Redan has reminded North Ballarat City just how far off the pace it is in the Ballarat Football League.

North went to the City Oval on Saturday aiming at shaking up the Lions to reinforce that its late charge for a final berth had genuine merit.

It never looked like happening.

While the 50-point loss to Redan stung North Ballarat, other results on the day  – defeats by East Point, Melton South and Melton – meant it did not dent City’s hopes of playing finals with four rounds to go.

What it did do though is show that North Ballarat will struggle to make an impact even if it makes the finals.

City coach Jordyn Burke was not prepared to look that far down the track.

He said if North played in the same way over the next few weeks finals would be out of the question.

Redan dominated the whole game, with its defensive mindset keeping North to 1.1 in the first half the biggest factor. There was no coming back from this.

North Ballarat improved its output for the balance of the match, but it was nothing more than cosmetic.

Burke said as disappointing as it was, he would not be dwelling on the performance.

He said they would go through the areas which let them down and then focus on what was ahead.

Redan coach Brendan Peace praised the first half effort, when the Lions had put the match away.

He said fewer errors and better delivery into the forward 50m had been key factors.

Peace said like all coaches he was still searching for a more consistent performance level across the four quarters.

Remarkably, not even having eight changes unsettled Redan, with Tom Lamb a withdrawal on match day with illness. Damien Horbury was called up for his 150th senior game

Xavier Curran made his senior debut to continue the flow of newcomers into the line-up.

The Lions are looking to get back Orren Stephenson (hamstring), Ben Schiltz (knee), Jarrett Giampaolo (corked leg), Chris Giampaolo (hamstring), Peace (hamstring) and Lamb in coming weeks.

Dean Chester was outstanding for Redan, playing his usual role as a sweeper deep in defence to perfection. He formed an unbeatable combination with Nathan Horbury, who was across half back.

The creative Phelps was instrumental in setting up the win four goals in the first half.

Redan 4.1, 7.6, 9.9, 14.10 (94)

North Ballarat City 1.0, 1.1, 3.5, 6.8 (44)

GOALS - Redan: Mitchell Phelps 4, Dean Chester 2, Liam Hoy 2, Nicholas Willox 2, Damien Horbury 1, Kyle Hayes 1, Jack Jess 1, Grant Bell 1. North Ballarat City: Jordyn Burke 1, Thomas McPhan 1, Daniel Jones 1, William Young 1, Brock Leonard 1, Martin Curtis 1

BEST - Redan: Nathan Horbury, Dean Chester, Mitchell Phelps, Jacob Short, Patrick Britt, Grant Bell. North Ballarat City: Mitchell Johns, Mitchell Giddings, Daniel Jones, Adam Turley, Caleb McGrath, Jordyn Burke

DARLEY V EAST POINT

Darley returned to form in a big way in the Ballarat Football League on Saturday.

The Devils announced they back by disposing of a disappointing East Point by 37 points in an encounter in which each side struggled to take opportunities at a wind-swept Darley Park. 

 Darley coach Heath Scotland was pleased with his side’s return to form. 

“We had a bit of a flat spot a few games back, but in the past few have found the groove we had in the early part of the year,” Scotland said.

“It’s nice to get back to playing the brand of footy that we started the year with. 

“We turned our side over a lot in the middle part of the year and that probably created a bit of uncertainty.

“We were unsettled and blokes probably lost a bit of confidence, so in the last couple of weeks we have just got back to settling the side a bit more,” he said. 

East Point coach Jake Bridges said he felt disappointed, with the frustration that the Kangaroos seemed a little way off the pace, but a mile off at the same time. 

East Point has had just the one win in its past five games, although it did draw with reigning premier Bacchus Marsh.

Despite this the Kangaroos are still sixth and will get four premiership points from a bye next round to ensure they stay there.

Darley was clearly the better in the first half, but let East Point off the hook with an opening quarter effort of 2.8.

The Devils managed to find an avenue to goal in the second term, with Harley Inglis kicking two goals for the term to stand as the only multiple goal scorer on the ground.

East Point did not score a goal in the first quarter, with Bridges visibly frustrated with the poor disposal execution that his side provided. 

Darley seemed to have all the answers though, with captain Shane Page back from injury and Scotland leading from the front and helping orchestrate a 36-point half-time lead.

Given the fact that East Point had not kicked a goal to this stage, it seemed unlikely the lead would be overturned.

There was a definite lift from East Point in the third term. 

The Kangaroos managed to put together a few goals to cut the margin to 25 points by three quarter time, although the Devils appeared to be doing enough to remain in charge.

Darley pulled away again in the final term, kicking three goals to one, with Scotland kicking his goal for the day in what was an impressive showing. 

Luke Delahey and Dan Roy also played important roles for the victor, while a returning Clay Bilney and veteran ruckman Paul Koderenko were gallant performers for the Kangaroos. 

Darley now turns its attention to a much anticipated clash with cross-town rival and top team Bacchus Marsh.

The Devils took the points early in the year and will need to win again to stay in the top three and in touch of top two Bacchus Marsh and Lake Wendouree.

Darley 2.8, 5.13, 7.16, 10.18 (78)

East Point 0.4, 0.7, 4.9, 5.11 (41)

GOALS - Darley: Harley Inglis 3, Mark Hanson 2, Heath Scotland 2, Rhys Ellis 1, Daniel Robson 1, Jacob Zeestraten 1. East Point: Charlie Lee 2, Christopher Quinlan 1, Daniel Semmens 1, Mickitja Rotumah-Onus 1

BEST - Darley: Luke Delahey, Dan Roy, Jackson Carrick, Kyle Docherty, Christopher Graham, Rhys Ellis. East Point: Clay Bilney, Paul Koderenko, Joel Van Meel, Mitchell Walsh, Hasker Dawborn, Cameron Jackson

LAKE WENDOUREE V MELTON

Lake Wendouree kept Melton goalless for a half on its way to a crushing 71-point win over Melton in the BFL at Wendouree’s CE Brown Reserve on Saturday.

The Bloods had to wait until the third quarter to get their opening goal, but other than that there was little joy for the finals hopeful.

Lakers coach Tim Malone was satisfied with the performance – particularly being so defensively disciplined to keep Melton without a major for so long.

In a change of role Ben Taylor took on the task of leading the way in attack with four goals, while Jordan Alexander again impressed in what has been an eye-catching first year with Lakers.

It was left to the likes of Riley Walker, Connor Griffiths, Kayne Wilson and Nathan Wallace to scrap for Melton.

Nathan Pring dropped out of the selected side for Lakers, deciding he was not yet right after a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury.

Malone is hopeful Pring will be right to face Sebastopol next round.

Lake Wendouree 3.3, 7.6, 10.8, 13.13 (91)

Melton 0.0, 0.3, 1.6, 2.8 (20)

GOALS - Lake Wendouree: Ben Taylor 4, Lucas Anderson 2, Jayden Hooper 2, Ashley Simpson 1, Liam Findlay 1, Sean Willmott 1, Stephen Clifton 1, Nathan Monk 1. Melton: Nathan Wallace 1, Connor Griffiths 1

BEST - Lake Wendouree: Jordan Alexander, Arthur Armstrong, Sean Willmott, Jayden Hooper, Liam Findlay, Ben Taylor. Melton: Riley Walker, Connor Griffiths, Kayne Wilson, Nathan Wallace, Kurt Baker, Lachlan Hickey

SUNBURY V BALLARAT

Sunbury needed just one quarter to put away Ballarat in the BFL at Sunbury on Saturday.

With a gale-force blowing straight down the ground, winning the toss was always going to have a decisive say in the outcome.

And it did. Sunbury kicked with the wind in the opening term and although inaccurate poured on 4.10 while keeping the Swans scoreless.

Then decisively, Ballarat was unable to match the Lions when they went with it and finished the day 61 points in arrears.

Ben Said was able the master the craft of goalkicking with five majors for the Lions.

Although Sunbury landed the result its needed to virtually cement a finals berth, it did finish the day with a couple of injury concerns.

Nathan Wood suffered a suspected broken hand in the opening half and Ben Guthrie dislocated a finger.

The season might be over for Ballarat’s Brayden Rodd after he injured a knee he had surgery on last year.

Sunbury 4.10, 6.12, 11.16, 12.18 (90)

Ballarat 0.0, 2.2, 3.2, 4.5 (29)

GOALS - Sunbury: Benjamin Said 5, Andrew Duhau 2, Mitchell Trimboli 2, Alik Magin 1, Alec Goodson 1, Reece Wood 1. Ballarat: Nicholas O'Farrell 1, Jack Blackburn 1, Jesse Marshall 1, Jack Sutherland 1

BEST - Sunbury: Andrew Duhau, Timothy Hill, James Rizk, Alik Magin, Tristan Lenaz, Reece Wood. Ballarat: Jesse Marshall , William Garner, Shane Hutchinson, Scott Wood, Mitchell Martin, Jack Blackburn

MELTON SOUTH V BACCHUS MARSH

Bacchus Marsh will have the microscope on star ruckman and key position player Dean Heta in the lead up to next round’s derby with Darley in the BFL.

Heta pulled up with a swollen foot after the Cobras took care of Melton South by 51 points at Melton Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

Heta has had an enormous season and he was again the stand-out big man on the ground.

Sitting on top, Bacchus Marsh will be hoping there is no structural damage as the countdown to the finals hots up.

The drama of Melton South spearhead and joint coach Brendan Fevola being red carded in the third quarter became the most significant event of the day – even more so than the result, which was never in doubt. 

Although the margin did not blow out until the last term, the Jackson Bolton and Scott Sherlock-led Cobras always looked to be in control.

Fevola had been highly influential until his exit.

Bacchus Marsh 3.2, 5.8, 8.13, 14.19 (103)

Melton South 1.1, 2.5, 4.9, 7.10 (52)

GOALS - Bacchus Marsh: Brenton Payne 5, Scott Sherlock 3, Billy Griffiths 2, Daniel Burton 2, Tyson Shea 1, Dylon Bishop 1. Melton South: Mitchell Banner 3, Jake Charge 1, Daniel Hillier 1, Ryan Holzer 1, Josh Ficheroux 1

BEST - Bacchus Marsh: Jackson Bolton, Dean Heta, Scott Sherlock, Tyson Shea, Rhys Mc Nay, Alec Del Papa. Melton South: Shaun White, Mark Lynch, Adam El Houli, Daniel Hillier, Craig Searle, Benjamin Sortino