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BACCHUS MARSH V REDAN
at Maddingley Park, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME: Redan 19.14 (128) d Bacchus Marsh 4.6 (30), round 17, 2015
REDAN coach Eammon Gill says the time has arrived for the Lions to show they have no intention of just making up numbers in the Ballarat Football League top six.
The Lions are reasonably well placed in fifth place after eight rounds – just one win from second, but on the other hand one win from eighth, so tight is the competition.
However, all their wins have been against teams below it.
Each time Redan has been tested by a top-end combination – Lake Wendouree (first), Sunbury (third) and North Ballarat City (fourth) – it has come up short.
The Lions get an opportunity to change this against second-placed Bacchus Marsh at Maddingley Park on Saturday.
Gill, who returns to the coaching box after having a game off for the birth of his first child, said it was time for Redan to push up and get a win over a team above it on the ladder.
He said this would only come with contributions across the board and there had been promising signs in the 84-point victory over Melton that more players were starting to stand up.
Redan is also finally starting to find stability after a run of injuries to key players.
The return of Damien Horbury puts the Lions as close to full strength as they have been all year, with the bulk of their most seasoned players on the park together after missing the likes of Grant Bell, Chris Giampaolo, Dean Chester, Callum Currie, Leigh Ryall and Nathan Horbury at various times.
And if ever Redan needed to be at its best this trip into Cobra country is it.
The Lions’ strength is undoubtedly its midfield, but this also been a major component in Bacchus Marsh’s development into a genuine force.
Marsh coach Travis Hodgson has already warned his players to expect the mature bodies of Redan to be much more physical than it encountered against North Ballarat City last round.
The Cobras have shown though they are more than capable of absorbing that type of pressure and then in turn making things difficult for the opponents.
Bacchus Marsh is a classy outfit with more than one X-factor in attack and Redan’s biggest challenge will be shutting this down for 120 minutes. Anything less will mean trouble. XX
LAKE WENDOUREE V EAST POINT
at Wendouree, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME: Lake Wendouree 16.10 (106) d East Point 8.15 (63), round 17, 2015
LAKE WENDOUREE: The unbeaten and unchanged Lakers have done everything they have needed to and this is with match-winners Steve Clifton and Nick Peters yet cut loose, and injuries to important contributors such as Ben Hayes. They have not had everything their own way, but once again expect them to do what they have to do.
EAST POINT: the Kangaroos have done all they can over the past three rounds with two wins plus a bye. They now need to do something special and gain VFL-listed Xavier Vearing for his first game after a medium term ankle injury. Does it get any tougher than this though? No. Ruckman Paul Koderenko will give the likes of Jono Lanyon and Daniel Tung every chance, but East will struggle to find a focal point in attack.
PREDICTION: Lake Wendouree
MELTON SOUTH V NORTH BALLARAT CITY
at Melton Rec Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME: North Ballarat City 8.13 (61) d Melton South 5.8 (38), round 9, 2015
MELTON SOUTH: The Panthers must feel like they are starting all over again after playing just the once since May 14. Perhaps after such a disappointing run the opportunity to start again is not so bad as they strive for their first win. Melton South will run into an angry City though - hurt after a feeling the wrath of Bacchus Marsh.
NORTH BALLARAT CITY: Ryan Hobbs, Daniel Jones and Simon McCartin are big additions after each was badly missed against the Cobras. City will miss the exuberant Ryan Luke and youngsters Matt Johnston, who returns to the Roosters, and Ben Simpson, but this will still be a win and a big win at that, plus an opportunity to rediscover the structures coach Jordyn Burke wants.
PREDICTION: North Ballarat City
SEBASTOPOL V DARLEY
at Marty Busch Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME: Darley 21.18 (144) d Sebastopol 7.5 (45), round 3, 2015
SEBASTOPOL: The Burra played a smart brand of defensive-based football against East Point before eventually running out of puff and forward options, and being on the end of another hefty defeat. Sebastopol will take the game up to Darley early, as it also did against Lakers, but sustaining it is the most difficult challenge again facing it.
DARLEY: There is a much better vibe around the Devils these days. It's called winning. And as they begin to rebuild the season they have a highly favourable mid-season draw to provide some genuine momentum before facing the might of Lake Wendouree and Bacchus Marsh when Darley will discover where its season is heading. Coach Jarrod Edwards is always a significant loss, but Drew Edwards is a handy addition.
PREDICTION: Darley
BALLARAT V MELTON
at Alfredton, Sunday, 2.15pm
LAST TIME: Ballarat 15.13 (103) d Melton 8.8 (56), round 7, 2015
BALLARAT: Bailey Fraser is the latest under-18.5 player to be named to make his senior debut as the Swans continue to blood youngsters. Daniel Hobbs makes his return in the absence of Tom Mooney in a match which is winnable. Ballarat has produced its best football on its new home surface and this is probably just enough to give it an edge.
MELTON: Coach Brad Murphy has had trouble all year finding stability at the selection table and it has taken a toll on team desperately trying to improve its standing. This week is no exception with ruckman Mark Orr back to Coburg's development team, and star Jake Gleeson and Mitch Brockwell injured. Murphy has given himself a recall in a match which is not behind the Bloods.
PREDICTION: Ballarat