BFNL Review - Round 18, 2023

Jackson Merrett's East Point did what only reigning premiers Melton have been able to do in 2023 - beat North Ballarat at Mars Stadium.

It was just the fourth loss at the venue under Brendan McCartney since 2021 and with the Kangas’ season on the line - what a response!

Sure, the Kangas had their way with the Roosters at their first meet on Eastern Oval but this was a different assignment altogether. Seeing how the Kangas would dig in without Matty Johnston (concussion) was always going to ask questions of Merrett's young group.

The visitors trailed at every change but kept themselves within reach ahead of a season defining last ditch effort.

The Kangas trailed by 6, 12 and 5 points before kicking two unanswered goals in the last quarter to earn their place in the top six.

In form Kangas trio Joe Dodd (in best 9/11), Jordy Johnston (14/16) and Cam Lovig (7/16 including 3 of last 4) were crucial for the winners behind youngster Tom Conlan who had arguably his best game for the season.

With goals coming at a premium, promoted Under 17 talent Strahan Robinson finished with a game high five goals.

North Ballarat leading forward Jamie Quick booted four of the clubs seven goals for the afternoon.

Reliable defender Isaac Lovisson (in best 6/16) continued his run of form in a losing side ahead of usual suspects Cam McCullum, Stewart Crameri, Jack Riding and Riley Polkinghorne.

While it was a dead rubber essentially for North Ballarat, there's no denying it was the second loss to East Point in as many games this year. Their record against the other top six sides is more favourable with wins over Darley, Sebastopol and the double over Redan.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Joe Dodd (East Point): 25 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 10 tackles

Jordan Johnston (East Point): 25 disposals, 13 contested possessions, 8 tackles

Riley Polkinghorne (North Ballarat): 31 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 9 intercept possessions

COACHES' VERDICT

Brendan McCartney (North Ballarat): "We didn't quite get it right when the game was there to be decided. Some real positives and things to work on as well. We have earned our finals spot and everyone is looking forward to next week."

Jackson Merrett (East Point): "Another solid performance by our lads today, particularly from a few of our younger lads. We stuck to our guns and backed in our system to hold up over four quarters."

Darley gave the broader competition a timely reminder their best is very good with a nine-goal-to-one first quarter blitz of a Sunbury outfit fighting to keep their season alive.

The burst came on the back of just 15 inside 50s as forward targets Will Johnson, Billy Myers, Brett Bewley and Darren Leonard went to work.

While Sunbury showed plenty of spirit through the middle stages to reduce the margin to near single figures in the last quarter, another seven-goal pile-on from the Devils would see this game put to bed.

To validate Devils’ coach Dan Jordan's "real game of momentum swings" quote in the post-match, the nature of scoring tells the story.

In the first and last quarters the Devils added 16.2 - 4.5 while the Lions had their way through the 2nd and 3^rd quarters scoring 7.8 -4.2.

Rejuvenated small forward Leigh Spiteri (four goals) and versatile improver Will Johnson (four goals) were named best for the winners ahead of Billy Myers (three goals), Joel Cadman (two goals) and Luther Baker.

While Bewley was not named among the best he seemingly had his own footy in the first half with an eye toward Melton this week.

For Sunbury, the loss was compounded by underdog wins on the road to Redan and East Point that would essentially spell a premature end the Lions’ season.

Big man Cody Brand was an aerial threat all day for the Lions and offered genuine presence forward of the ball while Cody Bramble enjoyed a day out on his wing to feature prominently. The Lions’ leading forward, Jake Sutton, missed with a cork.

Darley meets Melton at Maddingley Park in Saturday's Qualifying Final.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Brett Bewley (Darley): 34 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 11 pressure acts

Luther Baker (Darley): 28 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 12 clearances

Harrison Minton-Connell (Sunbury): 34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 11 marks

COACHES’ VERDICT

Dan Jordan (Darley): "A real game of momentum swings. Great effort from our boys to dig their heels in and get the game back on our terms when Sunbury threw everything at us. Some great learnings to prepare for finals."

Travis Hodgson (Sunbury): "Poor start as we were totally outworked early. Darley's conversion at quarter time meant we paid the maximum price. (We) lifted our work rate and played some really good footy reducing the margin back to single digits during the last quarter. Other results going against us meant that it was a disappointing way to end the season."

Lions’ matchwinner Izaac Grant consolidated his Henderson Medal credentials with a five-goal haul, leading his pride into an Elimination Final against North Ballarat on Sunday.

Stakes were high, especially for the visitors with their season on the line. Credit to Gary Learmonth and his young group bucking the trend that was the Sebastopol force playing in Ballarat.

In their previous 12 games in Brick City, the Burra had led (11) or were level (once) at halftime and were unbeaten at home.

The pattern was flipped on its head as Redan led at every change to run out deserved winners despite five less scoring shots.

Lions’ ruckman Nathan Dunstan was named best alongside Grant and was well supported by experienced trio Liam Hoy, Lachie George and Jacob Werts.

The focus on the Burra's best and handful contributors on the goal front took a back seat quickly as the attention shifted on the season ending injury to Luke Kiel (broken leg) in the third quarter.

The Burra are obviously devastated with the loss of their inspirational leader and will sweat on the availability of top end duo Toby Hutt (knee) and James Keeble who are rated a 50/50 chance.

Sebastopol meets East Point on Saturday, while Redan have North Ballarat, who have won both of their previous meets in 2023.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Lachlan George (Redan): 26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 11 inside 50s

Flynn Atchinson (Redan): 22 disposals, 11 contested possessions, 7 intercept possessions

Arnold Kirby (Sebastopol): 54 hit outs, 22 disposals, 10 contested possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Luke Kiel/Michael Columbro (Sebastopol): "Redan applied good pressure and controlled the game for longer patches. Our attention turns to the Elimination Final this week."

Gary Learmonth (Redan): "The boys were super across four quarters. Took the game into their own hands and were able to work together and play a consistent brand of footy. Really happy they got reward for effort."

Bacchus Marsh made it four wins on the trot to end their 2023 season under outgoing coach Jason Williams in eighth place with a nail biting two-point win over Ballarat.

The Cobras continued on from their momentous win over Sunbury in Round 17 with a four-goal-to-one opening term to have the visitors on the back foot trailing by 19 points.

But the response from Chris Maple's young group warranted enough to reduce the deficit marginally to 18 at the half and within one point at the final change.

With the unofficial title of the BFNL’s eighth ranked team at stake both sides fought out a tense final term that could have gone either way but it was the much improved Cobras who held their nerve to hang on and win a thriller.

Cobras’ wingman Alex Porter made a fourth appearance in the best players from his last six games ahead of tireless midfielder Tyson Shea, match winner Josh Huxtable (two goals) and Jake Owen who finished with a game high four goals taking his season tally to 34 (comp rank #8).

Despite the fact the Swans managed just one goal in the opening term for an eighth occasion this year their response was emphatic outscoring the Cobras nine goals to six through the middle stages but couldn't land a killer blow in the last to steal the points.

Homegrown quartet Paddy Simpson, Will Liston, Rhys Perry and Tristan Maple led the charge for the visitors with significant impact but unfortunately on this occasion, they fell agonisingly short.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Tyson Shea (Bacchus Marsh): 31 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 14 clearances

Luke Goetz (Bacchus Marsh): 77 hit outs, 21 disposals, 10 clearances

William Liston (Ballarat): 34 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 12 tackles

COACHES’ VERDICT

Jason Williams (Bacchus Marsh): "Really proud of the boys and the way the club has finished off the season (four wins in o row). Credit to Ballarat who never gave up, coming back to give us a scare late. Rapt the boys were able to hang on."

Chris Maple (Ballarat): "After quarter time we played a good brand of football. Centre bounce became the deciding factor. A shame not to get the points after another strong comeback, our lads will be better from the experience.

The Bloods achieved what they wanted from their visit to CE Brown Reserve at the weekend downing a persistent Lakers outfit by 55 points - injury free.

This game was over early as the newly crowned back-to-back minor premiers combined for seven unanswered goals.

Credit to the young Lakers for showing some pride in their performance against the competition's benchmark winning two quarters leaving interim coach Tim Shearer evidently pleased with the effort after quarter time.

Given the young profile of the Lakers’ list it was always going to be a tough ask despite the Bloods missing four or five from their best side.

Expect Blake Souter, Lachie Walker, Brodie Sullivan and Lachie Watkins to return for this week’s qualifying final against Darley.

Both Brentan Payne and Jono O'Brien, who missed Round 17's 21-point loss to Darley, are expected to play.

Bloods’ captain Braedan Kight (four goals) and Payne (three goals) were the major contributors on the scoreboard while best afield honours went to in-form trio Kyle Borg, Jordy Cotter and Adrian Monitto.

For the hosts, bigman Tom Zampatti impressed ahead of the Lakers’ sole interleague representative Flynn Loader with Joel O'Connell, Michael Foster and Nathan Pring also being named. Their five-goal match returns were all singles.

The Bloods will prepare for a back-to-back flag mission this week kicking off against the Devils. Both sides are expected to be just one or two shy off their best 22.

Should be a belter given the Devils are the only side to beat the Bloods this year, achieving the feat on two occasions.  

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Braedan Kight (Melton): 27 disposals, 9 marks, 8 score involvements

Riley Walker (Melton): 27 disposals, 12 rebound 50s, 9 marks

Michael Foster (Lake Wendouree): 22 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 7 clearances

COACHES’ VERDICT

Tim Shearer (Lake Wendouree): "Pleased with our guys today. Won two quarters, outscored by three points after quarter time. Plenty of boys under 21, had a crack. Expect to see Melton show their class in the next month. For mine, they remain flag favourites.”

Aaron Tymms (Melton): "Got the job done, starting the way we wanted. To the Lakers credit they adjusted and made it a real slog for the rest of the day. Happy to get through unscathed."