League heavyweights Darley and Sunbury are sure to attract a bumper crowd at Darley Park, curious of what the next chapter holds.

The mission for Matthew White’s Lions will be to ‘find a way through’ a frugal Devils defence led by Billy Myers and Matthew Brett.

While the Pride boast an imposing front six more than capable posting a winning score, the weight of expectation will hinge primarily on their midfield and quality of forward 50 entries.

However, such luxuries won’t be easily afforded as the Devils’ star laden midfield look to mark territory with superior gains of their own.

While the prospect of Brett Bewley, Nick Hind and Luther Baker is daunting for any opposition, the pre-season form of Joel Cadman and Darcy Matricardi only raises the degree of difficulty for the Lions who were 0-4 against the Devils in 2025.

Despite the recent H2H record, White will be fully aware his Pride have genuine claims turning the tables, having been in three of those games early - in fact the Lions led at 1/4 time in their two previous visits to Darley Park by 19 & 26 points.

The Lions have added a few soldiers to the cause ‘finding a way through’ Dan Jordan’s Devils, unbeaten in their last 20 BFNL games. 

Josh Guthrie (ankle) returns from a lengthy lay off to bolster the midfield while Hamish Pierce (North Melbourne VFL) fills the void across half back in the absence of Jack Hannett (Ocean Grove).

The mail is reigning Tony Lockett Medallist Jake Sutton will take his place despite relocating to Sydney and will lead a three pronged attack alongside Daniel Johnston and Pat Scanlon.

Given the VFL bye this week, Jake Egan (Essendon), Jake Lever (Essendon) and Pierce will be available for another crack at the Devils.

How Jordan and his crew manage ‘the hunted’ tag will be a season long reference point given rival teams have sought after list builds, to usurp the reigning premiers as the competition benchmark.

Scoop’s tip: Darley by 24 points

Melton host brow-raising Good Friday winners Bacchus Marsh in one of five bona fide cracking, Round 1 match ups.

While the Bloods have enjoyed a comfortable win/loss advantage over recent times, especially at MacPherson Park, what the Cobras delivered against perennial finalists East Point cannot be ignored.

Future star (if not already) Josh Huxtable may well be the Cobras’ best player, atop the deepest list at Armfield’s disposal in the infancy of his third year.

Experienced key big men Jake Owen and Luke Goetz look sharp, moving freely with a spring in their step, excited for what’s to come.

Bloods’ coach Troy Scoble would have, like many of his rival counterparts, been impressed with the Cobras who played with renewed flair, confidence and accountability capable of troubling any preconceived, superior opposition.

Sure, the jury is out on the credentials of East Point who have conceded a reset approach in 2026, but it was the was the nature of the Cobras’ 51-point win that would’ve provided Dennis Armfield’s group an invaluable boost in the belief space.

And the Cobras will need every bit of that to upset the Bloods who prepare to embark on a mission of their own after falling short in last year’s title defence.

The 2022 and 2024 premiers have lost a few soldiers ahead of their rebound assignment but welcome back underrated defender Riley Walker (year off) and crucial pair Jaycob Hickey and Lachie Watkins free from injury.

You could add Jordy Cotter, Jordy Kight and Ryan Davis to the return mix having endured similar setbacks and frustrations of their own.

Let’s not forget the challenges the Carters, the Kights and the Walkers present and the likelihood of speedster Kyle Borg revelling in one or more of his x-factor moments.

For what it’s worth, the hearsay will mean very little to a Cobras’ camp eager to take the next step - claiming another scalp on the road.

The reality is, Armfield’s men must overcome arguably the competitions most potent front six and a proven premiership defence to earn the spoils.

Big ask! - if the Cobras can reproduce their Good Friday appeal (no pun intended) they will give this more than a shake.

However, I’m leaning to a fresh Bloods outfit at home to hold sway in a seesawing affair.

Scoop’s tip: Melton by 18 points

With two draws head-to-head from their last three meetings and an off-season spruik of various proportions on both sides - anyone who adopts the theory “it’s only Round 1…”, is kidding themselves, when North Ballarat host Ballarat at Mars Stadium.

The race for a prized position in the top six is already underway with Bacchus Marsh staking their early claim on Good Friday.

Which of these two legitimate candidates will put their hands up come 5pm Saturday as the team to watch moving forward?

Let’s not forget it was Ballarat who replaced North Ballarat for a finals berth following the last round of the 2025 home and away season.

If one was to nitpick over their previous four meets, you’re likely to find “advantage North Ballarat” given their recent 2-0 record at Mars Stadium (26 pts and 82 pts). Alfredton Oval, the home of the Swans, played host to the two draws.

However, given the changing landscape in the off-season player movement space, both teams have added key top end talent to boost their finals credentials.

Almost a third of the 44 players to take the field will have VFL/AFL experience to heighten interest and intrigue levels even more heading into the bout.

While those in attendance will be spoilt for choice observing quality stocks, it’s the battle of the two spines that looms the deciding factor.

Roosters’ quintet Jai Lockett, Sam Glover, David Brinker-Ritchie (doubtful), Josh Morris and Denver Grainger-Barrass will ask questions of Swans’ big men Biggie Nyuon, Alex Keith, Rhys Perry and Patrick Graham.

Whether Brad Crouch, Thomas Simpson, Tristan Maple and co can impact at ground level and deny the Roosters will be worth the watch alone as they’re likely to welcome back Port Melbourne trio James Van Ess, Riley Polkinghorne and Josh Sparkman off the VFL bye.

And let’s not forget the x-factor capabilities of small forwards Jamie Quick (Roosters) and Andrew Hooper (Swans) who will pounce on anything that comes their way.

Difficult game to tip on spec given the changes and the impressive make-up of the two sides.

Will this game be won primarily in the air or on the ground/spread?

Efficiency and fitness levels will play defining roles how this game is run and won.

It’s a concern for the Roosters, Glover and Brinker- Ritchie (doubtful) have been relatively unsighted in the lead up practice matches but the broader collective have enough games in together and are at home to worry the Swans out of it in a close one.

Scoop’s tip: North Ballarat by 6 points

There is more than just the four premiership points at stake when the new look Lakers host Redan at CE Brown Reserve.

The winners will want a party and deservingly so.

What a relief it would be for either camp given the current landscape.

The Lakers have lost 18 games on the trot, won just four of their previous 50 games and are seemingly “chips in” to make an impression on the competition for patient mentor Rohan Brown who has been starved of success on the win front since his appointment in 2024.

On the other hand, Lions new coach Marc Greig is a well-respected footy person in his own right, once as a player, now as an educator of young men.

Greig’s task ahead of the weekend is overcoming the once “easy beats” of the competition as the Lakers list build rivals any in a very productive and exciting off season.

Up to five newbies at the Lakers boast VFL experience and according to one Ovens and Murray coach the two pickups from Wodonga namely Corey Rich and Will Fordham will prove a handful for any opposition.

That’s not including Louis Antonac who remains on Geelong’s VFL list.

Unfortunately, the return of former Werribee VFL listed talent Jake Lohmann (back) is on hold for at least another week.

Former Frankston VFL/Old Brighton wing/half back Alfie Jarnestrom (test - ankle) has also joined the club to consolidate the broader mission, adding further experience to a relatively fledgling group ready to grow and win games of football.

It’s thought the Lions have had their share of struggles in the off-season given the departed but the mail is, if Greigy is at the helm they’re surely to be well versed “standing up” when the going gets tough.

Unfortunately, on spec alone, with little or no sample size, the bar of expectation on the win/loss front for the Lions has been tempered to the point where this particular matchup is no longer a ‘should win’ game.

The availability of top end stocks Cooper Craig-Peters (Footscray VFL) and hamstrung Tom Berry (Southport Sharks VFL) would’ve given the Lions a major boost ahead of Saturday, but the Pride will have to find a way under Greig getting the job done without them.

I don’t want to put the ‘mozz’ on Redan but the weight of quality inclusions at the Lakers makes a compelling case that Brown will celebrate in song with his first win since round 18, 2024 – which ironically came against the Lions at this very venue.

Scoop’s tip: Lake Wendouree by 18 points

While East Point embrace the infancy of a “reset”, Sebastopol is not in a position to take the Kangas lightly when the two sides meet on Saturday night (6.15pm) at Marty Busch.

The Kangas’ top end provided enough ball for periods in their Good Friday loss to the slick Cobras in the first half, to be within a couple of goals at the main break before Dennis Armfield’s forecast improvers kicked away enroute to a comfortable win.

The Kangas should be better for the run after coach Joe Carmody had a good look into his relatively new group weighing up the strengths and focus areas for improvement.

Underrated midfielder Jesse Cairns (calf) is expected to return for the Kangas ahead of a belter Round 1 fixture for the BFNL.

Can’t wait to see the impact Burras’ key forward signing Joel Edwards can have working aerially in tandem with Cooper Littlehales and x-factor crumber Adam Forbes, stretching the Kangas defence.

Edwards is one of three off-season pick-ups for the Burra from GFL heavyweights St Joseph’s. Felix Henderson and Jeff Buckley have made the pilgrimage alongside Edwards, joining midfielder and former Burra club best and fairest Bailey Medwell who returns from a stint with Footscray VFL.

Experienced trio Tony Lockyer, Lachie Cassidy and Luke Kiel will be a tough assignment for Carmody to contain if the Burra get on a roll.

Young gun Jack Bambury will add further run and carry for Lockyer’s men in what looms a crucial game (already) in the club’s fortunes moving forward.

Mickijta Rotumah-Onus, Jackson Merrett, Jacob Brown, Joe Dodd and newly appointed Captain Liam Canny will lead the resistance for the Kangas, aiming to deny the Burra faithful a dream start to their 2026 campaign.

Scoop’s tip: Sebastopol by 14 points