each other.

“It was an unbelievable day in terms of everyone turning up to play in honour of Billy,” Melton president Matt Kerr said.

“It was extraordinary, it was phenomenal what those boys did on Saturday.

“It didn’t matter if we won, lost or drew it was all about the club getting together and being together again on a Saturday.

“Get through another day together.”

Billy Sullivan, who played for a few clubs in the Ballarat league, died last week. Picture: Supplied.

Kerr said his opponents were nothing but respectful on the day.

“Sunbury should be commended,” he said.

“The way they sent us off, the club 18 group on the balcony clapping the Melton team off was a great show of sportsmanship between the two clubs.”

The president was still in disbelief the team not only played but won the match.

He said on Wednesday the players and club got together to reflect on Sullivan and his loss.

From there the players were always going to show up.

“A guy that’s affiliated (with us), Lucas Doran, he’s got some skills in grief counselling and steered us in the right direction with that,” Kerr said.

“It helped the boys understand Billy would have wanted us to play Saturday. The players did drive being there on Saturday for sure.”

While the result wasn’t the focus on the day for Melton, the win was significant in their season.

The Bloods are now 8-1 and on top of the ladder, heading into the second part of the year.

A loss would have put them third with Sunbury on top with the same ledger Melton has now.

The kick after the siren was the difference between first and third for each team.

“When you think about it, it has put us in an amazing position,” Kerr said.

“We definitely weren’t expecting it, we just wanted to show up. To get the win was nothing short of extraordinary.

“It definitely has set the season up for a great finish.”

The club will now prepare for its next match on Saturday against Redan.

Meanwhile, the details have been released for Billy’s funeral, which will be held on July 2 at Bacchus Marsh Public Hall, starting at 1pm.

Melton after the funeral will hold a wake, which is open to the public.