NORTH BALLARAT CITY V LAKE WENDOUREE
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at Mars Stadium, Saturday, 2.15pm
STANDINGS
CITY (3rd): 5 wins, 2 losses, 1 bye
LAKERS (6th): 4 wins, 3 losses, 1 bye
LAST MET: round 12, 2017 - Lakers 15.15 (105) d City 12.10 (82)
Staying in touch with the top two and a further claim to play Ballarat Football League finals.
These outcomes are up for grabs in the North Ballarat City and Lake Wendouree battle at Mars Stadium on Saturday.
For City, it needs to come out on top to stay within a game of Bacchus Marsh and East Point at the helm.
North has only lost the two games – coming up short against the duo making the pace up the halfway mark of the season.
City’s record suggests that it should account for Lakers, but coach Shane Skontra is not taking any chances and has swung the changes to esnure his players as individuals and a combined unit retain their edge and keep pushing to find something extra.
Skontra said it was important to reward players who were working hard to press for spots in the line-up.
Dylan Graham is the latest youngster from the under-18.5s selected to make his senior debut, while Tyler George makes a much anticipated return after a hamstring injury to add experience and depth to the midfield.
Sam Scally could not be considered after sustaining a rib injury on debut and James Cusack has a back injury.
Fresh from running all over Melton, Lake Wendouree can continue to be the surprise packet of the competition with an upset here and boost its final hopes.
Lakers coach Dale Power says a win over North would be a bonus. “It’s a free throw at the stumps.”
Power said defence had the foundation of what success Lakers had had to date, not yet giving up more than 100 points.
They will again be concentrating on denying North’s dangerous attack led by Will Young and from there releasing their fleet of runners.
Lake Wendouree’s cause in this area will be assisted by the return of defenders Tim Malone and Gus Kirby and ruckmen Arthur Armstrong and Tom McKechnie. James Price (ribs) is out after being injured on debut.
PREDICTION: North Ballarat City
North Ballarat City
B: R. Luke, R. Hobbs, B. Simpson
HB: B. Leonard, S. Dunstan, S. Bromley-Lynch
C: O. Nash, D. Jones, D. Graham
HF: C. Jenkins, M. Johns, M. Gilbert
F: J. Bromley-Lynch, W. Young, T. Bromley-Lynch
R: H. Loader, T. Speirs, S. Mc Cartin
Int: N. Dunstan, B. Draffin, T. George, C. Perks
Emg: N. Olver, F. Loader, S. Willian
In: N. Dunstan, B. Draffin, C. Perks, D. Graham (debut), T. Bromley-Lynch, T. George
Out: S. Scally, J. Cusack, L. Simpson, J. Sclanders, M. Giddings, R. Ranieri
Lake Wendouree
B: T. Littore, L. O'Connell, W. Henderson
HB: T. Malone, A. Armstrong, S. Clifton
C: J. Lohmann, C. Hepworth, N. Nash
HF: A. Simpson, J. Elkington, B. Taylor
F: C. Mc Kay, L. Hepworth, N. Pring
R: T. McKechnie, J. O'Connell, B. Edwards
Int: S. Willmott, T. Nijam, K. Raven, A. Kirby
Emg: X. Schuurs, A. Gillett
In: T. Malone, A. Armstrong, T. McKechnie, A. Kirby
Out: J. Price, S. Hepworth, D. Mahony, A. Gillett
BALLARAT V DARLEY
at Alfredton Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 17, 2017 - Devils 15.17 (107) d Swans 7.8 (50)
SWANS (9th): The big question is. Can Ballarat sustain its improved output and make it three wins on end?
A comeback win over Redan and upsetting Sunbury has given the Swans some real momentum. And they have done it without the likes of first-choice players Hayden Hughes, Chris Prockter and Tyler Constable.
They have to be a chance with this being their third home fixture in a row and going by the way they stifled Sunbury's midfield flow and hunted the Lions' outlets.
DEVILS (5TH): Darley has been far from convincing and yet it is still one game inside the top six with a strong percentage.
Injuries have not been kind with many of the Devils' biggest names impacted at various stages, with the latest including ruckman Dylan Reid and Leigh Spiteri.
Injury and travel means Reid (hamstring) might not be seen until late in the season and that is going to hurt, while Spiteri (knee) is facing a possible anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Key defender Darren Leonard will be back though and that is a big plus.
PREDICTION: Ballarat - if it plays up to its best.
Ballarat
B: L. Wynd, M. Bishop, T. Sutton
HB: B. Davidson, M. Bowman, D. Kennedy
C: A. Stepnell, S. Hutchinson, N. Garner
HF: M. Martin, T. Conroy, C. Prendergast
F: J. Blackburn, M. Powling, J. Nicholls
R: B. Van de Heuvel, K. Mellington, W. Garner
Int: J. Antonio, S. James, A. McPherson, L. Hodgetts
Emg: M. Brehaut, J. Ford, J. Leonard
In: A. Stepnell
Out: P. Vivian
Darley
B: C. Cullen, S. McDonald, S. Page
HB: T. Stone, D. Leonard, J. Zeestraten
C: L. Delahey, S. Kennedy, T. Evans
HF: M. Young, M. Hanson, J. Carrick
F: J. Spiteri, H. Inglis, J. Edwards
R: A. Kur, D. Robson, L. Baker
Int: L. Herring, J. Ancrum, R. Ellis, C. Ascough
Emg: J. Pattison, A. Azzopardi
In: D. Leonard, R. Ellis, C. Ascough
Out: L. Spiteri, D. Reid, J. Bewley
BACCHUS MARSH V SUNBURY
at Maddingley Park, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 2, 2017 - Cobras 16.12 (108) d Sunbury 10.10 (70)
COBRAS (1st): Premiership players Declan (glute) and Lachie Phyland (back in favour), and Hamish Coulton (shoulder) return, and they are needed given Jacob Chisari and Billy Griffiths (both concussion) miss again, and there has been a cloud over Alec Del Papa (knee) and Trent Angwin (groin).
Bacchus Marsh has been sailing along without a loss since the opening round, with not even a injury concerns causing too many waves.
Coach Travis Hodgson has plenty of respect for his former team, but the Cobras catch Sunbury at it a time when it is vulnerable with two losses in its past three outings.
LIONS (4th): They have hit a flat spot and desperately need to get out of it. A strong start to the season has cushioned the impact, but coach Ben Jordan is calling on his players to get back on track.
He pointed to poor accountability and not putting in the required effort at contests in a shock loss to Ballarat. A repeat and expect the Cobras to taken an even heavier toll.
Aaron Christensen and Lachlan Brambles are huge inclusions, but on the downside James Risk (overseas) and Mitch Trimboli (wrist surgery) join ruckman Jayden Eales (ear) missing.
PREDICTION: the Marsh - too good at this stage.
Bacchus Marsh
B: J. Homewood, D. Velden, L. Phyland
HB: M. Chisari, T. Angwin, L. Mullen
C: D. Foley, T. Shea, A. Del Papa
HF: B. Speight, J. Owen, D. Bishop
F: R. Stuhldreier, A. Willitts, D. Phyland
R: D. Burton, N. Stuhldreier, S. Sherlock
Int: H. Coulton, L. Blundell, H. King, J. Trowsdale
Emg: J. Crawford, M. Sutherland, B. Cracknell
In: L. Phyland, D. Phyland, H. Coulton
Out: J. Dickson, M. Sutherland, B. Cracknell
Sunbury
B: R. Wood, T. Lenaz, N. Bridgland
HB: L. Berry, A. Magin, D. Harrison
C: D. Landt, W. Healy, A. Christensen
HF: M. Edwards, G. Valles, T. Stead
F: P. MacDonough, J. Fenner, J. Landt
R: M. Wright, A. Duhau, G. Hay
Int: B. Guthrie, T. Werner, J. Hannett, L. Goater
Emg: N. Doyle, D. Sanderson, B. Mundy, C. Hansen, L. Bramble
In: T. Lenaz, A. Christensen, B. Mundy
Out: M. Trimboli, D. Jurczyluc, J. Rizk
REDAN V SEBASTOPOL
at City Oval, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 9, 2017 - Lions 12.16 (88) d Burra 7.16 (58)
LIONS (11th): While still winless, Redan goes into a match of this nature with less pressure than the visitors.
All the expectations are on Sebastopol, which cannot afford to lose if its is to stay on course for finals.
For the Lions it is a free hit and going on the some impressive glimpses they have shown it is a game not beyond their reach. Hayden Edwards is again unavailable. Sam Kyatt from the under-18.5s makes his senoir debut.
SEBASTOPOL (8th): The Burra expects to be without best and fairest Chase Dummett (ankle) for up to three weeks, while it still waits for the return of Matt Austin (shoulder), Brett Goodes and Jack Onley.
One game outside the top six and the fact that everyone else to date has dealt with Redan, Sebastopol needs to ensure it is right on its game.
Coach Leigh Hutchinson says with the Lions still having plenty of quality and a team not unlike the Burra in its make-up, Sebastopol needs to play right up to its best and not give Redan even the slightest of sniffs.
PREDICTION: Sebastopol, but cannot afford to relax.
Redan
B: K. Linton, P. Britt, A. Gercovich
HB: J. Jess, Z. Jenkins, Z. Oliver
C: B. Schiltz, L. Hoy, J. Giampaolo
HF: G. Bell, B. Smyth, M. Coon
F: L. McLean, X. Curran, B. Thomson
R: W. Madden, N. Horbury, S. Carr
Int: T. Watson, N. Barker, A. Harvey, S. Kyatt
Emg: J. Toulmin, T. Douglass, M. Judd, Z. Wilson
In: S. Kyatt (debut), T. Watson
Out: D. Okely, H. Edwards
Sebastopol
B: D. Furness, T. Petersen, M. Cain
HB: J. Wilkinson, J. McNab, T. Lockyer
C: J. Morgan, D. Widgery, B. Hutt
HF: T. Hutt, J. Keeble, N. Hausler
F: G. Lovett, M. Powell, S. Butler
R: J. Richards, R. Noether, L. Cassidy
Int: B. Trew, J. Mason, J. Harvey
Emg: T. Holmes, S. Henry, T. Currie C. Jeffrey
In: S. Butler, J. Mason
Out: B. Goodes, C. Dummett
MELTON SOUTH V EAST POINT
at Melton Rec Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 7, 2017 - Kangaroos 21.12 (138) d Panthers 14.14 (98)
PANTHERS (10th): Two big inclusions with Reece Miles and Mark Lynch back in the midfield as they pursue their first win.
Coach Heath Pritchard said South's main focus was to be competitive against one of the competition's form teams, making the most of playing in front of a home crowd.
He said with the Panthers' ground being different in nature to all other BFL venues it provided an opportunity to take visitors a little out of their comfort zone.
Pritchard said he had been encouraged by aspects of his first game in charge and would be looking for further improvement.
ROOS (2nd): The season could hardly be going better for East Point.
Now a game clear in the top two, it has every hope of securing a double chance. This has to be focus and right now there is no reason to suggest the Roos will not achieve this objective.
While inexperience and youth can mean teams need patience and time to develop, these factors have actually given East Point impetus - injecting a new wave of enthusiasm and energy to complement a rock solid base featuring Paul Koderenko, Daniel Tung, Ryan Walsh and Brad Whittaker.
PREDICTION: East Point - comfortably
Melton South
B: J. Bell, S. White, C. Searle
HB: M. Sullivan, D. Hillier, L. Watkins
C: F. Ray, M. Golby, D. Sharp
HF: D. Clarke, J. Madafferi, B. Sullivan
F: S. Humphries, M. Notman, R. Miles
R: B. Sortino, D. Houghton, M. Lynch
Int: W. Thornton-Gielen, J. White, J. Charge, B. Sullivan
Emg: J. Thornton Gielen, C. Charge, M. Smith-Bye, J. Kovarik
In: M. Lynch, J. White, J. Madafferi, R. Miles
Out: C. Ogston, C. Charge, M. Smith-Bye, J. Kovarik
East Point
B: C. Lovig, R. Walsh, L. Dahlenburg
HB: C. Bilney, J. Van Meel, D. Tung
C: B. Whittaker, M. Johnston, A. Nestor
HF: J. Johnston, L. Thornton, M. Rotumah-Onus
F: J. Payne, B. McDougall, J. Ottavi
R: P. Kodorenko, J. Brown, D. Semmens
Int: A. Maconachie, J. Taylor, C. Carson, J. Gallagher
Emg: C. Quinlan, J. McClure, R. Monument
In: A. Maconachie, J. Gallagher (debut)
Out: J. McQueen, B. Dodd