Australian Football

East Point

East Point boasts a noteworthy lineage, having been born in 2001 out of the marriage of two successful clubs of long standing in Golden Point and East Ballarat. Since struggling somewhat in their first few seasons the Kangaroos have developed into a competition pace setter, claiming minor premierships in both 2006 and 2007, although in neither case were they able to go on with things, ultimately finishing second and fourth. The 2008 season saw a continuation of the Roos’ solid form as they comfortably qualified for the finals once more, ending up in third position, a result that was repeated in 2009. Over the next eight seasons they qualified for the finals three times and were consistently competitive. The long awaited big breakthrough finally arrived as the culmination of a 2018 season which had seen the Roos qualify for the finals in pole position and ultimately reach the grand final despite the setback of a second semi final loss to Melton. A week later they comfortably accounted for Darley in the preliminary final to set up a rematch with the Bloods. It turned into an epic battle, with Melton displaying strong form in the first half to lead by 22 points at the main break before the Roos fought back in the third term to go into the three quarter time huddle with a 15 point advantage. The last term was hotly contested, with Melton gradually reducing the deficit and getting within a couple of points at the 34 minute mark, but seconds later the siren sounded and East Point had annexed that elusive first senior grade flag with scores of 15.7 (97) to 14.11 (95). A year later the Kangas went back when their 6.9 (45) to 4.7 (31) climaxed an extremely evenly contested BFL season.

Both Golden Point and East Ballarat had enjoyed fine records in the Ballarat Football League prior to their merger. Golden Point had commenced in the competition during the first decade of the twentieth century, and claimed a total of fourteen senior grade premierships, a haul only bettered by Ballarat (eighteen) and Ballarat Imperial (sixteen). East Ballarat’s involvement in the BFL was briefer than Golden Point’s, but its record of five senior grade flags since world war two was a creditable one.