at Waubra, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Waubra 27.26 (188) d Smythesdale 2.1 (13), round 3, 2015

SMYTHESDALE celebrated its breakthrough victory long and hard last weekend.

And while the Bulldogs had every reason to enjoy their round two triumph – the senior side’s first Central Highlands Football League success in five years – it’s time to refocus.

Smythesdale coach Stephen Frys admits his team isn’t content with just one victory in 2016 and is hoping to add to that tally throughout the rest of the campaign.

“(One win) was a goal to start with, but we’ve achieved that goal early so now we’ve got to set new goals and try and achieve

them as we go forward,”Frys, who has left himself out of the team for this weekend, said.

“We have just got to keep moving forward and not get too far ahead of ourselves.”

Onballer John Cranny, who missed the Bulldogs’ win in 2011 and also the weekend’s triumph, returns to the side, while assistant

coach Ash Carli has had issues with his pelvis and looks in doubt.

Waubra got clear of Rokewood-Coriondhap late in last Saturday’s match to keep its unbeaten campaign.

The Roos have made three changes to the side that toppled the Grasshoppers, with coach Grant Luscombe reporting Steven Tung (shin)

and Nick Aringo (knee) will be sidelined through injury, with Charles Edmonston, Matt Dawson and Nathan Patrikeos all inclusions.

Prediction: Waubra

Gordon v Ballan

at Gordon, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Gordon 19.10 (124) d Ballan 6.7 (43), preliminary final, 2015

BALLAN coach Justin McConnell has called on a little extra help to prepare his team for this Saturday’s battle with rivals Gordon.

Kevin Murphy, the man whose name is on the shield the two clubs will battle for, spoke to McConnell and his charges at training on

Thursday night.

The perpetual shield also honours the late Con Mahar. During their playing careers, Murphy and Mahar were both able to win flags at each club.

“I think it’s important for our guys, particularly the new guys, to understand the history of the club and what he’s done for both teams,” McConnell said.

Ballan heads into the match on the back of a loss to Bungaree, which leaves the Blues ninth.

While not expecting any major changes, McConnell said it was likely youngster Lachlan Snaith would come into the side for his first senior game of the year.

Gordon is in a similar boat to the Blues, having lost to Bungaree before getting on the board with a big triumph against Carngham-Linton last weekend.

Eagles coach Gary Learmonth said defender James Poppe had been sore after a knock against the Saints and has subsequently been left out of the side.

That fixture with the Saints signaled the return of Josh Lee, a former The Courier player of the year that spent a season with Clunes in 2015.

Prediction: Gordon

Daylesford v Hepburn

at Daylesford, Sunday, 2.30pm

Last time: Hepburn 19.14 (128) d Daylesford 3.12 (30), round 3, 2015

HEPBURN coach Jason Olver says star forward Lee Cox is unlikely to play in Sunday’s blockbuster with arch-rivals Daylesford.

Cox missed last round’s hard-fought win over Learmonth with what Olver described as hamstring trouble and only rated the multiple league-leading goal-kicker a “30 per cent” chance of taking his spot in the side this weekend.

Hepburn will also be without onballer Adem Asani, who accepted a one-match set penalty for an incident involving Lakies coach Brenton Powell, while the clever Jimmy Rodgers is set for a stint on the sidelines with a knee injury.

Midfielder Brad McKay will return, as will Jacob Graham after missing the round two win. Olver said McKay had a leg issue and Graham a problem with his ankle.

“It doesn’t matter where we are on the ladder, it’s always going to be a tight tussle, no doubt,” Olver said.

“I think any club that takes Daylesford lightly this year - they’ll cause an upset somewhere.”

Daylesford heads into the clash – which will be used to officially launch the new clubroom facility at Victoria Park – on the back

of respectable defeats at the hands of top sides Beaufort and Buninyong.

Bulldogs coach Marcus Goonan didn’t anticipate too much change to the team that pushed the Bombers, but eventually went down by

30 points.

Prediction: Hepburn

Clunes v Bungaree

at Clunes, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Bungaree 6.6 (42) d Clunes 5.6 (36), round 3, 2015

Clunes: There’s not much confidence from Clunes coach Dale Cowell, who knows things will be tough this weekend.

Cowell said there will be plenty of changes with experienced players Bobby Hind, Jason Yole and Pat Milne all out due to a

wedding.

Bungaree: The unbeaten Demons have left out key duo David Benson and Marty Dufty for the trip to Clunes. Coach Heath Pyke said Benson was struggling with a corked hip while Dufty had a sore wrist.

Prediction: Bungaree

Carngham-Linton v Rokewood-Corindhap

at Linton, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Rokewood-Corindhap 15.11 (101) d Carngham-Linton 9.12 (66), round 3, 2015

Carngham-Linton: The Saints will return to home soil this Saturday after last weekend’s clash to Gordon because of the poor state of the Linton ground.

Carngham-Linton will be without talented youngster Jake Dawson due to overseas travel.

Rokewood-Corindhap: The Grasshoppers have been forced to leave out injured pair Chad Baker and Michael Steele, who were both hurt in the team’s hard-fought loss to Waubra.

Prediction: Rokewood-Corindhap

Newlyn v Beaufort

at Newlyn, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Beaufort 16.9 (105) d Newlyn 5.3 (33), round 3, 2015

Newlyn: With the win-loss ledger now at 1-1 after last weekend’s defeat by Dunnstown, the Cats need to bounce back.

But it won’t be easy against the in-form Crows.

Ruckman Jesse Thurlow-Cole looms as a likely inclusion.

Beaufort: Away overseas last weekend, Crows coach Dale Power returns to take charge of a team flying high.

Beaufort thumped reigning champions Springbank to keep its unbeaten year alive and looks well placed to continue its run of good form.

Prediction: Beaufort

Skipton v Dunnstown

at Skipton, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Dunnstown 10.9 (69) d Skipton 7.8 (50), round 3, 2015

Skipton: The Emus have their backs against the wall after giving Smythesdale its first win in five years last Saturday.

Recruit Adrian McCarty is among the inclusions into the side after two good games in the reserves.

Dunnstown: With a win now on the board, the Towners are expected to make it two on the trot.

Dunnstown will tackle a struggling Emus side without defender Mal Douglas, who misses because of a wedding.

Prediction: Dunnstown

Springbank v Buninyong

at Wallace, Saturday, 2.30pm

Last time: Springbank 17.15 (117) d Buninyong 8.8 (56), qualifying final, 2015

Springbank: The Tigers are on the rebound after a belting from Beaufort.

They head into this clash without forward Tom Eltringham through suspension, but they do get back premiership player Bill Driscoll

for his first game of 2016.

Buninyong: The Bombers are ticking along nicely as one of five unbeaten teams, but face their first serious test of the campaign at Wallace.

Adam Scott has again been left out through injury.

Prediction: Springbank

Learmonth v Creswick

at Learmonth, Saturday, 6.30pm

Last time: Learmonth 13.7 (85) d Creswick 11.2 (68), round 3, 2015

Learmonth: Veteran David Box is free to play in the Lakies’ night encounter with Creswick after a favourable result at the tribunal during the week.

Box challenged his report for charging and was handed a reprimand.

Creswick: The Wickers had a thumping victory against Clunes last week.

This is a vital clash if Creswick wants to play finals, with the Lakies also expected to be challenging for a spot at the lower end of the top eight.

Prediction: Learmonth