North Ballarat keep Dolphins at bay in VFL round 14.

North Ballarat continued their push towards a spot in the top eight with a nail-biting three-point win over Frankston in round fourteen of Peter Jackson VFL action. In a crucial match to both teams fortunes, the Roosters, despite kicking into the teeth of a strong wind in the final term, managed to keep the Dolphins at bay winning 9.10.64 to 8.13.61. North Melbourne listed player, Taylor Garner, marked and goaled against the run of play late into the final term before Frankston spearhead Michael Loury, who had been well held for most of the day, reduced the margin to three points with little time left on the clock.

Although conditions were sunny, a strong wind blew straight down the ground to the eastern end and made life extremely difficult to score at the bay end. North Ballarat had first use of the wind but a fifty-metre penalty awarded to Frankston forward Khan Haretuku gave the Dolphins a valuable six points early into the quarter. North Ballarat small forward Chris Giampaolo helped himself to a couple of goals while the consistent Liam Anthony (34 disposals) continued to find the footy.

At the first change the Roosters held a fourteen point lead and the Dolphins would have been pleased with their efforts to have restricted their opponents. In the second quarter the home side got on top much to the delight of the locals on the terrace.

After a scrappy start to the term Frankston finally got rolling with a goal from Corey Buchan at the ten minute mark. They added three more through Loury, Jayden Cass and Adam Giobbi whilst the Roosters remained goalless for the term; The Dolphins in-accuracy in front of goal costing them a bigger lead at the main break. Shane Hockey (23 disposals) a ball winner for the Dolphins. At half-time Frankston led 5.8.38 to 3.5.23.

In the third quarter field umpires called both sides into the middle of the ground for a head count after being made aware that the Dolphins had nineteen on the field. Frankston supporters vented their frustration as the umpires counted the Dolphins players before awarding a free kick to North Ballarat's Myles Sewell who kicked the goal.

It spurred the Roosters on as they kicked five goals to the Dolphins one and went to the final change with a thirteen point lead. The final term was a thriller. Frankston were coming home with the wind and if the match was to go to script, then the home side would get the points. The Roosters had other ideas. They withstood everything the Dolphins threw at them. Cameron Delaney (26 disposals) was superb in defence. When Jake Calvert goaled for the Dolphins, the margin was just three points.

The ball had been in the Frankston's forward half for the majority of the quarter when finally the Roosters found a way forward and onto the chest of Garner. From a tight angle and into the wind, Garner calmly slotted it through. They are now in a tight battle with the Northern Blues just percentage out of the top eight and face Werribee at home in round fifteen. Frankston sit a game and percentage behind eighth spot and will play Williamstown away next.

Footnote: Under the AFL laws of the game rule 5.5 when a team has an extra player on the field their score will be reduced to zero from the time of the indiscretion. AFL Victoria therefore penalised Frankston the 38 points they hade scored when umpires undertook the players count. The final score was revised to North Ballarat 9.10.64 to Frankston 3.5.23.