Ballarat 9.10 (64)

North Ballarat City has stormed into BFL finals contention.

City gained the percentage boost it needed with a 53-point win over Ballarat at Mars Stadium on Sunday and moved within one game of East Point, Melton South and Melton, which fill sixth, seventh and eighth.

North Ballarat was on one win after nine rounds and 10th, and its season looked done and dusted.

However, with it picking up a bonus against Darley and the Kangaroos, Panthers and Bloods stalling, the chance of playing finals has opened up.

And City has a favourable draw, with Redan the toughest of its games next round. Then comes Melton South, a bye, East Point and Melton – the trio it needs to overtake.

North coach Jordyn Burke said finals had not been raised as a motivation, but admitted they would probably come into discussions in this week’s preparation.

Burke said Sunday had been City’s most complete four quarters of the season – only rivalled by the upset over Darley.

“I can say without hesitation we didn’t have a passenger.” He pointed to the hard-nosed midfield of Simon McCartin, Daniel Jones and Daniel Kilpatrick as being catalysts, but far from being alone as major contributors.

Ballarat had one of its rare moments when it did get on top by adding three quick goals at the start of the third term to close gap to 35 points, but North quickly responded.

The Swans also had the better on the scoreboard in the last quarter, but all this did was narrow an already decisive deficit.

Bacchus Marsh 7.21 (63)

Lake Wendouree 7.10 (52)

Bacchus Marsh has scrambled its way to the top of the Ballarat Football League ladder.

The Cobras continued their dominance over Lake Wendouree in an 11-point win at Wendouree on Saturday.

While it was enough to replace Lakers at the helm of the competition with five rounds to play, there remains little between Bacchus Marsh and Lake Wendouree in the premiership race.

A strong wind turned the encounter into what Lakers coach Tim Malone described as a “dog fight” – with neither side able to produce anywhere near its full capabilities.

Bacchus Marsh did its best to kick itself out of the game with 3.9 in the opening term, when Lake Wendouree had just one inside 50m and was scoreless.

Lucas Anderson led the way back for Lakers as he kicked two of three goals in time-on in the second term to close the margin to two points.

It was from there that the battle developed in a scrappy, defensive tussle, with repeated stoppages.

Not even a strong wind straight down the ground assisted, with just three goals kicked at what should have been the scoring end in the second half.

In the end Bacchus Marsh’s greater physical presence and ability to get three goals into the wind to the Lakers’ blank sheet was critical.

Logan Blundell was the Cobra to catch Lake Wendouree off-guard, especially early with his pace putting Lakers well and truly on the back foot.

Dean Heta was again the dominant ruckman, with his high marking a feature in a game when Bacchus Marsh’s number one ruckman Daniel Burton played limited time as he continues to battle with a knee issue.

Scott Sherlock also stamped his authority. While Lakers’ Nick Peters was able to get his hands on the football, unlike Sherlock he was quickly shut down and unable to break the lines. 

Sherlock excels in confined space and he revelled in the lockdown nature of the contest.

Bacchus Marsh coach Travis Hodgson said while he felt Lakers were better at the fall of the football, his players were able to dig deep and get tough to meet the challenge.

He said he was worried that Lakers would run over the Cobras with the lead just nine points at three quarter time, but could not fault the desire to hold on.

While the Cobras took the points, they have a few injury concerns after finishing the day with just one active interchange player.

Scott Sherlock, youngster Jack Hehir and Kane White each needed attention from trainers.

Hodgson said Scott Sherlock suffered suspected concussion late, while Hehir left the field nursing a shoulder.  White strained a hamstring, but Matt Denham (shoulder) is likely to be available for their multicultural round clash against Melton South.

Leading goalkicker Jarrah Maksymow is expected to be available for selection too after playing reserves on Saturday – a condition of his return to the senior line-up after failing to meet training and match day team rules.

Redan 13.12 (90)

East Point 11.13 (79)

Redan dodged a bullet to stay in the hunt for a top two position in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.

East Point had a real chance to down the Lions, but was swamped in the second half to lose by 11 points at the Eastern Oval.

This keeps fourth-placed Redan equal with Darley (third) on 40 premiership points and just one game adrift of Lake Wendouree in second.

Most important of all, Redan is four games inside the top six and a definite finalist with five rounds remaining.

Coach Brendan Peace is hoping though that the Lions can find an easier way to win.

Redan was eight points down at three quarter time, but it was an ability to throw the likes of Liam Hoy, Tom Lamb and Dean Chester around that enabled it to show a little more class in the run to the final siren. 

An improving East Point threw everything it possibly could at Redan, but the experienced heads of Nathan Horbury and Dean Mathews were too much to cope with ensured the four points went the Lions’ wayt.

In what was a surprise for the majority of spectators, the Kangaroos led at every change before Redan flexed its muscles.

Powerfully-built tall Cameron Jackson continued to show impressive progress as one of the Roos’ key contributors.

In reference to Redan ability to fight back, Peace said was a good attribute to be able to do whatever it took, and scrap away and get the win.

“Ideally we would be able to set games up and win more comfortably.

“We don’t want to keep putting ourselves in situations where we have to play so hard at the end of the game.”

East Point coach Jake Bridges was buoyed by his side’s efforts, but also disappointed at the same time. 

“If you look at the last quarter alone, we kicked seven points. Its disappointing that that was the result. 

“I hoped to see a four-quarter effort which I saw.

“Even though we didn’t get the result it was pleasing to see that effort from the guys,” he said. 

Hasker Dawborn, Daniel Tung, Jordan Taylor and Aden Nestor were leading contributors for East Point, which despite the loss remains in the top six on percentage ahead of Melton South and Melton.

East Point now meets another big contender in Darley before a guaranteed four points for a bye.

Melton South has Bacchus Marsh next up, while Melton faces Lake Wendouree.

If any can cause an upset, it could proved to a season-breaker.

Darley 22.19 (151)

Sebastopol 7.6 (48)

Darley made short work of Sebastopol in the Ballarat Football League at Darley Park on Saturday.

However, for Darley coach Heath Scotland the win was not about the 103-point margin.

He said that had been secondary to getting back to playing the type of game he wanted.

And the Devils achieved that.

Scotland said it was pleasing to see Darley back to producing the brand of football it was playing at the start of the season.

It was the win Darley needed ahead of massive assignments against East Point, Bacchus Marsh and Sunbury in the next three weeks.

The Devils have their sights on a top-two finish.

Harli Givvens made the most of his opportunities in attack for the second week running with four goals for Sebastopol.

Darley had winners everywhere, with form of Day Roy as pleasing as anyone in what has been an interrupted year for the top-end recruit.