Aussie opener usurps sacred ground's centre to register a ton (5)

I believe the answer is:

loads

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'ton' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both quantities as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for loads that I've seen before include "Burdens, cargoes" , "Tons, oodles" , "Tons, lots" , "great deal" , "Masses; cargoes" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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