NORTH BALLARAT CITY V BACCHUS MARSH
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at Northern Oval No.2, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 3, this year - Cobras 25.15 (165) d City 10.12 (72)
NORTH CITY (6TH):
BACCHUS MARSH (7TH):
The time has arrived for North Ballarat City to make a statement in the Ballarat Football League.
If North is going to make the finals, it will want to make an impact.
All the signs early in the season were that is exactly what coach Shane Skontra was on target to do.
That has changed over the past three rounds, with City unable to pick up any premiership points and slip to sixth.
North Ballarat City needs to halt the slide and what better way than against Bacchus Marsh at Northern Oval No.2 on Saturday.
City was thrashed by the Cobras in round three. Skontra said North left that game with a lot of work to do and this fixture would see how successfully it had undertaken that task.
North Ballarat City continues to produce football as good as anyone, but week-in week-out it has trouble sustaining it long enough to gain the required result.
Skontra admits to being a little perplexed as to why, with a combination of physical and mind battles contributing to the trait.
North should get a boost in each of these areas with the return of hard-running midfielders Josh and Sam Bromley-Lynch – two hard-nuts in the City line-up.
Mitch Johns is also back to add another versatile tall in attack and Mitch Giddings makes his return to bolster the experience.
Bacchus Marsh coach Travis Hodgson is confident the Cobras will rebound after a below par effort against Darley.
Although comfortably in the top six, Hodgson knows the Marsh is far from secure in the top two and cannot afford another disappointing outing.
“That cushion’s gone. We need to put our best together.”
As well as giving his players a serve after the loss to Darley, Hodgson has no doubt that the players will be self-motivated enough to lift.
Bacchus Marsh is again without playmaker Scott Sherlock.
Under-18.5 player James Dickson gets another opportunity for the Cobras.
PREDICTION: Bacchus Marsh
BALLARAT V SEBASTOPOL
at Alfredton, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 3, this year - Swans 18.18 (126) d Burra 9.11 (65)
BALLARAT (9TH): The Swans produced one out of the box in their clash with the Burra earlier this year.
They desperately need to do the same again to give their run home some impetus and something to work on into the post-season.
Ballarat has a solid midfield hub with coach Shane Hutchinson, Will and Nick Garner, Daniel Kennedy and Keegan Mellington, but has come up under-sized down the spine.
The Swans have consistently paid the price for slow starts. Their fortunes might again be determined early.
SEBASTOPOL (8TH): This in an absolute must-win.
The Burra has come a long way, improving markedly, but it now needs to produce something special if it is to force its way into the top six and play finals.
Never will the experience of Tony Lockyer, Tom Petersen, James Keeble and Lachie Cassidy be more important.
Just about every game from here on is like a final.
Sebastopol has developed some real resolve and it will need it in this tussle.
PREDICTION: Sebastopol
LAKE WENDOUREE V DARLEY
at CE Brown Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 4, this year - Devils 5.15 (45) d Lakers 4.3 (27)
LAKE WENDOUREE (5TH): More potency in attack. This is what coach Dale Power is looking for and it is easy to see why.
Only Ballarat and Sebastopol have scored less than Lakers, which have put themselves in the fray for the top six by way of a rock solid defence.
Power said Lakers needed to find more scoring avenues to be at their most competitive in match-ups like this.
Lake Wendouree will also put plenty of work into keeping Darley's A graders such as Steve Kennedy, Shane Page and Jake Edwards quiet - something it is capable of.
DARLEY (3RD): The Devils are certainly proving their resilience.
They have bounced back from some unlikely losses, injuries and suspensions to star players to again be right in the thick of the top end battle.
Darley always gets up for a clash with Bacchus Marsh and once again it ruled supreme in that contest last round.
The question is can they do again in a much different match-up? Big games from the likes of Luke Delahey, Jackson Carrick, Corey Cullen, Daniel Robson, Tom Evans and Harley Inglis, and the answer will be yes.
PREDICTION: Lake Wendouree
MELTON SOUTH V MELTON
at Melton Rec Reserve, Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: round 1, this year - Bloods 15.8 (98) d Panthers 10.11 (71)
MELTON SOUTH (11TH): This derby is always a big event and a Panthers' past players day will add to the atmosphere.
Coach Heath Pritchard has no doubt Melton South has what it takes to upset its cross-town rival. "Our best is good enough."
However, he is also mindful that the Panthers need to hit the scoreboard harder and then when they get opportunities and not waste them as happened with 9.16 in a loss to Sunbury.
They again lose Aaron Clarke and Jack Watkins back to Western Jets (TAC Cup), but regain the quality of Dale Houghton.
MELTON (7TH): The Bloods need this win. While its record suggests they should get it, Melton found out against Redan the danger of being slightly off its game last round when it just fell over the line.
The Panthers will find something extra. That is the nature of the rivalry. Melton will need to do the same.
This will need to come through Matt Denham, Lachlan and Jaycob Hickey, Darren Haby, Connor Griffiths and Billy Crofts - those who make up the engine room.
The ruck battle between Ben Archard and South's Ben Sortino also looms as a match shaper.
PREDICTION: Melton
REDAN V SUNBURY
at City Oval on Saturday, 2.15pm
LAST MET: Eastern Lions 23.11 (149) d Western Lions 3.12 (30)
REDAN (10TH): The one that got away. Coach Brendan Peace said the shattering loss to Melton was still hurting and there was a determination to make amends.
The Redan players are well aware that Sunbury has not travelled to Ballarat well this year and see an opportunity to get a big scalp and disrupt the visitors' finals aspirations.
Redan has developed some real belief, with Peace saying the Lions are not going to be satisfied to simply being more competitive and going to season's end with just the one win to their name.
Having the likes of Dan Colbert and Hayden Edwards up and about and available again is another plus for the depth of its squad. Tom Watson (hamstring) goes out.
SUNBURY (4TH): Well aware for the need to be switched on, coach Ben Jordan says he has addressed his charges on the need to hit the ground running to avoid another less than impressive performance in Ballarat.
He said Sunday was at a point in the season where they could afford any hiccups.
Jordan is pleased with the way some of his younger talent is settling in - much like Redan is experiencing - and hopefully this is helping settle things down.
One thing is for sure, this will be much closer than when they met in round one, which clearly Redan's worst day for the season.
PREDICTION: Sunbury