A heavy loss last weekend has made Ararat Storm’s hunt for a finals spot much more precarious.
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The Storm took on Lake Wendouree for the second time in the Ballarat Football League under-18 youth girls season, hoping to repeat their efforts from the first time they met.
The Storm came away 18-point winners back in round seven but Saturday’s match followed a different path.
The Lakers blew the Storm away in the first term, kicking four goals to zero.
The Storm was unable to respond in the second quarter, trailing by 43 points with just one solitary point to their name.
The Lakers booted another five goals in the second half to come away with a 11.14 (80) to 1.1 (7) victory.
Keerna Holden was Ararat’s sole goalkicker, while Miranda Holden was best on ground for the Storm.
The Storm remain in fifth place following the loss. Luckily for the Storm, fourth-placed Redan fell just short by three points against ladder leaders North Ballarat City.
Both teams are on 28 points with only two rounds remaining, with Redan sitting nearly 40 per cent above the Storm.
The Storm will be relying on Redan to lose at least one of its two remaining games to top three sides Lake Wendouree and Ballarat Swans.
Ararat will play its last game of the home and away season this weekend against first-laced North Ballarat City. They have a bye in the final round of the season.
THE EQUATION – HOW ARARAT STORM CAN PLAY FINALS
Current situation
- Redan – 4th, 28 points, 165.96 per cent
- Ararat Storm – 5th, 28 points, 127.46 per cent
Remaining rounds
- R13: Redan v Lake Wendouree (3rd), Ararat Storm v North Ballarat City (1st)
- R14: Redan v Ballarat Swans (2nd), Ararat Storm BYE
Ararat Storm will finish with at least 32 points due to their round 14 bye.
What needs to happen
To play finals, this is what Ararat Storm will need to do in various circumstances:
- Redan loses both matches; Ararat Storm win or lose to North Ballarat City
- Redan wins one match; Ararat Storm must beat North Ballarat City to avoid missing by percentage
- Redan wins both matches; Ararat Storm must comprehensively beat (100+ points) North Ballarat City to avoid missing by percentage
