Mathews played in the Lion’s latest premiership in 2011 and last made a senior appearance with Redan in the 2015 finals series – coincidentally also against North.

He rejoins his young brother and midfielder Dean Mathews in the line-up.

Joel Mathews, who has spent the past two seasons overseas, has hardly been on the ground since the premiership.

The defender had a plate and screw inserted in an AC shoulder joint in 2012 and then in the next season a knock on the same shoulder bent the plate and snapped the screw, breaking a collarbone.. 

After that a knee injury impacted his 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Mathews has received the call-up after playing in the reserves in the opening round as Redan rebuilds.

He joins BFL best and fairest Nathan Horbury as inclusions for Redan.

Horbury missed the Lions’ opening round loss to Sunbury owing to playing commitments with Geelong in the VFL.

In other BFL selection news, Tom Schnerring (Williamstown), Jake McQueen (Essendon) and Josh Guthrie (Coburg) are other VFL-listed players back with home clubs.

Schnerring, who was on North Ballarat Roosters’ list for the past two years, debuts for Ballarat against Lake Wendouree on Saturday night.

He previously had Redan as his home club, but missed last year with injury.

McQueen moves into the East Point forward line with Essendon having a bye in the VFL.

Guthrie, who has switched from Geelong to Coburg in the VFL, will run out with Sunbury against Melton South.

Sebastopol will be without Brett Goodes against East Point at the Eastern Oval.

Goodes is out with a calf injury – an issue he had pre-season.

Sebastopol coach Leigh Hutchinson said the Burra was taking a precautionary approach with Goodes.

He said the former Western Bulldog had felt some calf tightness and they wanted to ensure there was no long-term damage caused.

“We want to make sure we have him for the rest of the year. He’s too crucial. It’s a long season,” Hutchinson said.

North Ballarat City has lost Keegan George after he strained his groin at training on Thursday night.

STANDINGS

Lake Wendouree (6th): yet to play

Ballarat (10th): 0 wins, 1 loss

LAST MET:  round 11,  2017 – Lake Wendouree 11.10 (76) d Ballarat 10.10 (70)

New coach. New-look line-up. 

It's all part of the beginning of a new era.

This is the Lake Wendouree story as it embarks on another Ballarat Football League campaign.

With a late start to the season and then a bye in the opening round, it has been a long wait for Lakers.

All coach Dale Power and his boys want to do is to get on with it.

They do that against Ballarat at home on Saturday night.

Power said everyone was really looking forward to it after a difficult pre-season.

He said having so many fresh faces was what made it all the more exciting.

With such a high turnover of players, Power said those who had put in the work had been rewarded with an opportunity.

Power said while it was difficult to know what to expect, the Lakers' focus would be on getting the processes right.

Lake Wendouree starts with defenders Scott Carey (foot) and VFL-listed Lane Buckwell (knee) still sidelined, but with key position player Jack Elkington returning after a mid-season broken leg last year and Tom Littore looking to resurrect his career after making just two senior appearances last season after a knee reconstruction.

Creswick brothers Caleb, Liam and Simon Hepworth all make their Laker debuts as do Ned Nash and Mitch Phillips, who step straight up from the under-16.5s.

Ballarat is coming off a stinging loss to East Point.

The Swans took three quarters before finally finding anything like a system and defensive resolve.

They will be hoping they continue on from where that left off, with Hayden Hughes pivotal to this in providing a big target in front of goal.

Ballarat has two compulsory changes, with Jackson Ford recovering from concussion and Jesse Nicholls serving a one-match suspension match.

Ford was hospitalised for a night after being knocked out in laying a tackle against East Point.

Ballarat coach Shane Hutchinson said Ford would possibly miss two games.

The Swans' big addition is Williamstown VFL-listed and former North Ballarat Rooster Tom Schnerring in his first year with the club.

He played the opening round with Williamstown and is returning after a hamstring injury.

Daniel Hobbs has also been called up.

With the early signs being that wins might not come easily for the Swans, this is a match-up they need to make the most of - especially having the edge of match fitness on their side.

PREDICTION: Ballarat

LAST MET: round 8, 2017 - East Point 21.17 (143) d Sebastopol 11.12 (78)    

EAST POINT (2nd): One thing the Kangaroos appear to have is firepower in attack. 

VFL-listed Jordan Johnston led the way against Ballarat, but there was much more with Brad Whittaker imposing himself along with Joel Ottavi, while Matt Johnston eased his way in and another VFL-listed youngster Jake McQueen is back.

Of course, it all began in the midfield and off a rebounding half back line and this is sure to be the focus again where Daniel Tung, Mickitja Rotumah-Onus, Daniel Semmens and Clay Bilney will have a big say and a clash the Roos are expected to win.

SEBASTOPOL (9th): Expect a much fiercer approach. After such a massive build-up, the Burra's first round performance was a major let-down. 

Losing was bad enough, but it was the way Sebastopol lost.

Coming from the bottom of the ladder is never easy, but coach Leigh Hutchinson and his charges are not just looking to make up numbers.

Hutchinson said the match review showed the loss was not as bad as the 67-point loss might suggest and he was sure better execution would see improvement. The Burra lose Jack McNab (knee), Hamish Everett (knee) and Brett Goodes (calf).

PREDICTION: East Point

LAST MET: round 2, 2017 - Darley 13.11 (89) d Melton 8.11 (59)  

DARLEY (5th): The Devils had just the start to the season they needed with victory over Bacchus Marsh.

Although they had to do the hard away, losing key players - Steve Kennedy and Dan Roy - to injury and coming from five goals back, that made it all the more impressive.

Coach Heath Scotland has no doubt the Bloods have improved, but he is confident Darley has the depth required and players in the wings ready to go.

Darley has named Kennedy, but also added an extra player to its interchange as a precautionary measure with the midfielder under an injury cloud.

Premiership players Mark Hansen (2017) and Ryan Closter (2015), who did not play last year, have been included along with Jordan Spiteri.

MELTON (4th): Reward for effort. This was one of the most pleasing aspects of the Bloods' first-up win for new coach Aaron Tymms after a long and encouraging pre-season.

He said they had been conscious of putting on a good show and had delivered to importantly get the good start they needed.

Now it is a matter of continuing to get better - something which can achieved through the leadership of Ben Archard, Braedan Kight and Matt Denham.

PREDICTION: Darley

LAST MET: round 13, 2017 - Melton South 12.12 (84) d Sunbury 11.9 (75) 

MELTON SOUTH (8th): Sunbury was one team the Panthers had the wood on last season, with wins in each of their two encounters.

They need to keep that run going and that means making a much better start than they did against Melton. The Panthers finished on, but it was all too late.

The talent is there, co-coach Ash Manning just needs to ignite it, particularly in its packed midfield.

SUNBURY (1st): The Lions certainly have no intention of being caught out again by the Panthers, with coach Ben Jordan declaring the corresponding game last year being the Lions' worst of the season.

Sunbury could not help but be buoyed by the way it dispensed of Redan last round, with ruckman Jayden Eales and Aaron Christensen showing how important they will be.

VFL-listed Mitch Conn and Lachie Bramble are also going to be valuable again alongside Mick Edwards and Alik Magin.

PREDICTION: Sunbury

LAST MET: round 14, 2017 - Redan 14.10 (94) d North City 6.8 (44)  

NORTH BALLARAT CITY (3rd): New coach Shane Skontra could not have hoped for a better opening. 

Sebastopol loomed as a potential danger game, but North did everything right to get a flyer with new key tall Sam Dunstan showing he might be one of the recruits of the year.

City will be without Josh Bromley-Lynch, who will miss with an ankle injury, but it will still be too accomplished and make it two from two.

REDAN (11th): Well, that was a rude awakening at Sunbury. It was always going to be tough, but no one saw a 119-point loss coming.

It highlighted just how deep the players losses have impacted. The Lions have a strong young talent base as the likes of Cooper Craig-Peters and Alex Harvey showed, but they will need time.

Once again the Lions are going to need the lead to come from the front throughNathan Horbury, Orren Stephenson and coach Brendan Peace, but this might be another long day.

PREDICTION: North City