East on the road, head east

Bacchus Marsh v East Point

MADDINGLY Park host a Cobra outfit that was very much below their illustrious standards last week, and an East Point line-up who has started to get there mojo back after an empathic 23-point win over Sunbury. Arguably one of the Kangas most important players Jacob Brown returned last week and booted two crucial goals. However, in what has been the story of the reigning premier’s season the side faded in the second half with their 56-point lead dissolving ever so slowly. Nevertheless, with the good form of the Ganley brothers in defence you would expect the Kangas to be far too quick with a Marsh side that couldn’t keep up with an even younger Panther squad last week.

Prediction: East Point by 45 points.

 

North Ballarat v Sebastopol

Match of the Round as these traditional rivals are both looking to bounce back in the McDonalds Ballarat Football League after heartbreaking losses in round three football respectively. After taking a quarter time lead, the Lakers overran North Ballarat with Shaun Finlayson sinking any hopes of the Roosters remaining undefeated with a crunch goal late. An undisciplined Sebas gave away what could be a record 44 free kicks against, including six 50-metre and two 100-metre penalties in a dramatic one-point loss to the Bloods at McPherson Park. The Burra are expected to be without spearhead James Keeble and big man James Richards for the clash with North with both men missing most of the game last week with hamstring injuries. However, the form of Toby Hutt has continued and his presence in the ruck cannot be understated in this one as many expect Sebas to get back on the winner’s list in this one.

Prediction: Sebastopol in a tight one.

 

Melton South v Sunbury

A big Eastern Bloc clash with one of these two sides moving into the top six and the other one left with an unimpressive one and three record. The Lions got some respectability back on the scoreboard after a horrible start against East Point last week which included a six to one goal opening term. The Panthers were terrific in their first win of the season last week with their top end talent of Dylan Conway and Ryan Pendlebury outstanding in different playing roles. Remarkably the Panthers might walk into this one as favourites. However, with duo Alec Magin and Daniel Toman yet to really tear a game apart, expect a couple of hungry Lions to take rip into a young Panthers midfield who is missing their skipper Billy Sullivan.

Prediction: Sunbury in an upset.

 

Ballarat v Lake Wendouree

Night footy for the final time this year as the Swans host a Lakers outfit that shocked the footy world with their win over North Ballarat last round at the C. E. Brown Reserve. Captain Ash Simpson was super again for his side with Callum McKay a colossus inside 50 with some big marks and three majors. For Ballarat they can put a line through their performance last week with the late withdrawals of ex-AFL footballers Josh Gibson and Andrew Hooper and know their availability this week is crucial if they want to get back on the winner’s list.

Prediction: Ballarat by 12 points.

 

Darley v Melton

Table toppers Melton make the trip to Darley this Saturday night with a big focus for Aaron Tymms to grab some vital percentage points in this one. Ryan Carter was the hero last week with a goal at the 27-minute mark of the final term pinching the four points with the key forward expected to have another big at day the office in this one. The Bloods will still have plenty of talent missing with ruckman, Ben Archard, set to miss again with a hamstring complaint and of course they continue to find a way to replace 2018 Henderson Medal runners-up, Matt Denham, who suffered a season ending ACL Injury a couple weeks ago.

Prediction: Melton in a Landslide.