There’s something about this match-up that favours the travelling side.

Remarkably, six of the last seven encounters between Bacchus Marsh and Redan have seen the away team leave with the four points – a stat that may just give Lions fans a sense of confidence as they head to Maddingley Park this weekend.

With both sides sitting outside the top six, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Bacchus Marsh dropped out of finals contention last week, now trailing North Ballarat by two points.

A win, pending results elsewhere, could see them jump straight back into the mix.

For Redan, the path to finals remains mathematically possible, but there's no room for error – every remaining game is a must-win.

Redan will need to address their forward line inefficiency if they want to stay in the hunt.

While they’ve been solid at generating inside 50 entries – an area where they have an edge over Bacchus Marsh – their inability to convert has been costly.

By contrast, the Cobras sit third in the league for goal accuracy, making them a dangerous opponent even with fewer opportunities.

Bacchus Marsh set the tone early in the meet, with a dominant first quarter, and it was a deficit Redan couldn’t claw back.

First quarters have been a struggle for the Cobras since, but it’s the final term that may prove decisive – Redan have faltered in the fourth quarter seven times this season, compared to just two for the Cobras.

Redan’s lineup will look different without Jake Short, but the return of emerging talent – like Jake Connolly – and renewed midfield strength should offer some balance.

Bacchus Marsh will back in their proven performers and hope their forward line can capitalise again.

In a competition where ladder positions are shifting week to week, this match could determine who keeps their finals dream alive.

With history, form, and urgency all playing their part, expect a high-stakes battle from the first bounce to the final siren.

Tip: Bacchus Marsh

Both Ballarat and Sebastopol head into this clash with everything to play for — one aiming to solidify a finals spot, the other fighting to keep its hopes alive.

For Ballarat, four points would create vital breathing room inside the top six, especially with the ladder tightening week by week.

For the Burra, wins can’t come soon enough. This matchup looms as one they simply have to take if they’re to remain in the finals conversation.

The visitors should take confidence from recent history.

Sebastopol has won four of their last five trips to Alfredton Recreation Reserve, and overall, it’s been a fixture dominated by the travelling team — with ten of the last thirteen clashes going the way of the visitors.

Ballarat will again be without key pillars in Biggie Nyoun and Harry Butler, both of whom have proven match-changers.

Emerton Hooper continues his run in the side, showing promise, while Noah Drever returns from injury.

Sebastopol, meanwhile, breathe a sigh of relief with coach Tony Lockyer cleared to play.

Cooper Littlehayes also looms as an important inclusion, having not played in the Round 2 match.

Littlehayes continuing to grow into senior footy and offering another avenue up forward.

The last time these sides met, Sebastopol dominated the first quarter — but then fell away badly, outscored 71 to 21 over the middle stretch of the game.

They can’t afford a repeat. A full four-quarter performance is non-negotiable if they want to leave Alfredton with the points.

With one eye on the ladder, this is a clash that will have consequences beyond just this weekend.

For Sebastopol, it’s a must. For Ballarat, it’s a chance to step closer to security.

Tip: Sebastopol

After a slow start to 2025, North Ballarat has found its rhythm – and with three wins in their last four matches, the Roosters are emerging as genuine finals contenders.

This Round 10 clash with East Point shapes as a crucial test.

East Point enters the contest with the wood over North Ballarat, having won six of the last seven meetings between the two.

The Roosters have also struggled historically at Eastern Oval, claiming just one win from their past seven visits.

But momentum can shift quickly in this competition, and North will be desperate to get the win.

The return of Riley Polkinghorne has added significant midfield punch to the Roosters.

Averaging 31 disposals and 10 clearances in his two games this season, his impact around the stoppages will be pivotal – especially up against East Point’s clearance specialists Micka Rotumah-Onus and Matt Johnston who will be looking to respond after a bruising loss to Darley.

For the Roos, rebounding strongly is non-negotiable.

Last week’s second-quarter fadeout cost them, and they’ll need a full four-quarter performance to keep touch with the top three.

The return of key defender Geordy Slater from injury comes at the right time, while veteran Joel Van Meel will have the solo ruck duties.

Despite their recent scoring woes, East Point still leads the inside 50s.

But with North Ballarat’s composed backline, including the likes of Denver Grainger-Barras and Isaac Carey, making the most of forward entries will be critical.

With both sides jostling for position in a congested top six, this clash is more than just a home-and-away fixture – it’s a test for finals intentions. Expect nothing less than a fierce contest with September implications.

Tip: East Point

Darley enter the second leg of a three-week tough run, facing off against fellow top-four contenders.

After a dominant Round 9 performance, the Devils look primed to take on Sunbury in what looms as a genuine September vibe.

Both teams are all but locked in for finals.

They sit first and second in the competition for both points scored and points against – meaning we could be treated to either a scoreboard shootout, likely via the likes of Will Johnson and Jake Sutton, or a defensive shutdown led by Billy Myers and Tyson Lever.

Recent history favours Darley, who have won six of their last seven meetings with the Lions.

However, Clarke Oval has traditionally been a stronghold for the home side, and with Sunbury in red-hot form, this contest could be incredibly close.

The stats sheet does little to separate the two.

Sunbury have the edge in clearances, while Darley narrowly lead in inside 50s.

Both sides average high disposal counts and rely on structured ball movement to control games.

When they last met, it was a powerful second-half surge from Darley that proved the difference.

Matt White’s Lions will be looking to flip the script this time – not just starting strong but sustaining it against a Darley outfit that finishes well.

Will Johnson’s recent goal form continues to be a threat, kicking four in each of his last two matches and six the last time these sides met.

Lucas Impey’s return after a spell adds further depth to the Devils.

For the Lions, Josh Guthrie’s consistency will again be key, while Jake Egan will be hungry to make an impact after being kept quiet in their last encounter.

With very little separating them on the ladder and finals implications looming large, this will set up the winner for a prime run into the second half of the season.

Tip: Darley

With the top end of the ladder as tight as it’s been all year, wins alone won’t cut it for Melton — percentage is now a serious part of the finals equation.

And while a clash with the winless Lakers might look straightforward on paper, this one carries more weight than meets the eye.

Lake Wendouree pushed the Bloods for large parts of their Round 2 encounter, with one goalless quarter ultimately inflating the margin.

That performance still stands as one of the Lakers' most competitive this season — and they’ll take belief from knowing they can match it in passages.

A welcome addition for the Lakers is Flynn Loader, returning from the QAFL.

Loader’s presence brings a lift for the young group.

His last game in Lakers colours came in 2023, and his return couldn’t be better timed.

Melton comes into the game with minimal changes from their previous meeting with the Lakers.

Captain Jack Walker is back in the mix, though Jordyn Cotter’s absence will be noted.

The Bloods continue to struggle somewhat at clearances, giving the Lakers a small window to generate forward pressure — but they’ll need to be clinical, especially given Melton’s strength in intercepting and rebounding, led by Harrison Hanley.

Finding space and targets forward of centre has been a persistent challenge for Lake Wendouree.

If Jackson O’Brien and the rest of the young forward line can begin to turn contest into opportunity, it’ll go a long way in keeping them in the contest — or at least in setting benchmarks for growth.

For Melton, the goal is simple: win big and tighten up the areas that will matter in finals.

For the Lakers, it’s a chance to test themselves against one of the competition’s best — and use the halfway mark as a yardstick for their progress.

Tip: Melton