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MELTON V LAKE WENDOUREE

At Darley Park, Saturday, 2.15pm

2018 HEAD-TO-HEAD

R8: Lakers 15.7 (97) d Bloods 10.10 (70)

SEASON RECORD

MELTON (3rd): 11 wins, 5 losses

LAKE WENDOUREE (6th): 9 wins, 7 losses

Melton and Lake Wendouree are two of the big stories of the Ballarat Football League season.

At last the Bloods delivered on promise to book a finals berth for the first time in 11 years, while Lakers have exceeded expectations – even from within – to again play finals.

Like most Melton had a bad patch, with three losses in a row mid-season threatening to derail its season.

However, first-year coach Aaron Tymms stood firm and the Bloods have taken all before them with seven straight wins.

Melton has been fortunate to have a great run with injuries, or lack of them, and has made the most of it.

The Bloods have also had the benefit of key forward/ruckman Mark Orr being out of favour with VFL side Coburg to have him on board full-time for the second half of the season.

This addition alone has freed up classy ruckman Ben Archard, who in turn as opened up play for a multi-faceted running brigade featuring Matt Denham, Billy Croft, Connor Griffiths, Jaycob Hickey and Jordyn Cotter.

This in turn has played into the hands of an elusive Braedan Kight and Darren Haby in attack.

Going into Saturday’s elimination final at Darley Park, Melton will be well aware of what happened the only time it played Lake Wendouree this season.

The Bloods had a dominant six-goal opening quarter and then ran into a brick wall – adding just another four majors while Lakers took charge and ran away with the game.

Lake Wendouree coach Dale Power has talked all season about his satisfaction with a rock solid defence led by Lachie O’Connell and Arthur Armstrong, and at the other end of the scale a lack of attacking potency.

The win over Melton was an exception up forward, with goals coming freely in the second half.

The Bloods have stiffened up their defence since and this was never more evident than in their win over Bacchus Marsh on Saturday.

Brothers Liam and Ryan Carter were enormous in defence, with their height and agility causing plenty of issues.

Many would say that after such a positive season Lake Wendouree now has nothing to lose.

This could not be further from reality. Lakers has felt the pain of earlier than expected finals exits in the past two years and this is an opportunity they will want to grasp – like any finalist.

As expected Lakeres have regained Tim Malone, Tom Littore, Jack Elkington and Nathan Pring after being rested as wel as Sean Willmott from suspension and Caleb Hepworth. It is a big turnover, but Lake Wendouree is much better for it.

Ryan Davis returns in Melton’s only change.

PREDICTION: Melton

Melton

B: T. Button, R. Carter, L. Walker

HB: B. Crofts, B. McIntyre, L. Hickey

C: J. Cotter, M. Denham, R. Walker

HF: C. Griffiths, M. Orr, B. Kennedy

F: B. Souter, D. Haby, B. Kight

R: B. Archard, R. Davis, J. Hickey

Int: L. Heaney, L. Carter, D. Walker, N. Gale

Emg: J. Syme, L. Ericson, J. Kight, K. Wilson, J. May

In: R. Davis