LAKE WENDOUREE v BACCHUS MARSH
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at CE Brown Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 8 - Cobras 14.20 (104) d Lakers 11.6 (72)
LAKE WENDOUREE (1st) - BACCHUS MARSH (2nd)
Lake Wendouree and Bacchus Marsh. It is difficult to split the Ballarat Football League premiership contenders.
Although the Lakers are on top of the ladder, the Cobras for the moment hold bragging rights after taking the points in their first encounter of the year.
This is not what either side wants though. Each is determined to get what will most likely come from a win in their meeting at Wendouree on Saturday - a top-two finish.
Coaches Tim Malone and Travis Hodgson are emphatic in declaring finishing in the top two is their primary target, whether it is first or second does matter.
There is more than a game between Lake Wendouree and Bacchus Marsh, and Darley and Redan, but the leading duo know that a slip up in this match will have the heat right on.
“We want to ensure finishing in the top two,” Cobras coach Travis Hodgson said – words echoed by Malone in relation to Lakers.
The parallels do not stop there between these powerhouses either, with Hodgson and Malone pressing home the point that anything less than four solid quarters – something neither has been able to do consistently – could prove costly.
Malone said Lakers were well aware they could not afford to allow Bacchus Marsh get a run on.
“We can’t afford to let them to get on top.”
Finding new avenues to goal, something Bacchus Marsh has also had issues with at times, is also a challenge for Lake Wendouree.
Lucas Anderson is flying in front of goal, but he will need much more support in a much tougher assignment.
Hodgson said he was pleased with the progress the reigning premier was making with the Cobras better placed than the same time last year, but they needed to play better yet.
Bacchus Marsh has regained young forward Blake Graham from the Western Jets and recalled premiership player Simon Lafranchi, but lost gritty midfielder Matt Denham with an AC joint injury. Dean Heta has been named, but is under an injury cloud.
LAKE WENDOUREE
In: J. O'Connell
Out: I. Kirby
BACCHUS MARSH
In: S. Lafranchi, B. Graham
Out: M. Denham, J. Trowsdale
PREDICTION: Lakers
EAST POINT v REDAN
at Eastern Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 2 - Lions 19.10 (124) d Kangaroos 7.19 (61)
EAST POINT (6th): the Kangaroos were hammered by Redan early in the year and looked anything but a finals prospect. Right now though they playing to protect their spot in the top six. They catch Redan on the up, but is the type of scalp they need. Being without Jake McQueen (North Ballarat Roosters) and prime mover Clay Bilney (unavailable) will make it all the harder. Promising tall Dallas Martin returns from the under-18.5s.
REDAN (4th): the loss of Ben Smyth (unavailable) further exposes the Lions' lack of ruck power. It means Redan will have to find something extra at ground level by way of speed - something East Point does have. The Lions regain Keenan Waterbury from the Roosters to add to their midfield power, as well as recalling veteran Ryan Waight and giving under-18.5 player Zac Jenkins his senior debut. The incentives are equally strong in this encounter, but Redan's forward make-up led by Mitch Phelps and Liam Hoy is potentially the game breaker.
EAST POINT
In: D. Martin, J. Buttler
Out: J. McQueen, C. Bilney
REDAN
In: K. Waterbury, R. Waight, Z. Jenkins,
Out: T. Morrish, T. Bryans, B. Smyth
PREDICTION: Lions
NORTH BALLARAT CITY v BALLARAT
at Mars Stadium, Sunday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 2 - Swans 13.16 (94) d City 9.11 (65)
NORTH BALLARAT CITY (9th): there are just six rounds to go and being two games out of the top six City is coming from a long way back, but do not rule out finals yet. It most likely has to win every game, but it has a draw which makes this possible. North's stocks are growing as the likes to Caleb McGrath, Ben Simpson and Mitch Gilbert return to the fold and crucially its confidence is on the rise too.
BALLARAT (10th): The Swans produced their best football of the year in beating North early and will need that same desire and pace to repeat the dose. That will not be easy as it battles through an extended losing run. Sam James (back) and Grant Baldwin (knee) are out for Ballarat, while its leading goalkicker Nick O'Farrell has been under a cloud with a shoulder issue. Jed Hill makes his senior debut from the GWV Rebels along with Luke Wynd from the under-18.5s..
NORTH BALLARAT CITY
In: M. Gilbert, C. McGrath, B. Leonard, B. Simpson
Out: T. Hotchin, T. Bromley-Lynch, L. Simpson, S. Bromley-Lynch
BALLARAT
In: L. Wynd, J. Leonard, J. Hill
Out: M. Brehaut, C. Prendergast, G. Baldwin
PREDICTION: City
DARLEY v SEBASTOPOL
at Darley Park, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 4 - Devils 19.16 (130) d Burra 5.9 (39)
DARLEY (3rd): the Devils are jumping out of their skin to get their season back on track after a bye, which was preceded by a loss to North Ballarat City. Heath Scotland is keen to settle his line-up, but that will have to wait with Jay Pearson (two games) and Aaron Speak (1 game) suspended. Even more significant is the loss of skipper Shane Page (hamstring), although Brian Graham returns after AFL Vic Country duties. Western Jets youngster Zac Butters has also been named.
SEBASTOPOL (11th): the Burra will be up and about after breaking the ice against Melton South. However, Darley is likely to be a much different proposition on the back of a disappointing run and something to prove. Sebastopol's will not be helped by the loss of Brett Goodes (wrist) and Lochie Huppatz to the Roosters, even though there will be no lack of run.
PREDICTION: Devils
DARLEY
In: D. Grenfell, Z. Butters, M. Hanson, B. Graham
Out: J. Pearson, A. Speak, S. Page, D. Peacock
SEBASTOPOL
In: B. Stevens, T. Holmes, L. Noether
Out: B. Goodes, L. Huppatz, T. Mookhoek