LAKE Wendouree coach Gavin Webb says his side has been waiting years to play in a big Ballarat Football League blockbuster like Sunday’s clash against North Ballarat City.
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And for the first time in a number of seasons, nothing but a victory will keep him happy.
Webb admitted he had been satisfied in the past if his side ‘‘had a crack’’ and remained competitive against North City.
But not any more. This year, the Lakers are firmly eyeing off victory.
‘‘We’ve been waiting for three of four years to be back playing in the zone where we are competing in these sort of games,’’ he said.
‘‘Two or three years ago, it was about having a crack. Now we go in where nothing short of a win is good enough.
‘‘We couldn’t be any more ready for this game. We’re in form and we’ve got a fair bit of confidence at the moment.
‘‘Having beaten Redan earlier in the season, we go in absolutely wanting to win the game.’’
For the first time this year, the Lakers will be left without a genuine ruckman.
Often blessed with the luxury of having two topend tapmen (Matthew Tuminello and Jackson Bowen), the blue, green and gold will be left without either this week.
Tuminello is unavailable, while Bowen has earned a call-up to make his VFL debut with North Ballarat Roosters.
The ruck duties will most likely fall to Lane Buckwell, who, Webb admitted, was probably not a genuine ruckman in his own right.
But North City is not without ruck headaches.
Serge Campana will miss with a compound dislocation of his finger, most likely leaving his twin brother Lou to go it alone.
In another big exclusion, Shaun Lyle has failed to recover from a hip injury, although his spot is expected to be filled ably by Marcus Darmody.
Sam Hooper is out of action with an ankle injury, while Daniel Jones comes in. North City coach Rob Waters said he had drilled into his troops that they could not afford to focus simply on the midfield exploits of opposition general Steve Clifton.
‘‘A lot of teams are worried just about Cliffo, but we have to cover their whole team, otherwise we will get caught out,’’ Waters said.
The biggest factor could be the performance of star forward Derick Micallef for North City. Micallef booted nine goals last week, after three consecutive hauls of seven majors and is undoubtedly the form player of the league at the moment.
PREDICTION: North City, but not by much.
DARLEY (4th) v SEBASTOPOL (11th)
at Darley Park, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME THEY MET: Darley 21.18 (144) d Sebastopol 7.5 (47), round 3, 2014
DARLEY: In all honesty, it is near impossible to see the Devils dropping this encounter.
But a simple win will not satisfy coach Jarrod Edwards - he demands a percentage boost.
After missing out on a chance to record a thumping win last week against Melton South, Edwards is calling for his side to show no mercy this time around.
He said after his side's 78-point win that they should've won by more, so expect the Devils to come out full throttle.
SEBASTOPOL: The Burras have probably broken even in terms of selection this week, with some quality names coming in and out of the side.
However, as coach Shane Snibson puts it, his side is out for improvement instead of just remaining steady.
Captain Tom Petersen comes into the lineup to cover the loss of James Richards in defence, although the loss Leeroy Sheridan with a broken thumb will definitely hurt.
"We were really disappointed with last week (a 120-point loss to Ballarat), we've identified what we need to work on," Snibson said.
PREDICTION: Darley won't take its foot off the pedal.
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EAST POINT (6th) v MELTON SOUTH (9th)
at Eastern Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME THEY MET: East Point 13.15 (93) d Melton South 7.8 (50), round 7, 2014
EAST POINT: Jason Delaney is finally back.
One of the Kangaroos favourite sons, Delaney will play his first game for the club since 2013.
He was originally earmarked to play at the start of the season, but has been hampered by osteitis pubis since playing for Waubra last year.
However, coach Glenn Wilkins said his star midfielder was fully fit and was raring to go.
"He is probably the most professional person we have at the club, the work he does is just amazing," Wilkins said.
Mickitja Rotumah-Onus will be unavailable with state representative duties for Northern Territory, while Jono Lanyon has North Ballarat Roosters duties.
MELTON SOUTH: Panthers coach Mark Pedersen says in his time involved in football, he has never seen a team decimated by injuries as badly as his.
Melton South has already used 35 senior players this year, with more possible debutantes to come into the side this week.
"We've just run out of resources at the moment," Pedersen said.
"But on the bright side, these players will be so much better off in the long run for getting these games into them."
PREDICTION: East Point to firm its spot in the six.
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MELTON (7th) v REDAN (2nd)
at MacPherson Park, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME THEY MET: Redan 20.11 (131) d Melton 16.14 (110), round 18, 2014
MELTON: Injuries continue to strike down the Bloods, who will have at least five players forced out from last week's side.
Coach Brad Murphy will still be out of action, but says he is a chance to return later in the season, should his side be in contention for finals.
In total, Murphy expects 12 players out of the 22 that started the season to be missing through injury this week.
REDAN: The bye has done wonders for Redan's injury list.
Three top-class players will return to the side this week, leaving the GJ Gardner Lions with arguably the healthiest list in the league.
Mitch Phelps, Dean Chester, and Chris Giampaolo will all come back into the side, while Kyle Mackay will miss with an ankle injury and Leigh Ryall with a calf.
Pat Britt, Dan Colbert and Ash Ballinger will return through the reserves.
Coach Eammon Gill remains wary of the Bloods' best footy, which it has shown in patches this season.
"Their best football is well and truly in the mix, we have to be ready from the start after the week off," he said.
PREDICTION: Redan with a chance to claim top spot.
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SUNBURY (8th) v BALLARAT (10th)
at Clarke Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME THEY MET: Ballarat 23.13 (151) d Sunbury 11.11 (77), elimination final, 2014
SUNBURY: Lions coach Rick Horwood says he won't mention last year's elimination final defeat at the hands of Ballarat, but it will still burn in the back of the players' minds.
Horwood believes his side enters as favourites on paper, but is more than wary of side brimming with confidence after its first win of the year.
Jake Steeper returns after two weeks away with a groin injury, while there will be last minute fitness tests on Jack Sheahan.
"We just need more consistency across the squad, that's where we have been lacking," Horwood said.
BALLARAT: A wining team is a good team, so Ballarat coach Ash Baker has stuck with the same 22 players for this week's clash.
Buoyed by their first win of the year, the Swans make the long road trip to Sunbury this week, entering the match with new-found confidence.
Aside from a slight concern for Zane Thompson, Ballarat escaped any injury last week.
However, Thompson was named to play.
"I was happy with the performance of all 22 last week so it made sense to keep the same side," Baker said.
PREDICTION: Sunbury to avenge for last year's final.
