Melton Centrals denies Lancefield breakthrough win to cap emotional week

A difficult week off the field has ended in an emotion-charged win for Melton Centrals, rallying to deny Lancefield its first victory of the RDFNL campaign.

Jonathan Ferri in action for Melton Centrals. Picture: Hamish Blair

Melton Centrals has capped an emotional week with a much-needed victory on Saturday.

The Blues rallied after falling behind in a thrilling final quarter to defeat Lancefield by just two points at Arnolds Creek Reserve.

Hayden Sproule was the hero, slotting the match-winning goal after a 50m penalty, with just minutes remaining, denying the Tigers their first win of the RDFNL season.

The 5.5 (35) to 5.3 (33) victory came as the club mourned Kyle Rodgers’ grandfather and Melton local Billy Sullivan, while also celebrating its breast cancer awareness day.

However, a potentially serious ankle injury to star defender Evan Donoghue soured the result.

Adam Tomac in action for Melton Centrals. Picture: Hamish Blair

Centrals coach Matt Sproule was proud of how his players fought back in difficult circumstances.

“After getting headed, the boys did well to come back and kick the last goal of the game to win,” Sproule said.

“It looked a bit dicey late in the last but the boys fought back and had a really good win.

“It was a big day, it was our breast cancer day so we wore pink jumpers and we have someone at the club who beat breast cancer, she’s been pivotal in the last two years having this day.

“Kyle Rogers grandfather died on Sunday night, so he’s had a tough week.

“A couple of people knew Billy Sullivan, who passed away, half a dozen of our guys would have played footy or basketball with him.

“It was an emotional day and we were happy we could give the effort to get over the line and make Kyle’s weekend a lot better.”

Both teams started strongly, each kicking two goals in the first quarter, as Melton Centrals took a one-point lead into the first change.

However, both defences then took control with just six goals for the rest of the game.

Lancefield was held goalless in the second term as the Blues built a seven-point lead at half-time.

The margin remained steady to three-quarter-time before the Tigers broke the shackles with two quickfire majors to suddenly hit the front.

Centrals ramped the pressure back up late and young Sproule was positioned well to take an intercept mark 50m out.

A contentious 50m penalty was awarded after the ball was knocked out of his hands and what looked a difficult kick turned into the simplest of finishes.

“We knew it was going to be hard and then we lost our best player, Evan, to a bad ankle injury in the first 10 minutes,” Sproule senior said.

“They’re much better than when we played them the first time, they had a lot of injuries and they’ve got a lot of players back.

“Goals were tough to get all day for both teams, both backlines were on top.

“We were about to swap Jake Thornton-Gielen to go forward but then Hayden took an intercept mark about 45m out and a bloke ran past and knocked it out of his hand – so 50m penalty.

“We probably dominated the last 10 minutes of the quarter but we dominated the second as well and it was only one goal.

“Our forward line isn’t working well at the moment and their backline was really good.”

James Ould and Jordan Lindsay were named best-on-ground for their defensive efforts, while Jake and Will Thornton-Gielen and James Roberts also impressed.

In his first game since Round 6, Team of the Year forward Dylan Jobson finished with two goals.

“James played really well, he’s only just come into the team, he’s been a fringe player but had a breakout game,” Sproule said.

“Jordan is another fringe player that stepped up, that was really big for us that we had a couple step up and cement their spot.

“Both played down back, like I said it was a backline game, and our vice-captain Jon Ferri – except for one week on Jason Cooke, who’s the best in the comp – has dominated every other full-forward so he was super.”

For Lancefield, Riley O’Meara was named best-on and Zach Webb, Ben Radford and Lachlan Giles stood tall.

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Alex Simpson booted a match-high three goals.

Melton now goes to its second bye of the season, two games clear of Lancefield in last on the ladder.

The Tigers will look to break their duck when they host Woodend-Hesket on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Riddell defeated Wallan by 18 points, Kyneton knocked off Romsey by five points and Diggers Rest was too good for Woodend-Hesket in the grand final rematch by 18 points.