BFL season 2021 gets underway this weekend

East Point v Sebastopol

LOCAL footy finally returns in the Ballarat Football League and what a way to kick things off with the 2019 grand final replay.

The Kangas are looking to make history this season as they look to achieve an unprecedented ‘three-peat’, while the Burra will be out for revenge after going down gallantly by 14 points in the grand final.

Sebas is under new leadership with Ex-Springbank coach Michael Seale now at the helm and the recruitment of Michael Lockyer from Lismore and Geelong VFL Listed speedster Jed Hill will definitely give them a different outlook inside 50 that they didn’t have on that faithful September day.

However, Jake Bridges men have continued to improve and with basically a fully retained list from 2019, its hard see why they can’t do it again in season 2021.

Prediction: Tip against East Point at your own peril.

 

Melton v Melton South

Traditional rivals kick off round one football in the Eastern Bloc of the Ballarat Football Netball League with pundits expecting a much more even contest this year at the newly renovated McPherson Park.

The Panthers have been the talk of the town with plenty of boom recruits making their way to the southern region of the town; particularly from VFL listed side Port Melbourne.

The Bloods on the other hand are looking to go that one step further in season 2021 after a loss in the 2018 grand final to East Point and to Sebastopol in the 2019 preliminary final.

Aaron Tymms men know that they are no doubt in the premiership window and that it’s now or maybe never for them.

Prediction: Melton by 18 points.

 

Redan v North Ballarat

After an impressive 7-0 start to the 2019 season, the Lions really fell in a heap to finish their last campaign.

A lack of consistency seemed to be the problem from Redan with their forward-line unable to deliver in the big matches.

On the other hand, North Ballarat was without a vast majority of their superstar midfield for the 2019 season with captain Simon McCartin carrying a much heavier workload.

With Daniel Jones and Tim Spiers returning there is definitely high hopes under new coach Brendan Macartney that they’ll return to finals footy this year.

However, without a notable spearhead inside 50, it is hard to see the Roosters having enough fire power to upstage Redan at the City Oval.

Prediction: Redan in a close one.

 

Ballarat v Bacchus Marsh

With both sides eager to push towards finals campaigns in season 2021, Saturday night footy at the Alfredton Oval is set up to be an absolute beauty.

Highlighted with ex-AFL footballer Josh Gibson making his BFL debut, the Swans look to be a much improved side that finished just one game off the bottom in 2019.

Not to be out done, the Cobras are boasting a whole heap of new and exciting talent headlined by new playing coach Tom German.

With arguably the most dangerous forward-line in the entire competition, expect the Cobras bigger bodies still being too much for the Swans to handle.

Prediction: Bacchus Marsh comfortably.

 

Darley v Sunbury

Under lights for the first time ever in the Ballarat Football League, two Eastern Bloc powerhouses do battle with the Devils hosting the Sunbury Lions.

In 2019 both sides were bundled out in elimination finals. Now the Devils are looking to continue their impressive run of finals appearance dating back to 2012 where they haven’t missed a single campaign and of course won two premierships in that eight-year period.

Whereas the Lions look to life after speedster Lachlan Bramble, who was picked up by Hawthorn in this year’s rookie draft.

Even though the Devils have lost plenty of class in the off-season, expect the likes of Leigh Spiteri to really shine in a new prominent midfield role, as the Devils once again try to take the competition by storm.

Prediction: Darley in an upset.

 

Lake Wendouree had the round one bye.