At three-quarter time on Sunday against the Northern Knights, and with his team trailing by 17 points, Calder Cannons coach Andrew Johnston decided to move Noah Balta up the ground.
Balta, had been playing at centre-half back where Vic Metro selectors wanted to see him play, but Johnston knew they needed a spark in the ruck and up forward.
The move paid off, with the Cannons kicking all six goals of the last quarter for a 12.11 (83)-10.6 (66) win.
Johnston said the side’s form of the past few weeks had been good and he had expected the side finish the Knights game off well.
“We had a really good last quarter,” he said. “There was no wind. We just moved Noah from centre half back to the ruck and forward line. We know that he can play anywhere.
“We knew we had the fitness and that we’d been finishing off games. The Knights were really strong and hard, but I think they ran out of legs a little. It was a good result.”
Balta finished with two goals, while Jake Riccardi, was back from playing school football, kicked three.
Skipper Brad Bernacki was best on ground for a second straight match.
Bernacki did not make the Vic Metro under-18 squad, but six Cannons players did.
Top-agers Balta, Mitchell Podhajski and Dylan Landt have been named, along with bottom-agers Curtis Taylor, Rhylee West and Jack Bytel.
West, son of former Western Bulldogs champion Scott, isn’t expected to play due to injury.
Landt and Taylor are two of the bolters in the squad.
“Taylor’s work rate has been sensational for us,” Johnston said.
“We’ve known the positives about Dylan and what his strengths are. His outside ball use has been a key for us. He has worked hard over the summer and bulked up.”
The win moves the Cannons to11th and just a game outside the eight. They’ve won two out of their last three games and fell just short of knocking off ladder leaders Geelong Falcons.
The Knights have slipped to sixth with the loss. Marcus Lentini was named their best.
