Moorabbin Saints Stun Ballarat Amateur League with Undefeated Run

The Moorabbin Saints are the team that has everyone talking in the Ballarat Amateur Football League right now. Sitting atop the division one ladder with a 12-0 record, the Saints have been nothing short of dominant, outscoring opponents by an average of 45 points per game. Their latest win came last Saturday at Eureka Stadium, a 98-54 thrashing of the previously second-placed Ballarat Eagles.

The streak matters because the league is notoriously competitive. The Ballarat Amateur Football League, which draws players from across the city’s suburbs and regional centres, has seen five different premiers in the last seven seasons. No team has gone undefeated through the regular season since the Ballarat Bears did it in 2019. The Saints are now on the cusp of matching that feat, with six games remaining before finals.

A season built on defence

The Saints’ success has been built on a stifling defence that has conceded fewer than 60 points in eight of their 12 matches. Their backline, anchored by veteran fullback Jack Thompson, has been the league’s best all season, allowing just 68 points per game. The Eagles managed to break through for 54 points last weekend, but the Saints’ midfield, led by quick hands from ruckman Sam Carter, controlled the clearances and fed a forward line that has kicked over 100 points in five matches.

Coach Andrew “Scooter” Brown, a former VFL player who took over the Saints at the start of the season, has implemented a high-pressure game plan that has caught opponents off guard. According to league statistics, the Saints have forced a league-high 45 turnovers per game, often turning defensive rebounds into fast-break scores. Their discipline has also been a factor, they have the fewest free kicks against in the competition.

What’s next for the Saints?

The road ahead is demanding. The Saints face three of the top five teams on the ladder over the next month, starting this Saturday against the fourth-placed Ballarat Panthers at Mars Stadium. A win there would put them 10 points clear at the top of the table with five games to play. The Panthers will be desperate to halt the Saints’ momentum, having lost their last two matches by a combined 12 points.

The league finals series is set to begin on August 22, with the grand final scheduled for September 12 at Eastern Oval. The Saints have not made the grand final since 2018, when they lost to the Bears by 14 points. For now, Brown is keeping his players grounded. “We haven’t won anything yet,” he said in a brief interview with local radio station 3BA. “We just focus on the next game.” The Saints will need to maintain that focus if they are to avoid complacency and secure the club’s first premiership in a decade.