The Lions’ top three chances hang in the balance ahead of a must win game against a red-hot East Point outfit at Clarke Oval.

While there was little between them on the scoreboard at their previous meet, the Lions did kick the last three goals of the game to flatter the final margin.

But credit to Sunbury, that's the closest any team has been at Eastern Oval all year.

Sure, Clarke Oval flips the advantage ahead of their Round 17 clash but Sunbury will need to address a few things if they're to end the Kangas’ 13-game winning streak.

Fact: Sunbury have won just two (Melton South and Sebastopol) of their last eight 'first' quarters and rank #11 for average clearances per game.

I know clearances aren't everything and are considered an overrated stat by a few experts, but 11th - really?

The return of Jake Egan will add some bite around stoppage as they go head-to-head against the competition's number #2 ranked team in this area.

As for the Lions’ starts, call it coincidence if you like but their three win, five loss games record for the period aligns more with a browse, raising pattern for concern.

Joe Carmody's visiting party arrive with four of the BFNL's top 16 goalkickers and five of the top 25.

Sunbury has just two in the top 40, albeit two of the top five.

The dependance on Lions’ pair Jake Sutton and Mitch McLean to kick a winning score has not waned given the two are responsible for 95 of the team’s 202 goals for the season (47%).

A successful assignment for the Lions will be judged on their ability to multitask in the run.

'Maintaining' and 'containing' will be the order of the day for Matty White's men - a potential third place finish depends on it.

Nothing really needs to change for the high-flying Kangas bar a correction on their disaster 80-point loss here in Round 11 last year (109-29).

Scoop’s tip
East Point

The Swans will look to build on the learnings and good habits of recent weeks when they head down the highway to meet the winless Panthers fresh off their highest BFNL score in 39 games!

Let's acknowledge quickly, the Swans will be winning.

Outgoing coach Chris Maple has done a good job with this group.

Finals are a lock, and the Swans remain unbeaten since Round 10.

What I’m liking about the 'semi arrival' of Ballarat is the clarity in which the players are responding to their roles.

Their growing number of ball winners are finding the footy more than ever, the talls are holding their own across all three lines.

What they're not marking is being brought to ground.

Opposition teams aren't just waltzing into goal and out of the back half as they please.

Furthermore, Marcus Powling rarely loses the hit-out count in the ruck, while at ground level there’s enough leg speed at the Swans to trouble any side.

They're the encouraging good habits going on at the Swans and you can expect more of the same against the Panthers.

The 'learnings' side of things are not so fundamental.

Maturity in footy IQ remains a work in progress at the Swans around composure and decision making.

That's not always easy when you're coming up against some of the best players in local footy going around.

But Maple has them tracking nicely ahead of an exciting return to finals.

For the Panthers, well they've set themselves a new bar with the 13 goal scoreline last week against Redan.

Credit to them. Cody Chapman keeps racking up the numbers with and without the ball while Jarrod Bibby sounded the alarm of what's to look forward to with four goals and a tenth appearance in 11 games named among the club’s best players.

Scoop’s tip
Ballarat

North Ballarat head to City Oval for their last home and away game of the season to take on Redan.

Both sides will give themselves a live chance banking the premiership points despite little or no luck on the injury front over recent weeks.

Despite Redan's up and down run, injuries have been more crippling for North Ballarat than any side, but somehow, they've been able to stay competitive.

And not just competitive, the Roosters have had their moments for periods against the two dominant teams Melton and East Point, not to mention the reigning premiers, Darley, who sit third. 

Just who the Roosters get back will be a welcoming discussion for Brendan McCartney and his group given it's their last game before finals with the bye on their fixture for Round 18.

Riley Pokinghorne may return while it's been confirmed Quick, Loader and Crameri (retired) are done for the season.

Leading Lions possession winner Khy Jess is in serious doubt after a heavy landing on his back last week that saw him leave the ground early against Melton South.

The weight shifted onto Lachie George and forward pair Lachie Bond and Grant Bell to lift the Lions over the line.

Expect much of the same this week in the likely absence of Jess, Werts and Fitzgibbon.

Both teams are loaded with players shy of 20 years old, earmarking this game for a genuine, spirited battle of youth.

While experience will be lacking at the level, ironically the familiarity of the opposition won't be given the age profile.

You could see firsthand what impact the return of Roosters bigman Cam McCullum had on the group with his physical presence alone.

Also, the bonus addition of Joel Freeman inside 50 has provided the Roosters with a genuine aerial target.

The former Cobra has 13 goals from his last three games including a bag of five last week against the high-flying Kangas.  

Weather permitting, the game should provide plenty of highlights and pose a genuine look into the future of next generation BFNL talent.

Scoop’s tip
North Ballarat

The Cobras will need little motivation bucking the trend of an ailing win/loss record when they host cross town rivals Darley.

Since their 'first' bye in Round 7, the Cobras have won just one of eight games.

Sure, Dennis Armfield's group have had excuses on the back of injury, suspension and unavailability but they're not alone.

The frustrations for Dan Jordan despite a more favourable win/loss are not dissimilar.

Again, I expect both sides to be well shy of their best 22 on paper.

I'd love to be writing up this game as one for the ages with all the bells and whistles thrown in but in reality, expect a hard-fought scrap, stoppage to stoppage game played predominately on the 'inside'. 

Given the level of desperation we often see in a local derby like this, I don't foresee a final margin to reflect the two sides’ current position on the BFNL ladder.

In fact, four of the last five local derbies have been decided by 12 points or less.

The Devils should win easy, but they won't - they will be made to earn any advantage.

Strangely, this match up for the here and now is the Devils most important in the context of their season as a potential third place beckons.

That alone elevates the status to 'danger game' for the Devils.

The Cobras’ season is done, but their pride and spirit will be in full verse I assure you against the old enemy.

I'm tipping Armfield will get everything out of his young group while his top end aims to match or better the enviable spoils made available out of the Devils’ camp.

The Devils must deliver under the weight of all pressure and expectation because if there's one group that would like to spoil their top three chances it's the progressive next gen brigade of the Cobras.    

Scoop’s tip
Darley

Melton are on the road and will look to extend their nine-game winning streak when they meet the Lakers at CE Brown Reserve.

The hosts are fresh off the bye and should welcome the challenge after a disappointing effort a fortnight ago against the current number two side of the competition, East Point.

Rohan Brown's group barely made an impression in their Round 15 hit-out, smashed by 155 points.

I'm not sure there's that much of a gulf between the Lakers and the top two - clearly belief remains a work in progress at CE Brown up against the powers of the BFNL.

This weekend poses an ideal opportunity for a turnaround despite the fact the assignment won't be any easier.

Intimidation could be another factor for the Lakers to overcome given the recent Bloods dominance in these fixtures.

There's no point mentioning just how one sided they have been, it's old and unwelcoming news for the Lakers who must find a way to change the narrative in their penultimate game of the season.

The Bloods’ front half boasts five of the top 14 goalkickers in the comp and a defence who treat every goal concede as if it were a kick in the teeth!

Their back six averages just 40 points against per game, well clear of the competitions next best in East Point (50 points pg).

The midfield battle will be a fun watch, both have shown encouraging growth in this area relative to their respective journeys throughout '24.

Composed entries will give the Lakers every chance to bettering their two-goal return against the Kangas. 

Anything registered above the Bloods’ season average concede (40 points) would be considered a tick.

On the flipside, any failings around noncompliance and work rate without the footy could open the floodgates for the Bloods to reach 100+ on the scoreboard for a ninth time this season.

Scoop’s tip
Melton