BFNL Review - Round 18, 2024

Sunbury led by as much as 39 points with the breeze at quarter time before hanging on to beat a spirited Cobras outfit by 13 points at the Clarke Oval.

The Cobras won each of the remaining three quarters to eat into the deficit but the assignment proved a bridge too far.

Speedster Harry Power was named best for the Lions ahead of Mitch McLean (four goals), Ben Cameron, Blake Watson and recalled big men Fraser Ampulski (two goals) and Leigh Brennan (two goals).

Leading forward Jake Sutton (two goals) was well held by Cobras’ defender Colby Piggott.

The visitors were aiming for a repeat of last year’s come from behind win, but it wasn't to be, in one of their most connected performances of the year post quarter time.

Jake Owen was again the star finishing with a game high five goals for the Cobras to feature among Henderson Medal vote contention ahead of Piggott, and consistent quartet Jake McCreery, Josh Huxtable, Luke Goetz and Rye Penny.  

The Lions gain an all-important morale boosting win ahead of an elimination final showdown with Ballarat, who remain unbeaten since Round 10, while the Cobras look to bounce strongly in the coming off-season with an eye to improve on a four game winning season (9th).

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Luke Goetz (Bacchus Marsh) - 48 hit outs, 19 disposals, 14 contested possessions

Cody Bramble (Sunbury) - 31 disposals, 9 score involvements, 7 marks 

Josh Guthrie (Sunbury) - 31 disposals, 94% disposal efficiency, 7 marks 

COACHES’ VERDICT
Matt White (Sunbury)
"Was a good, hard-fought win in the end. Got off to a flying start and had to battle a fired-up Bacchus Marsh outfit to win in the last. Got through with minimal pain but it looks like we've lost (Jake) Egan to another hamstring injury."

Dennis Armfield (Bacchus Marsh)
"Was very proud of the character and belief of the lads. Forty points down at quarter time and we were able to work our way back into the game and finish the year off with positive football and connection."

The Swans gave us a timely reminder they're not in the BFNL finals series to make up the numbers with a thrilling seven-point win over East Point at Alfredton Oval.

The upset win ended the Kangas’ unbeaten run of 14 straight games.

In a seesawing affair, the Swans started well to lead by 16 points at the first change before a four-goals-to-one second term response from the Kangas gave them the half time lead, albeit narrowly by three points.

The Swans made another push in the third term to restore the lead at the final change before it was game on in the last, a classic that went down to the wire.

But in the end, it was Chris Maple's Swans who held on to defeat Joe Carmody's men, a feat not achieved by any club since the season opener.

The Swans’ top end stood up under the heat with Tristan Maple, Rhys Perry, Harry Butler, Lachie Dalgleish, Andrew Hooper and Will Liston all featuring among the best players in arguably the club’s best win since the 2022 semi final victory over Darley.

Hardworking Swans’ forward Harry Butler finished with a game high four goals, three of those coming in the third term to keep the hosts in the game with some telling marks.

Butler has played just seven games this year including six wins and a draw. His agility and presence in the air and at ground level has been significant, not mentioning his 16-goal tally at 2.43 goals per game. 

Veteran Andrew Hooper chimed in with three invaluable goals.

The Kangas, while warm favorites, were brave and lost no admirers with clearly bigger fish to fry as a qualifying final lies in waiting this Saturday against Melton.

The Johnston brothers Jordy (three goals) and Matty featured prominently once again, alongside in form defenders Jacob Brown and Jackson Merrett.

Sam Cue and Mickitja Rottumah-Onus were next best.

Forwards Bryson McDougall (three goals) and Strahan Robinson (two goals) combined for half of the Kangas’ ten goal afternoon.

Ballarat remains unbeaten since Round 10 and as a result of their weekend success were promoted to fourth with an elimination final against Sunbury now on the radar.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Tristan Maple (Ballarat) - 40 disposals, 12 marks, 10 intercept possessions

Jacob Brown (East Point) - 25 disposals, 13 intercept possessions, 10 rebound 50s

Lauchlan Dalgleish (Ballarat) - 26 disposals, 11 marks, 11 intercept possessions 

COACHES’ VERDICT
Chris Maple (Ballarat)
"A good effort from our lads. We were pretty consistent in all phases of the game. We will reflect, educate and get ready for next week."

Joe Carmody (East Point)
"Outworked by Ballarat who beat us comprehensively in uncontested ball. No injuries were a positive and we were able to get games into Joe Dodd and Geordie Slater after long layoffs. Excited to prepare for a big finals series."

The Bloods secured back-to-back minor premierships with a 15-point win over the Devils at MacPherson Park.

Both sides were happy to get through relatively unscathed ahead of a challenging finals series.

The Devils kicked with the aid of a two or three goal breeze in the opening term but could only manufacture a six-point advantage.

For the record it was the Bloods’ first 'quarter' loss since half time of their Round 10 win over Sunbury.

The Bloods arrested back the lead in the second quarter on the back of two Jordy Kight goals.

While it looked as though both sides were simply 'playing time' for periods in the second half there was no discounting the performances of a number of individuals.

For the winners, Adrian Monitto, Lachie Phillips, Riley Walker, Jaykob Hickey, Kyle Borg and Conrad Farrugia (three goals) were the standouts while for the Devils, Adam Azzopardi, Harley Inglis, Mitch Hovey, Brady Wright, Leigh Spiteri and Joel Cadman (two goals) showed enough to suggest they've hit form at the right time of year.

Bloods’ quartet Lachie Watkins, Blake Souter, Max Scoble and Bailey Mawson will be in the mix for a return next week while Jordy Cotter faces a race against time to be available at all throughout September.

The Devils are expected to recall Luther Baker, Matt Denham and key back Matthew Brett for their do or die Elimination Final against North Ballarat as the availability of Lucas Impey and Jayven Tanner remains up in the air.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Adam Azzopardi (Darley) - 29 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 9 score involvements

Riley Walker (Melton) - 29 disposals, 13 marks, 11 contested possessions

Lachlan Phillips (Melton) - 22 disposals, 14 marks, 10 intercept possessions 

COACHES’ VERDICT
Troy Scoble (Melton)
"A good day for both clubs I would have thought. Solid hit out against a finals team we respect greatly that has set the standard in the competition in the last 18 months. We were inconsistent in all phases today, however we experienced a strong contest team in tricky conditions and both clubs got through the game managing their playing groups. We built on a few key focus areas and will focus on working on other areas we know will need to be at a high level to be successful in the next few weeks. Home and away done and we look forward to playing in a finals game next week. Proud of our group!" 

Dan Jordan (Darley)
"Clearly a bit more to play out from the two sides given the context of both respective seasons. I think we weren't on our own trying a few things. We saw things that we liked and clearly identified areas of further improvement. Wishing Melton all the best for their finals campaign."

The Lakers overcame a 12-point deficit at half time to win an entertaining shoot-out at CE Brown Reserve.

The result gave Rohan Brown's group a thoroughly deserved third win, and positive way to exit to the home and away season.

Livewire Lakers’ forward Bayley Thompson finished with a game high four goals and best on ground honours to lead as many as six multiple contributors for the hosts on their way to a second score of the season beyond the 100 mark.

Veteran Laker Nathan Pring booted three goals in his 200th game to aid the cause ahead of Jaydo Wright, Timmy Collins, Cooper James and Rory O'Keefe who each finished with two.

Among the best players named behind Thompson were Bailey Ryan, Joel O'Connell, Tom Zampatti, Lewis Gilbert and Cooper James.

For Gary Learmonth's Redan it was disappointing back half of the season losing six of their last seven games by an average of 44 points.

Lachie George (three goals), Rudie Forde, Marty Boyer (three goals), Khy Jess, Liam Farnsworth and second gamer Lachlan Kroussoratis were named best for the losing side.

While it was disappointing for the Lions to end the season on just five wins, there's no denying the mountain of promising youth stocks at Learmonth's disposal looking forward.

On the other hand, the Lakers just need to add some top end class to a group on the rise under Rohan Brown.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Rudie Forde (Redan) - 41 hit outs, 21 disposals, 17 contested possessions

Tom Zampatti (Lake Wendouree) - 49 hit outs, 19 disposals, 8 score involvements

Bailey Ryan (Lake Wendouree) - 31 disposals, 9 rebound 50s, 8 intercept possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT
Rohan Brown (Lake Wendouree)
"Good game of footy. Nathan Pring even showed he's still more than capable in his 200th (game). Really rapt for our group to get a win, thought our contest work was fantastic, and we played a solid four quarters of footy. Credit to Gaz and Redan for doing what they have done this year with injuries etc, their future looks bright, as does ours. We believe we have taken steps forward this year and are already looking forward to next."

Gary Learmonth (Redan)
"Credit to Lakers, they played a solid four quarters. Rohan has done a good job. We played some good footy but as has happened a lot during the year, fundamental mistakes hurt us. Our pressure was super but we didn't make the most of our opportunities. Looking forward to 2025."

An inaccurate Sebastopol did what they had to, notching up a sixth win of the season to finish outside the top six in seventh.

The Burra won every quarter but were wasteful with their opportunities on goal recording 4.15 to 1.5 in the second half to extend a 43-point half time lead to 71 at the final siren.

Adam Forbes (two goals) was named best afield for the winners ahead of Ben Hutt, Liam Mason (two goals), Daniel Widgery, Jacob Wilkinson and William Deans.

Panthers big man Broden Collins made it a tenth appearance in the best players from his 16 games alongside Lachlan Peterson, Riley Theo, Mitch Fino and ever consistent Jarrod Bibby.

The Burra will look for a return to finals next year after an indifferent season starved of continuity.

For the Panthers, it was another tough year on the field, but gradual improvement would have been one of Travis Hodgson’s goals for 2024.

The struggling club averaged just 30 points per game in 2024, a slight uptick from 2023.

However, in defence the club conceded an average of 143 points against, down from 187.5 in last year’s campaign.

STATS THAT CAUGHT THE EYE

Lachlan Cassidy (Sebastopol) - 42 disposals, 13 marks, 13 tackles

Broden Collins (Melton South) - 40 hit outs, 28 disposals, 22 contested possessions

Adam Forbes (Sebastopol) - 29 disposals, 13 score involvements, 8 clearances 

COACHES’ VERDICT
Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)
"Good to finish off the season with a win. Will review and assess as per usual but now all eyes are on 2025 and taking a big step forward with this exciting young group. Wishing Melton South all the best with their 2025 campaign. They are in excellent hands with Trav at the top."

Travis Hodgson (Melton South)
Beaten comprehensively in most areas with the inside 50 count of 67-26 highlighting the gap between the two sides. Although nowhere near the level of the opposition, credit to the boys for persisting with what we wanted all day and having some really good passages of play because of it. Sebas have improved considerably after starting the season 1-5 and then winning five of their last 10 and I’ve no doubt they will bounce hard next season, so we were well out of our depth. But as they have most of the season our boys showed plenty of spirit and kept the heat on all day making it harder for Sebas to convert in front of goal.