BFNL Review - Week 2 Finals, 2025

Dan Jordan's Devils surged into a second grand final in three seasons with a runaway 38-point win over Sunbury at Darley Park on Saturday.

While the margin was convincing in the end, you couldn't doubt the effort and intensity brought by the Lions who came with a plan capable of challenging the minor premiers, who were on an 18-game winning streak.

In fact, it was the third time in as many meets Sunbury had worked themselves to a three-goals plus advantage but kudos to the Devils finding a way back, yet again.

Put simply, Darley were better for longer and made more of their opportunities.

Freakish talent Will Johnson continues to haunt the Lions with a game high five goals - his returns against the Lions in his last four games at Darley Park are causing headaches for Matty White and his support staff.

Johnson has booted hauls of 5, 6, 5 and 4 goals in the last four meetings, for a total of 20 - with the Devils winning all four meets by an average of 41 points.

Sunbury should take little from the scoreboard, 38 points is a tad misleading.

The Lions kicked with the breeze in the opening term but failed to get full bang for buck for their efforts where it counted most - on the scoreboard.

From the outside, it looked as if the Lions were more impressive without the ball in the opening term with their pressure on the Devils and their ability to press up on the ball carrier that led to turnover.

The Lions ball use, despite a tricky breeze to navigate, was shy in comparison.

However, two late goals post the 30 min mark gave the Lions some impetus into the first break with a handy 19-point lead.

The Devils didn't panic having been in this position before once already this season against the Lions, when they trailed by 26 points on Darley Park way back in Round 2.

Devils’ 'blue chip' midfield combo Brett Bewley, Nick Hind and Luther Baker led the response and were ably supported behind the ball by Mace Cousins (best), Mitch Gardiner, Billy Myers and Matthew Brett.

While Cousins provided the rebound and distribution with his clean groundball and aerial work, Myers and Brett had the selfless shutdown roles on Jake Sutton (one goal) and Daniel Johnston (two goals).

After a nervous start, the Devils steadied in the second term with a steely focus on the task at hand with a six-goals-to-one response to head into the main break with the pre-game favorites tag restored and a 12-point lead.

Sunbury took a while to impact with the breeze in the third term and were lucky the Devils didn't pinch a goal against the trend with 1.4.

But alas, the Lions could not make the most of their time with the advantage (three goals) and as a result trailed by a point at the final change with the job ahead.

Credit to the Devils’ resistance in the third term as they raised the bar and asked questions of a brave Lions group showing signs of fatigue.

Both Captains left the field in the third term - Brett Bewley (cramp) and Tyson Lever (leg) but later returned.

While Bewley recovered, the watch on Lever during the week will be a nervous one for Lions fans as the star intercept defender looked 'proppy' at best late in the game.

The floodgates opened in the last quarter and the Devils showed the big crowd their best, in full flight is very good. 

The merciless nature of the Devils’ finish to the game blew the margin out to a game high 38 at the final siren as they piled on seven goals to one to win with something in hand while the Lions were spent, and out on their feet.

White's pride were brave but no match for the Devils over the four-quarter journey.

Plenty of learnings to be drawn for both parties and a rematch in a fortnight's time is very much a possibility.

Lions’ quintet Fraser Ampulski (best), Jordan Tentonello, Harry Power, Ben Cameron and Daniel Johnston were the pick of the bunch from a losing side.

The Devils, while rapt with their progress, will need to win in Ballarat.

In 2023 they entered the Grand Final on a nine-game winning streak and took all afternoon to reel in North Ballarat.

This time around, the stretch is 19 unbeaten. 

None will be made more difficult or satisfying for that matter than a 20th for Jordan and his army to close the season given the stakes - a 2025 BFNL Premiership. 

STATS THAT MATTERED

Mace Cousins (Darley) - 20 disposals, 10 intercept possessions, 7 marks

Lucas Impey (Darley) - 62 hitouts, 15 disposals, 9 1%ers

Fraser Ampulski (Sunbury) - 26 hitouts, 20 disposals, 16 contested possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Dan Jordan (Darley)
"Cracking game. Sunbury came to play and really challenged us to produce some of our best footy. Proud of the boy’s response and how we finished off the game. There are always learnings to come out of games, and this one was no exception for both sides. Our journey is far from complete, and we will get back to work Tuesday to prepare for our last game of the season on September 20."

Matt White (Sunbury)
"Well done to Dan and the Darley boys. Cracking game of footy. Unfortunately, we couldn't make the most of our entries and Darley could. We've seen what it will take to beat them but now we focus on next weekend."

Melton kept their title defence alive for at least another week after a stirring 27-point victory over East Point in Sebastopol on Sunday.

The Bloods ability to outscore the Kangas into the five-goal wind in the first quarter proved the catalyst as the reigning premiers advanced into a mouthwatering preliminary final showdown with Sunbury.

Surprisingly the Bloods led by seven points at the first break after the Kangas won the toss and kicked with the strong breeze.

To say Joe Carmody's potent army 'missing the start' sent them packing in a straight sets finals exit is fair given both coaches referenced the first quarter as arguably the deciding 30 minutes in the game.

Troy Scoble's band of brothers were never headed beyond the first break despite a late surge from the Kangas that saw them within eight points in the final term but (externally) there was an heir of inevitability about the result from a fair way out as the finals seasoned Bloods steadied to win by 27 points.

Harry Hanley continued his stellar season for the Bloods to be named best ahead of running machine Jack Walker, the dangerous Carter brothers Ryan (three goals) and Liam (three goals), finals-made Blake Souter and workhorse ruckman Craig Searle.

It was a timely scalp for the Bloods with their season mortality on the line and were buoyed by the returns of Jordy Kight (one goal) and Jordy Cotter who looked more comfortable the longer the game went.

The Bloods could welcome back reigning club best and fairest Jaycob Hickey (foot), reliable half back/mid rotation Lachie Watkins (isolated soreness) and Ben McMahon (illness) to boost their chances against an in-form Sunbury who have won six of their last seven games by an average of 38 points, including a 60-point routing of the Bloods in Round 18.

Selection won't be easy - the decision for Scoble to potentially include three means three will miss out - tough conversations ahead.

On the flipside East Point should be proud of their season despite an 0-2 finals departure having endured injuries to key personnel throughout the back half of the season that clearly affected their finals campaign.

The Kangas managed just five and eight goal returns for their two finals winning just one quarter outright against the Devils and the Bloods.

Experienced top end Kangas quartet Mickitja Rotumah-Onus, Jackson Merrett (two goals), Matty and Jordy Johnston never gave up the fight on a tough day for the red, white and blue while Alex Molan and promising newcomer Jarrod Joyce also received the nod of approval to be named among the best.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Matt Johnston (East Point) - 37 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 15 clearances

Harrison Hanley (Melton) - 15 disposals, 14 intercept possessions, 8 intercept marks

Adrian Monitto (Melton) - 32 disposals, 12 rebound 50s, 9 intercept marks

COACHES’ VERDICT

Joe Carmody (East Point)
"Melton's ability to defend against the wind and get us out the back proved the difference in the end. Gutsy effort to get back within eight points in the last quarter but Melton were the better team all day and thoroughly deserve to go to the preliminary final."

Troy Scoble (Melton)
"The ability to execute our plan in the first quarter was probably the difference in the game. (It) was a tough contest game as we expected from East Point and the game was pretty even from quarter time onward. East Point are a terrific team, so hard to beat and showed that with how they challenged us again in the last. We were really pleased our training in this type of scenario was put in place. Finals wins are so hard to achieve against a quality club like East Point. We will enjoy the win tonight; be proud we now move to the final three aware you need to keep raising the bar the further you advance. We have managed to climb off the floor but know the level we will need to be at next week to compete."