Two of the Ballarat Football League's best midfielders Lachie George and Shaun Campbell will miss Saturday's clash between Redan and Melton at the City Oval.

George joins Shaun Grigg and Orren Stephenson as key outs for Redan for what shapes as a battle for fifth and sixth.

George will miss after being suspended for one match for having deliberately struck Lake Wendouree's Caleb Hepworth.

The AFL Goldfields tribunal imposed the penalty at a hearing on Wednesday night.

The report arose after a match review panel examination of video of the incident.

As well as missing on Saturday, George is now ineligible for the BFL best and fairest award, the Henderson Medal, in which he is expected to poll strongly.

Stephenson was ruled out with groin trouble and Grigg with his troublesome knee.

Redan coach Jarrett Giampaolo denied any suggestion anyone was being rested ahead of next week's finals.

Giampaolo said he did not believe is resting players.

"I prefer to go in (to finals) with momentum," he said.

Unfortunately for Giampaolo, he is not getting his wish for stability with seven changes.

Giampaolo returns after maternity leave, while Liam Hoy, Lachlan McLean, Blake Thomson, Todd Douglass, Dylan Page and Alex Harvey are also back.

Campbell, who has been a great recruit for Melton, is overseas for an endurance athletic pursuit, but will be back for finals.

Key forward Braedan Kight is a major addition after one week on the sidelines among three changes.

DARCY McEldrew will make his senior debut from the under-19s for North Ballarat City against Melton South at Melton Recreation Reserve.

Mitch Gilbert, Matthew Goh and Nick Olver are also back with veteran Jason McNamara after he was rested for a game, but Ryan Luke's season is over after tearing a hamstring off the bone.

Veteran Matthew Notman is one of four inclusions for the Panthers, which will be without suspended star Paul Bower

BALLARAT has recalled Ben Hobbs and Jesse Nicholls is search of added height against an unchanged Darley at Darley Park.

They replace Shane Pongho (hamstring) and Grant Baldwin (overseas).

SEBASTOPOL gets back defender Sam Jenkins to play Lake Wendouree at Marty Busch Reserve.

Jacob Lohmann returns for Lakers after two games with North Melbourne in the VFL.

at Darley Park

Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 6, Devils 8.9 (57) d Swans 7.10 (52)

DARLEY (3rd, 10 wins, 5 losses): the Devils have really mixed it up in the latter phase of the season, but will have taken much out of the fightback victory over East Point with boom recruit Nick Graham missing. They have an awful lot to play for here, with second position well within reach. With the battle for that spot with Sebastopol set to go down to percentage, expect the likes Jake Edwards, Trent Angwin, Brian Graham and Mark Hanson to be ruthless in their scoreboard approach.

BALLARAT (10th, 3 wins, 1 draw, 11 losses): the curtain comes down on a season which did not reach the heights the Swans not only hoped for, but looked like achieving after a vigorous recruiting campaign under new coach Joe Carmody. Their season could hardly finish with a tougher assignment, with the Devils at home and heading towards finals. What Ballarat has done is put games into the younger end of its list and with still more scope to do that again next season it is building. The Swans will be brave, but this assignment looks just beyond it.

PREDICTION: Darley

Darley

B: Jake Ancrum, Jacob Zeestraten, Heath Scotland

HB: Leigh Spiteri, Darren Leonard, Jack Bewley

C: Blake Colley, Bailey Waasdorp, Shane Page

HF: Mark Hanson, Joel Cadman, Trent Angwin

F: Tom Evans, Jake Edwards, Bryce Stephenson

R: Bradley Spiteri, Luther Baker, Brian Graham

Int: Andrew Azzopardi, Harley Inglis, Jackson Carrick, Corey Cullen

Emg: Joseph Nesci, Nicholas Graham, Brad Inglis, Duncan Cadman, Mitchell Ward

No change

Ballarat

B: Ben Hobbs, Luke Wynd, Tobias Fisher

HB: Taylor Sutton, Bailey Van de Heuvel, Thomas Thewlis

C: Sam James, Daniel Kennedy, Bailey Fraser

HF: Jack Blackburn, Andrew Hooper, Tyler Constable

F: Jed Hill, Nicholas O'Farrell, Lawson Prendergast

R: Marcus Powling, Mitchell McGrath, William Garner

Int: Nicholas Weightman, Austin McPherson, Jesse Nicholls, Carter Prendergast

Emg: Ash Gray, Matthieu Brehaut, Joel Berry

In: Jesse Nicholls, Ben Hobbs

Out: Shane Pongho, Grant Baldwin

at Melton Recreation Reserve

Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 10, North 14.19 (103) d Panthers 3.1 (19)

MELTON SOUTH (11th, 1 win, 14 losses): the Panthers will be looking to earn back some respect after hitting a season low at the hands of Bacchus Marsh. There has been little cause for joy, but that was too bad to be true. Pride alone will be enough to seen an improved effort. Losing Paul Bower to suspension is a major setback and this is going to place even more pressure across the board. It is important that Melton South finishes the year with optimism. Although that might not come in the form of victory, there are many other ways this can be gauged and the Panthers need to be competitive.

NORTH BALLARAT CITY (7th, 7 wins, 8 losses): it is a season of what might have been. It is a common saying, but it fits North perfectly. This time last year City was on the way to finishing second and its finals series signalled big things ahead. With injuries a major factor, it was only for a short while late in the campaign that finals looked to be any hope. Coach Shane Skontra could not consistently get his best side on the park. It could easily have been a different story. North can at least finish on a high.

PREDICTION: North Ballarat City

Melton South

B: Ryan Holzer, Daniel Leggett, Shaun Lord

HB: Jacob Thornton Gielen, William Thornton-Gielen, Dale Houghton

C: Sharp Dillon, Brody Sullivan, Billy Sullivan

HF: Jonathon Bell , Brayden Wood, Samuel Hurst

F: Cody Chapman, Dylan Conway, Rhys Souter

R: Broden Collins, Daniel Vasjuta, Matthew Sullivan

Int: Dean Van Heemst, Rhys Lee, Matthew Notman, Jack Morrissey

Emg: Richard Frew, Patrick Unsworth, Nathan Gemmell, Michael Scicchitano

In: Matthew Notman, Rhys Lee, Jack Morrissey, Dean Van Heemst

Out: Sean Humphries, Paul Bower, Shaun White, Jack Mepstead

North Ballarat City

B: Clay Jenkins, Ryan Hobbs, Adam Turley

HB: Elliott Lamb, Matthew Goh, Jason McNamara

C: Izaac Johnson, Simon Mc Cartin, Sam Bromley-Lynch

HF: Harry Loader, William Young, Timothy Speirs

F: Jack Simpson, Tom Bromley-Lynch, Darcy McEldrew

R: Cameron McCallum, Oliver Nash, Brock Leonard

Int: Samuel Scally, Brock Freeman, Nathan Olver, Mitchell Gilbert

Emg: Tynan Haintz, Lachlan Simpson, Matthew Nevett, Sam Willian

In: Jason McNamara, Darcy McEldrew, Nathan Olver, Matthew Goh, Mitchell Gilbert

Out: Fiachra O'deasmhunaigh, Liam Wood, Alexander Riches, Benjamin Simpson, Ryan Luke

at City Oval

Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 7, Bloods 15.12 (102) d Lions 9.7 (61)

REDAN (5th, 10 wins, 5 losses): the Lions are still kicking themselves after losing to Lake Wendouree. That cost them top place and a crack at a top two spot. The best they can now hope for looks liking holding fifth. Even that is going to be tough with them not at full strength. Having coach Jarrett Giampaolo back in charge and on the park will unquestionably make a difference, but so too does missing a suspended Lachie George in the engine room. This is a perfect dress rehearsal for a final and one in which Redan has to step up.

MELTON (6th, 9 wins, 6 losses): road trips to Ballarat have not been great for the Bloods this season. They did topple East Point, but that has been it. Despite that record, there is plenty of cause for Melton to be facing this assignment with real confidence. The Bloods run into a Redan not at its peak and although they lost to Sebastopol at home that will not have done too much damage. It is not going to matter where Melton finishes, it is all about taking its best form into the finals. A win in this one can generate just that.

PREDICTION: Melton

Redan

B: Jarrett Giampaolo, Patrick Britt, Zac Jenkins

HB: Dean Chester, Nicholas Barker, Keenan Waterbury

C: Jacob Short, Daniel Bond, Dean Mathews

HF: Todd Douglass, Lachlan McLean, Alexander Harvey

F: Laityn Withers, Benjamin Smyth, Grant Bell

R: Angus Cleary, Liam Hoy, Blake Thomson

Int: Liam O'Brien, Kayne Councillor, Patrick Fitzgibbon, Dylan Page

Emg: Sam Carr, Matthew Coon, Jordan Baker, Kyle Hayes

In: Alexander Harvey, Lachlan McLean, Todd Douglass, Dylan Page, Jarrett Giampaolo, Blake Thomson, Liam Hoy

Out: Stuart Aberdein, Orren Stephenson, Lachlan George, Cooper Atchison, Hayden Edwards, Shaun Grigg, Jordan Baker

Melton

B: Lachlan Walker, Ryan Carter, Ryan Davis

HB: Billy Crofts, Jaycob Hickey, Anthony Hibbert

C: Dyson Stevens, Matt Denham, Riley Walker

HF: Braedan Kight, Mark Orr, Mitchell Brockwell

F: Jai Whitehand, Liam Carter, Lachlan Hickey

R: Ben Archard, Jack Walker, Connor Griffiths

Int: Benjamin McMahon, Jake Syme, Jordan Kight, Brett McIntyre

Emg: Ashden Crone, Bailey Mawson, Lochlan Ericson, Daniel Walker, Jared May

In: Brett McIntyre, Benjamin McMahon, Braedan Kight

Out: Shaun Campbell, Andrew Crone, Jared May

at Marty Busch Reserve

Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 3, Lakers 9.12 (66) d Burra 7.9 (51)

SEBASTOPOL (2nd, 10 wins, 5 losses): second position is on the line and as they say is set to go down to the wire. Even a win might not be enough with the Burra and Darley so close on percentage. It is going to go down the secoreboard to determine who gets the double chance. Sebastopol made a big statement in getting over Melton away, making the most of the returns of star players. It was a great response to the previous round's loss to East Point and showed a new maturity, which should again be decisive in getting the job done against Lakers.

LAKE WENDOUREE (9th, 5 wins, 1 draw, 9 losses): Lakers could easily have thrown their arms in the air with a month of the season to go and just played it out. Full credit to them though. They felt they had a point to prove after missing finals and wins over Bacchus Marsh and Redan in consecutive weeks have certainly done that. For that reason, Lake Wendouree cannot be totally disregarded - even against one of the form sides of the competition. Lakers will be physically undermanned, but they will get an opportunity to test the Burra's foot speed. As it has been all year, breaking the Sebastopol's defensive road block will be tough and possibly beyond it.

PREDICTION: Sebastopol

Sebastopol

B: Sam Jenkins, Grady Snowden, Marshall Cain

HB: Hugo Papst, Tom Petersen, Tony Lockyer

C: Luke Kiel, Lachlan Cassidy, Chase Dummett

HF: Toby Hutt, Geoffrey Lovett, Michael Powell

F: Jai Harvey, James Keeble, Matt Austin

R: Tobias Thoolen, Ben Hutt, Daniel Widgery

Int: Jacob Wilkinson, Ryan Noether, Simon Butler, Jordan Gercovich

Emg: Tom Holmes, Dayne Furness, Bradley Weightman

In: Sam Jenkins

Out: Dayne Furness

Lake Wendouree

B: William Henderson, Lachlan O'Connell, Tom Salau

HB: Joshua Bibby, Jack Elkington, Scott Carlin

C: Bailey Edwards, Shane Hutchinson, Jacob Lohmann

HF: Caleb Hepworth, Ashley Simpson, Jamie Norton,

F: Mitchell Phillips,Jacob Coxall, Harrison Robertson

R: Liam Hepworth, Ben Taylor, Joel O'Connell

Int: Callum McKay, Nathan Pring, Sam Clifton, Ambrose Gillett,

Emg: Matthew Jones, Ned Nash

In: Tom Salau, Jacob Lohmann

Out: Siddharth Rajesh, Kai Lohmann

at Clarke Oval

Saturday, 2.15pm

LAST MET: round 5, Cobras 17.12 (114) d Lions 11.10 (76)

SUNBURY (4th, 10 wins, 5 losses): the Lions stumbled against Bacchus Marsh earlier in the year. It was an outing that might easily have bitten back at them, but finally getting some wins in Ballarat helped make amends to keep them right in the premiership race. Home ground advantages have been a stand out this season, with none stronger than Sunbury at Clarke Oval. The Lions have been unbeatable there and that record looks like continuing, although the Cobras will want to send coach Peter Davey off on a winning note.

BACCHUS MARSH (8th, 6 wins, 9 losses): it has been a disappointing year for the Cobras. They were always going to be in hot seat to retain their place in the top six with Sunbury and Sebastopol pushing after missing finals last season. A lack of depth caught out Bacchus Marsh. There is no shortage of talent at the top end, but unlike the Cobras' premiership campaign of three years ago the well did not go deep enough. And too often things did not click either. There was too much between their best and worst. It does not getting much tougher than road trip to Sunbury.

PREDICTION: Sunbury

Sunbury

B: Corey Mobilio, Grant Valles, Nathan Wood

HB: Dylan Featon, Daylan Kempster, Mitchell Conn

C: Leigh Brennan, Gregory Hay, Liam Berry

HF: Michael Edwards, Jack Sheahan, Alec Goodson

F: Jiaya Mitchell, Jarrah Maksymow, Luke Goater

R: Jayden Eales, Alik Magin, Lachlan Bramble

Int: Jacob Bygate, Timothy Hill, Reece Wood, Mitchell Trimboli

Emg: Nathan Doyle, Harry Power, Brock Landt

In: Luke Goater, Jacob Bygate, Mitchell Trimboli

Out: Harry Power, Andrew Duhau, Jack Landt

Bacchus Marsh

B: Thomas Wardell, Daniel Velden, Tim Hughes

HB: Brodie Easton, Quade Butt, Ryley Stuhldreier

C: Harrison King, Nicholas Stuhldreier, Connor Stone

HF: Liam Mullen, Jake Owen, Jack Parente

F: Ricky Shortis, Aaron Willitts, Billy Griffiths

R: Daniel Burton, Kain Dickson, Tyson Shea

Int: Jack Darling, Jacob Pawlowicz, Rylan Porter, Jack Burgess

Emg: Luke Timms, Byron Drew

In: Connor Stone, Jack Darling

Out: Matthew Chisari, Jack Lalor

DARLEY v. BALLARAT

Darley

B: Ross Gundry, Brad Layton, Zane Dix

HB: Sam Holt, Kirk Fenton, Lachlan Herring

C: Benjamin Holt, Nicholas Thacker, Jesse Psaila

HF: Mathew Thacker, Jordan Spiteri, Daniel Granato

F: Travis Stephenson, Ryan Pinder, Dale Peacock

R: Khyle Forde, Sam Hitchings, Jessee Pattison

Int: Drew Locke, Noah Baker

Ballarat

B: Andrew Day, Damien Peck, Leigh Murphy

HB: Dylan Bulluss, Zane Ross, Cooper Andrews

C: Jordan Greville, Ashley Madder, Lucas Hodgetts

HF: Jackson Ford, Zack Fiegert, Brad Milikins

F: Matthieu Brehaut, William Johnston, Ash Gray

R: Jacob Willowhite, Joel Berry, Harrison Butler

MELTON SOUTH v. NORTH BALLARAT CITY

Melton South

B: Daniel Cooper, Taylor Dale, Brendan Binek

HB: Anthony Curtis, Shane Geddes, Jesse Geddes

C: Zachary Giblett, Nathan Gemmell, Thomas Keane

HF: Matthew Mckane, Jordan Madafferi, Daniel Martin-Walker

F: Ben Notman, Jackson Reale, Leigh Notman

R: Cody Ogston, Michael Scicchitano, Patrick Unsworth

Int: Jayden Smoors, Ryan Sutherland

North Ballarat City

B: Andrew Lambert, Matthew Skontra, Matt Willian

HB: Max Lawless, Matthew Nevett, Josh Cullinan

C: Tynan Haintz, Thomas McPhan,

HF: Harry Murphy, Jacob Duffy, Liam Cullinan

F: Joshua Partington, Lachlan Simpson, Thayne Turley

R: Scott Howard, Christopher Metcalfe, Mitchell Hay

REDAN v. MELTON

Redan

B: Simon Remington, Xavier Curran, Riley Petrascu

HB: Liam Grills, Jordan Baker, Dustin Okely

C: Callum Bourke, Sam Carr, Lleyton Scheele

HF: Kyle Hayes, Matthew Ward, Connor Barnes

F: Jacob Toulmin, Brenton Riordan, Matthew Bourke

R: Thomas Godson, Ashley Barker, Matthew Coon

Int: Matthew Sandford, Daniel Burnett, Angus Cocking, Joel Neal

Emg: Thomas Robertson, Kayde Linton, Jeromy Johnston, Brendan Peace

Melton

B: Nicholas Milburn, Tom Button, Daniel Walker

HB: James Robertson, James Taylor, Murphy Wilde

C: Joshua Parsons, Heath Abela, Jake Buttigieg

HF: Lochlan Ericson, Mark Farrar, Leigh Wilson

F: Blake Nicholson, Billy Dixon, Brett Merry

R: Andrew Button, Jacob Grech, Blake Souter

Int: Bradley Newman, Daniel Wright, Koby Skenderis, Jared May

SEBASTOPOL v. LAKE WENDOUREE

Sebastopol

B: Mitch Jolly, Adam Young, Aiden Broughton

HB: Lachlan Lamb, Dayne Furness, Christopher Jeffrey

C: Tom Holmes, James Carroll, Alexander Wallis

HF: Luke Parker, Baden Stevens, Lachlan Hind

F: Bradley Weightman, Taylor Stewart, Jack Cooper

R: Jack Mason, Shaun Henry, Luke Noether

Int: Brad Broughton, Benjamin Trew, I Kadek Irvan, Joshua Morgan

Lake Wendouree

B: Alexander Parrot, Nicholas Clifton, Lachlan Dodd

HB: Neville Fraser, Michael Page, Oliver Yeung

C: Paul O'Connell, Harrison Robertson, Xavier Schuurs

HF: John Forbes, Jamie Norton, Fletcher Brennan

F: Stuart Cox, Joel Moriarty, Tom Mc Kay

R: Jonathon Millane, Tom Salau, Sean Willmott

Int: Robbie Emerson-Jones, Aiden Lourey, Michael Britt, Archie Bissinella

SUNBURY v. BACCHUS MARSH

Sunbury

B: Ben Riley, Andrew Gilbertson, Joshua Muir

HB: Dwain Sanderson, Sam Hogan, Jake Johnson

C: Daniel Jurczyluc, James Rizk, Harry Power

HF: Ben Guthrie, Ben Brennan, Mitchell Pearce

F: Roger Allen, Christopher Lucas, Mitchell Trimboli

R: Trent Luke Stead, William Healy, Nathan Bridgland

Int: Daniel Nutt, Jack O'Leary, Bradley Mundy, Corey Hansen

Bacchus Marsh

B: Lleyton Pigott, Kyle Grima, Zachary Miesen

HB: Simon Lafranchi, Ben Singor, Baiden Cracknell

C: Samuel Rousch, Matthew Whittle, Dominic Miesen

HF: Kane White, Lachlan Whyte-Marshall, Alex Sweet

F: Samuel Griffiths, Scott Howson, Joshua Harrington

R: Jye Dickson, Hamish Coulton, Phillip Hoyland

Int: Daniel Bonnici, Ben Hose, Mark Howden

DARLEY v. BALLARAT

Darley

From: James Pope, , James McNair, Nicholas Hartfiel, Duncan Cadman, Jackson Vella, Bryce Galea, Jaiden Martin, Dylan Beecham, Bayden Waldie,N athan Gale, Thomas Presnell, Jye Stephenson, Joseph Nesci, Mitchell Ward

Ballarat

B: Mitchell Collins, Samuel Fisher, Jackson Perry

HB: Izaac Ewing, Tom Conheady, Bailey O'Keefe

C: Nathan Woodward, William Liston, Cooper Andrews

HF: Nath Fernandez, Kristofer Swan, Bailey Pickering

F: Samuel McCrum, Darcy Trethowan, Jack Taylor

R: Caleb Reilly, Lachlan Rinaldi, Willy Green

Int: Tyrese Nunn, Brandyn Davidson, Zack Maple, Mason Keast, Noah Drever

MELTON SOUTH v. NORTH BALLARAT CITY

Melton South

B: David Curtis, Logan Brett, Nicholas Baas

HB: Richard Frew, Joshua Frew, Jackson Eekelschot

C: Sam Hubert, Eethan Hunt, Nathan Johns

HF: Jacob Spence, , Tyler Rogers

F: Rohan Mullan, Jayden O'Loughlin, Christopher Mackie

R: Cooper Richardson, Brodie Souter,

North Ballarat City

B: Broden Haintz, Charles Patterson, Ryan Polkinghorne

HB: William Peucker, Ryan Wood, Lachlan Becker

C: Lachlan O'Keefe, Dylan Graham, Lachlan Opie

HF: James Curran, Matthew Aikman, Mitchell McKee

F: Riley O'Keefe, Charlie Perks, Sam Bowen

R: Isaac Pertzel, Harrison Mulcahy, Alexander Kirby

Int: Fletcher Loader, Riely Ranieri

REDAN v. MELTON

Redan

B: Sam McDougall, Owen Davidson, Micah Darby

HB: Nicholas Vincent, Elijah Kelly, Ryan Thiesz

C: Finn Lappin, Jack Jones, Harry Twaits

HF: Dennis Coolwell, Monty Judd, Declan Murphy

F: Kayne Councillor, Fergus Macdonald, Mick Derrick

R: Patrick Stephenson, Myles King, Liam Phillips

Int: Sam Cole, Ethan Tebble, Rhys Elliott, Zach Forbes, Hamish Britt, Tyrese Thompson

Melton

B: Josh Cooper, Benjamin Martin, Alexander Robinson

HB: James Roberts, Kyle Rodgers, Jason Hibbert

C: Max Scoble, Kyle Borg, Hudson Wilde

HF: Joshua Stewart, Nathan Dowdy, Jed Gleeson

F: Lochlan Lamberton, Johnny Armstrong, Joshua McMahon

R: Bailey Mawson, Justin Newton, Adam Tomac

Int: Jake Sygidus

SEBASTOPOL v. LAKE WENDOUREE

Sebastopol

From: Luke Boers, Samuel Hill, Jim Hall , Hayden Gilmore, Timothy Landwehr, I Kadek Irvan, Will Ringin, Mitchell Miller, Aaron Miller, Nathan Pitts, , Jackson Rigg, Lathem Shaw

Lake Wendouree

B: Brody Gilbert, Will Tickner, Jack Butler

HB: Cooper Brennan, Marlin Staley, Cody Brooks

C: Hugh Valpied, Sam Canny, Stephen Fitzgibbon

HF: Matthew Jones, Callum Harte, Charlie Lloyd

F: Samuel Morrow, Harry Turner, Ethan McLaren

R: Tom McKechnie, Harry Carter, Will Clark

Int: Jye Gourlay

SUNBURY v. BACCHUS MARSH

Sunbury

B: Uriah Matenga, Caelan Pitts, Ethan McDonald

HB: James Pollard-Wright, Lochlan Jones, Jordan Ladek

C: Connor Gills, Connor Lever, Riley Eales

HF: Samuel Van Taarling, Joel Muir, Thomas Schwarzenberg

F: Nathan Doyle, Luke Bailey, Murphy Boyd

R: Cooper Lamb, Jordan Taylor, Thomas Werner

Int: Trent Cranwell, Mathew Eldridge, Ty Davidson, Brock Landt

Bacchus Marsh

B: Dimitri Lambris, Byron Drew, Andrew Bettio

HB: Ben Taylor, Jack Crawford, Kai Tyrrell

C: Spencer Jenks, James Dickson, Connor Tangey

HF: Jaye Fell, Xavier Jenks

F: Connor Hains, Mason Dickson, Tyler Sutherland

R: Jack Eeles, Luke Timms, Jay Homewood

Int: Jack Darling, Zane Le Huray