DARLEY V BACCHUS MARSH

At Darley Park, Sunday, 2.15pm

2018 HEAD-TO-HEAD

R1: Devils 11.12 (78) d Cobras 11.11 (77)

R12: Devils 14.7 (91) d Cobras 9.14 (68)

SEASON RECORD

DARLEY (4th): 11 wins, 5 losses

BACCHUS MARSH (5th): 10 wins, 6 losses

Marsh has dropped a bombshell by naming retired captain Scott Sherlock as an emergency for Sunday’s cut-throat BFL elimination final against Darley at Darley Park.

Desperate to find an x-factor to end a losing run against its arch-rival, the Cobras have left their options open with Sherlock.

He has not played since round 11 – retiring because of a longstanding back issue.

Sherlock was arguably the competition’s best small onballer and his loss was a massive blow to the Cobras. They have won only two of six games since.

He has been training and is believed to be keen to play, but it would be big call to play him given his chronic back condition.

It is desperate times for the Cobras though, after dropping from second to fifth with a defeat to Melton in the last round.

Bacchus Marsh is in new territory in the three-year reign of coach Travis Hodgson.

After springboarding into back-to-back grand finals off top-two finishes, there are no second chances on offer this time.  While they have not been blown away – five of their six losses for the year have been by eight points or less – the Cobras have been

below their best, while Darley has been building.

The Cobras have regained Jacob Chisari and Alec Del Papa after injury. Darley has named first choice ruckman Dylan Reid, but has lost star swingman Jake Edwards (hamstring). 

PREDICTION: Darley

Darley

B: D. Robson, D. Reid, C. Cullen

HB: J. Zeestraten, R. Ellis, D. Leonard

C: T.  Stone, S.  Kennedy, L.  Delahey

HF: M. Hanson, J. Carrick, S. Page

F: B. Graham, H. Inglis, T. Evans

R: A. Kur, J. Ancrum, L. Baker

Int: L. Herring, M. Young, D. Grenfell, H. Scotland

Emg: S. McDonald, J. Cadman, A. Azzopardi

In: D. Reid

Out: J. Edwards 

Bacchus Marsh

B: L. Mullen, D. Velden, T. Angwin

HB: R. Stuhldreier, H. King, J. Bolton

C: M.  Chisari, L.  Blundell, B.  Griffiths

HF: B. Speight, J. Owen, H. Coulton

F: D. Phyland, A. Willitts, D. Bishop

R: D. Burton, N. Stuhldreier, T. Shea

Int: S. Lafranchi, K. Dickson, J. Chisari, A. Del Papa

Emg: J. Powell, L. Phyland, L. Noonan, S. Sherlock

In: A. Del Papa, J. Chisari, D. Bishop

Out: J. Powell, L. Phyland, L. Noonan