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Ballarat Swans<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 5-0-5 (fourth)<\/p>\n Highlight: beating Sebas 13.7 (85) to 9.13 (67) away in round 10.<\/p>\n Lowlight: losing to redan by 54 points in round 3.<\/p>\n Leading goal kicker: Andrew Hooper 20<\/p>\n From the rock bottom to premiership contender, the Swans have had a remarkable rise up the ladder. A tough fixture to come including two pointless bye rounds, but one thing that Joe Carmody\u2019s men have been able to do so far is overcome ever challenge thrown at them.<\/p>\n Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bacchus Marsh<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 5-0-4 (fifth)<\/p>\n Highlight: a six-point win over Sebas in round nine.<\/p>\n Lowlight: pumped by the Roosters by 71 points in round seven.<\/p>\n Leading goal kicker: Jake Owen 24<\/p>\n Finals are a pass mark for the Cobras and realistically they are only couple of games away from achieving that goal. They play the top two sides in there next two encounters on their home deck, a venue where they are undefeated in season 2021; however their lack of speed through the midfield could be their downfall on making the top six or not.<\/p>\n Grade: C<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Darley<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 0-0-8 (last)<\/p>\n Highlight: development of their home-grown talent<\/p>\n Lowlight: going down to Bacchus Marsh in round two by 56 points.<\/p>\n Leading goal kicker: Mitch Banner 12 goals<\/p>\n It has been a disastrous season for the Devils with the club suspected to go winless in 2021. The positive for Dan Roy\u2019s men has been the emergence of some of their under-19 players in the senior line-up with the likes of Will Johnson showing he is a player of the future with six goals so far in his limited time.<\/p>\n Grade: F<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n East Point<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 5-0-4 (third)<\/p>\n Highlight: dropping Melton on the road in round 5 – 7.10 (52) to 12.12 (84)<\/p>\n Lowlight: getting dropped by the Swans two rounds later.<\/p>\n Leading goal kicker: Joel Ottavi 24<\/p>\n The reigning back-to-back premiers have had a rollercoaster of a season with the last couple of weeks before lockdown showcasing that they are still arguably the team to beat. The addition of Darren Jolly in the ruck, and Joel Ottavi from Williamstown, has helped the Kangas turn their only kink in their arsenal into their greatest strength.<\/p>\n Grade: C<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lake Wendouree<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 4-0-5 (ninth)<\/p>\n Highlight: going over the Roosters by seven pints in round 3.<\/p>\n Lowlight: crushed by 40 points by the Lakers in round seven.<\/p>\n Leading goal kickers: Tim Collins and Nick Rippon 10<\/p>\n Remaining in the hunt, the Lakers will have to shock the footy world with arguably the toughest run home of any club. Dale Power\u2019s men have found a way to shock the system on numerous occasions already this year but to sneak into the six may be a bridge too far.<\/p>\n Grade: C<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melton<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 7-0-2 (second)<\/p>\n Highlight: a round two round win over Sunbury by 17 points.<\/p>\n Lowlight: injuries<\/p>\n Leading goal kicker: Braedan Kight 21<\/p>\n A dynamic forward line, an elite running midfield and a rock-solid defence, the Bloods have a true recipe for success. Injuries have hampered their growth with the immediate retirement of Matt Denham due to an ACL the major blow, but the Bloods continue to find a way to be the most feared Eastern Bloc side in the competition.<\/p>\n Grade: B<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Melton South<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 3-0-6 (tenth)<\/p>\n Highlight: getting the job done against Bacchus Marsh in round 3.<\/p>\n Lowlight: multiple heavy scores against<\/p>\n Leading goal kicker: Dylan Conway 35<\/p>\n Three wins in a lot of people\u2019s eyes was a pass mark for the struggling Panthers this year with Dylan Conway showcasing he is the number one forward in the league. Mathematically finals are not out of the equation, but it would have to a truly special run from here to do so.<\/p>\n Grade: D<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n North Ballarat<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 8-0-1 (first)<\/p>\n Highlight: Too many to pinpoint<\/p>\n Lowlight: seven point loss to the Lakers in round three.<\/p>\n Leading goal kicker: Josh Chatfield 21<\/p>\n Premiership favourites with only the single blemish on their record, North will be hoping for an immediate season restart as they push for their third flag in a decade. Josh Chatfield will be the hard luck story with his season all but over, however this hasn\u2019t hampered the Roosters forward prowess<\/p>\n with Quick, Lockett, Riding and Loader all still finding multiple avenues to goal for Brendan McCarthy.<\/p>\n Grade: A<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Redan<\/strong><\/p>\n Record: 5-0-4 (sixth)<\/p>\n Highlight: grinding out a round 11 win over Sunbury by 21 points.<\/p>\n Lowlight: Smashed by Bacchus Marsh in round five.<\/p>\n Leading goal kickers: Isaac Grant and Lachie George 13<\/p>\n Sneaking back into the six before the lockdown was reward for an improved month of footy, but sustaining it for the rest of the season will be the real test of the Lions. Superstar, Lachie George, has spent time forward as a necessity for Redan this year, the real question is can they get enough out young forwards Declan Murphy and Isaac Grant so they can move George back to the midfield as they approach September.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2021\/07\/A02I5890-300x200.jpg\")