Cobras the crown jewel in Queen’s Birthday game

Bacchus Marsh v Sunbury

QUEEN’S Birthday weekend footy returns to the McDonald’s Ballarat Football League this Saturday.

Bacchus Marsh will be desperate to get back on the winner’s list and keep their finals aspirations alive when they host the struggling Sunbury Lions at Maddingley Park.

The Marsh were no match for North Ballarat on the weekend, unable to match the might of North’s midfield with Simon MaCartin, Jack Riding and Reily Polkinghorne doing as they please with no Nick Sthuldrier available.

The Eastern Bloc Lions on the other hand lead at half time against Sebastopol but, again for the fourth time this year, coughed up a half time lead to hand Burra its first victory over Sunbury in a quarter of a century.

This standalone fixture should have a little bit of extra spice in it as well with Sunbury coach Travis Hodgson coming up against the side he won the 2016 Premiership with, and premiership hero Jarrah Maksymow expected to make his long awaited return from injury.

The Cobras will play captain Jake Owen across centre half back for the third week in a row after his back-to-back best on ground performances highlighting the strength of his influence is at either end of the field.

For the Lions, they will be backing their A-grade midfield in, with Harrison Minton-Connell emerging as the one to watch in the blue and white this season.

Meanwhile veteran Matthew Medcraft is showing glimpses of his best footy with his most consistent showing since returning to the club coming against Sebas.

It is pretty simple here, whoever takes their opportunities, and with the Marsh four-points off the pace for the top six, this crunch game couldn’t have come at a better time to reignite their season.

Prediction: Bacchus Marsh in a tight one.