Melton is one step away from grand final in Ballarat after East Point win

Melton avoided repeating the horrors of last year, going out in straight sets, with a win over East Point on Saturday. Now, the team is preparing for its toughest test of the season. More here.

Jack Walker and Melton are one game away from a grand final. Picture: Hamish Blair

Melton concedes it doesn’t matter where it plays this weekend’s Ballarat league semi-final, it’s ready to make amends for last year’s horror show of being eliminated in straight sets.

The Bloods will take on Darley for a spot in the grand final after beating East Point by 12 points in the qualifying final.

The team had to come back twice after wind played havoc at the ground and created one scoring end.

No goals were kicked in the end against the breeze for the contest.

Melton kicked four goals in the final term, with the wind, to turn a 14-point deficit at the final break into a two-goal win.

The victory now gives the Bloods two cracks to make the grand final, this week and then the preliminary final, if Darley beats them on Saturday.

Awaiting them are the Devils, the reigning premiers, who now have a home final with the quirk in the draw having the match being played at their home ground, Darley Park.

But Melton president Matt Kerr was not concerned about the prospect of the side playing away from home.

“Our best will stack up against everyone else,” he said.

“Our coaches are confident in the systems they’ve got in place.”

Kerr said the team's supporters would still turn up in their numbers despite it being at Darley Park.

He was pleased the side had learned lessons from the past 12 months.

Conrad Farrugia (right), playing interleague, had his best game for Melton last weekend. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The 2022 premiers were eliminated last year after losing in the first and second week of the finals.

At times the squad was in danger of having it repeated but held firm to beat East Point.

“As hard as it was last year, they instilled themselves for a much better performance this time around,” Kerr said.

“We were playing with injuries last year and a lot of sore bodies.

“This time around we’ve managed the players through the games and have got some fit soldiers at the end of the year.”

Conrad Farrugia kicked three goals in one of his best games for the club with the under-23 Ballarat interleague player influential in front of goal.

“He’s a young player who is getting better every week.

“He stood up when goals were hard to come by.”

The match starts at 2.15pm on Saturday with the other final, an elimination final, between East Point and Ballarat to be held on Sunday.