at Buninyong Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME: Gordon 17.12 (114) d Buninyong 14.14 (98), round 17, 2014 

BUNINYONG stalwart Mark Phelps is the only current senior player left standing from the Bombers’ last premiership in 2002. 

And he’s still going strong.

Dubbed the most versatile player in the club’s history by Bombers life member Stan Hunter, Phelps will run out for his 250th open-age game this Saturday.

And he will share the milestone with fellow Bomber and current reserves coach Paul Harris, who will play his 300th in the twos.

Phelps and Harris both made their senior debuts in the same game – against Gordon in 1998 – and played together in Buninyong’s long-awaited senior flag in 2002.

Aside from three seasons at East Point, Phelps has been a loyal servant to the Central Highlands Football League club, finishing as a joint senior best and fairest – with Simon Crowe – in 2001.

While it will be a sentimental day for Phelps, the importance of the match shouldn’t be underestimated.

Buninyong will host a Gordon side desperate to bounce back from its 91-point thrashing at the hands of rivals Springbank last weekend, while looking to consolidate its place in an ultra-competitive top eight.

Senior joint-coach Jarrod Morgan said ruckman Chris Oliver was available for selection after missing last Saturday’s win over Beaufort with a hamstring issue, and he was named to take his place on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, spearhead Glen Phelps – brother of Mark – was left out of the side again with his own hamstring troubles.

Gordon will be without key defender Mark Gunnell, who has been selected in the Victoria Country 2 team that will take on a side from the Victorian Amateur Football Association in Bendigo on Saturday.

Forward Steve Nicholson is also a chance to return after pulling out with soreness for the game against the Tigers.

PREDICTION: Gordon by a few goals.

SMYTHESDALE (18TH) V BUNGAREE (1ST)

at Smythesdale, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Bungaree 51.36 (342) d Smythesdale 0.0 (0), round 11, 2014

SMYTHESDALE: Bulldogs coach Stephen Frys says it is unlikely Ash Carli will take the field this weekend.

Carli was cleared from his life ban at an appeals hearing earlier this month, but is first expected to assume an assistant coaching role on the bench, starting against Bungaree.

Among the inclusions for the Bulldogs this Saturday is key duo Matthew Wright and Josh Szabo.

BUNGAREE: The Demons have bounced back with big wins against league minnows following its only loss of the season to Waubra.

And here’s another relatively simple encounter before things really start to heat up. Following Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs, Bungaree lines up Dunnstown, Beaufort, Buninyong, Hepburn and Creswick before finals.

PREDICTION: Bungaree

DUNNSTOWN (11TH) V CRESWICK (9TH)

at Dunnstown, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Creswick 8.12 (60) d Dunnstown 1.3 (9), round 13, 2014

DUNNSTOWN: The Daville Building Surveying Towners welcome back important pair Aaron Sawers and Dan  McGrath for the clash with Creswick.

Sawers got married in New Zealand last weekend while McGrath, regarded as a key figure in defence, was also unavailable.

The ins are important as the team looks to bounce back from the Burras’ 103-point thrashing and claim its first win since round seven.

CRESWICK: The Wickers are keeping the pressure on eighth-placed Ballan, but can’t really afford any slip-ups if they hope to land a finals berth.

Two games and percentage behind the Blues in ninth on the ladder after three-straight wins, things really start to get tough for coach Damian Lubeek and his men from here on.

PREDICTION: Creswick by eight points.

BEAUFORT (7TH) V HEPBURN (3RD)

at Beaufort, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Hepburn 16.13 (109) d Beaufort 3.2 (20), round 2, 2014

BEAUFORT: Assistants Rohan Brown and Jacob Garvey will take the reins and lead the Crows as they look to snap a two-match losing streak.

Senior coach Dale Power is overseas and won’t be at this weekend’s game as Beaufort hopes to overcome defeats at the hands of Gordon and Buninyong. As a result, the side has slipped from a place at the top to seventh on the ladder.

HEPBURN: It will be interesting to see how these two teams get along on Saturday. In this fixture last year, the match was called off early after a melee broke out.

The Burras were well clear and claimed the four points, but are likely to face a much tougher assignment against an improved Crows outfit.

Coach Clive Raak said there was unlikely to be any significant changes to the side that beat Dunnstown last weekend.

PREDICTION: Hepburn, but only just.

ROKEWOOD-CORINDHAP (13TH) V BALLAN (8TH)

at Rokewood, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Ballan 6.13 (49) d Rokewood-Corindhap 5.7 (37), round 4, 2014

ROKEWOOD-CORINDHAP: The Emerald Grain Grasshoppers have another tough task in round 12, but will then set themselves for a promising run of games.

Rokewood-Corindhap, which went down to reigning premiers Bungaree last Saturday, take on an in-form Ballan before games against Clunes, Learmonth and Daylesford.

BALLAN: The Blues are set to welcome back defender Ben Fenwick. Coach Mark Williams said Fenwick pulled out of the side that beat Carngham-Linton with a neck problem, but would be right to take his place in the 22 this weekend.

Key goal-kicker Daniel King was also named as one of the three outs at selection last night.

The Blues have maintained a solid break on the chasing bunch outside the top eight. Another win here would boost the chance of a return to finals.

PREDICTION: BALLAN BY 37 POINTS.

CARNGHAM-LINTON (17TH) V CLUNES (15TH)

at Snake Valley, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Clunes 8.16 (64) d Carngham-Linton 5.10 (40), round 12, 2014

CARNGHAM-LINTON: Leading goal-kicker Chase Dummett has been selected to play after recovering from a hamstring strain picked up in late May.

Meanwhile, Saints coach Glenn Treacy said it’s likely his assistant Aaron Braeckmans will spend some more time on the sidelines after his knee swelled up following the comeback game against Ballan on Saturday.

CLUNES: It’s a big week for the Magpies, with Sunday’s presentation to members looming large.

The members will decide whether the club remains in the Central Highlands Football League or pursues a move to the Maryborough Castlemaine District competition in 2016.

After pushing Waubra last weekend, Clunes heads to Snake Valley well fancied to land its third triumph of the year.

PREDICTION: Clunes

WAUBRA (2ND) V LEARMONTH (12TH)

at Waubra, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Learmonth 11.6 (72) d Waubra 9.8 (62), round 4, 2014

WAUBRA: The important Tom Nijam is set to miss some football after injuring a finger in the Roos’ victory against Clunes.

Nijam, one of the team’s best players this season, will be joined on the sidelines by recruit Matt James, who has knee soreness following his debut senior match last weekend.

Coming into the team is important duo Jimmy Rushton and Tim Mullane.

LEARMONTH: The Hotondo Homes Lakies landed their third triumph of the campaign last round and head down the road to take on the Roos for the Basil Clark/Tom Ford Cup.

Learmonth, which has the silverware in its keeping after an upset win over Waubra last season, is likely to be bolstered by the return of prime movers Dyson George, Tait Niddrie and Matt Jackson on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Waubra by 22 points.

SKIPTON (14TH) V DAYLESFORD (16TH)

at Skipton, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Daylesford 17.7 (109) d Skipton 5.5 (35), round 15, 2014

SKIPTON: It will be an odd preparation for the Emus, which are preparing for life after Adam Brookshaw.

Brookshaw resigned from his position as senior coach during the week and the role will be taken over by Tyrone Ross, who will lead on the ground, and club champion Kiernan Molloy, who will direct from the sidelines.

Despite the drama, Skipton will fancy its chances against a struggling Daylesford side that sits below it on the ladder.

DAYLESFORD: Bulldogs coach Joel Adams is confident of getting back key trio Pat Helper, William Austin and Tom Powell for the long trip to Skipton.

Helper has been struggling with a shoulder issue, while Austin and Powell are back from unavailability.

Daylesford has won just one game for the campaign and went down narrowly to Newlyn last weekend.

PREDICTION: Skipton by two goals.

NEWLYN (10TH) V SPRINGBANK (5TH)

at Newlyn, Saturday, 2.30pm

LAST TIME THEY MET: Springbank 12.11 (83) d Newlyn 5.9 (39), round 9, 2014

NEWLYN: Coach Kal Young is back after a one-week absence from the side.

And his other commitments got in the way of playing in the Cats’ fifth win of the season, with the result against Daylesford lifting the team to 10th on the ladder.

Ruckman Stuart Robinson is also back in the side after missing the victory, however, Matt Cosgrave has been left out of the selected team because of a hamstring problem. 

SPRINGBANK: North Ballarat Roosters have recalled Nick Couch for their trip to take on Box Hill on Saturday.

Couch has played three games back from a knee injury – including the GJ Gardner Tigers’ massive win over rivals Gordon last weekend - en route to his return to the VFL.

Meanwhile, Rob Lockett will make his senior debut for the Tigers in this game.

PREDICTION: Springbank by plenty.