Swans, Bloods headline first week of finals

Qualifying final

Melton v Ballarat

MACPHERSON Park will host its first ever Ballarat Football League final as the Bloods and Swans kick of the 2022 post season.

Flag favourites Melton finished the home and away rounds in dominant fashion, demolishing Lake Wendouree at the same venue with spearhead Ryan Carter bagging 10 to win his first Tony Lockett Medal.

Their opponents, Ballarat again won another thriller, this time hanging on by three points to Sebastopol and secure a second chance, with the victory the Swannies sixth of the season by less than a goal.

The last time these teams met Ballarat had half their side missing due to health and safety protocols, so it is hard to read much into the 95-point Melton victory.

The Bloods go in to the finals campaign fully fit and firmly focused on going one better after losing in the 2018 grand final and the 2019 preliminary final.

Meanwhile, Ballarat return to post season for the first time since 2014 and with the experience of Andrew Hooper and Josh Gibson they aren’t ones to be slept on in big games.

Joe Carmody will be hoping to regain Aiden Domic, Nick Swain and Luke Wynd, but also may look at centre-half forward Jake Dunne, who was back to his brilliant best in the reserves last weekend.

Dunne’s height could be needed with Melton booting the Carter Brothers, Brett McIntyre and even the likes of Bailey Mawson deep inside 50 at times.

This powerful unit maybe too tall of a task for Ballarat to overcome, especially at a venue where they are undefeated at so far in the 2022 season.

Prediction: Melton comfortably.

Elimination final one

Darley v East Point

A do or die clash here as this year’s biggest improvers in Darley take on this year’s biggest disappointment to date in East Point in the first elimination final.

These two sides only met little over three weeks ago where it was the Devils far too good on their home turf, winning by 30-points and securing their future in this year’s finals series.

Nick Rodda was a co-winner of this year’s Tony Lockett Medal, also booting 56 goals in his first year in black and white.

At the other end for East Point, Jordan Johnston, had an incredible start to the season including a spell where he kicked 33 goals in five weeks.

Nine of those came back in round nine where they defeated Darley the last time these two sides met in Ballarat.

Daren Leonard was a late withdrawal last week and will be a 50-50 chance to return with all expectations here that if weather permits it could be a shootout this Sunday.

Prediction: East Point in an upset.

Elimination final two

Sebastopol v North Ballarat

Traditional Rivals go to battle as the Burra and Roosters will have a sell-out this weekend at the Eastern Oval.

In their two encounters during the 2022 home and away season, Sebastopol got the job done and will walk in favourites here to make it three out three against North this year.

Despite only winning one out of their last five games, Brendan McCarthy’s men scrapped into the finals and with good form following Jamie Quick, Jack Riding and Josh Chatfield in recent weeks.

McCarthy would know if he could get his Hollywood style game going the Roosters have the potential to beat anyone in a final this year.

A push towards an elusive first premiership in the BFL starts this weekend for Sebas with a win from here meaning they essentially get a free swing at booking a place at this year’s grand final.

Losing the 2019 flag should act as a motivating factor enough, but the announcement that Michael Searl to not re-seek appointment should also give them extra incentive in this one.

Prediction: Sebastopol by 12 points.