There’s arguably no more important game amidst a blockbuster Round 6 BFNL fixture when the Cobras host the Lions at Maddingley Park.

While we savoured the heroics of Sunbury’s backs-to-the-wall win over Sebastopol last week, Matty White’s pride must stay in the present or risk falling short against a more than capable Cobras outfit under Dennis Armfield.

The Cobras’ 65-point win over Redan last week may have been lost in the wash to a degree given it was not only their biggest win of the season but Redan’s second biggest loss in their opening five rounds.

Armfield’s quiver did a lot right last week at this very venue, their key players were not only significant but the contributions from their next tier were enough to suggest they will take it right up to last year’s grand finalists who may take some time shaking the emotional highs of last week.

The reality is the Cobras are sixth with three wins (99%) and Sunbury seventh on two wins (75%). Given the sample size of the opening five rounds, we can safely assume the race for a spot in the top six is down to seven teams.

Just who can record the best results head-to-head against those seven are likely to feature, adding further weight of importance to this contest.

How will the four players for Sunbury who returned from injury front up on the road second up? The nature of injury can lean to a second up plateau in performance, anything resembling that could spell danger for White’s pride.

If Bacchus Marsh can start on the right foot like they did last week it will go a long way towards claiming a second scalp already this year. Season results so far indicate you don’t want to be chasing the game, arresting momentum.

While both sides have shown they can put together back-to-back goals for periods, similar concedes (goals against) guarantee this game will be decided in the ‘momentum’ space.

Sunbury welcome back reigning Henderson Medallist Jake Egan (Essendon VFL) and is likely to be a thorn in the Cobras’ fortunes for the most part.

Cobras spearhead Jake Owen is a handful at the best of times and will ask questions of a Sunbury defence who thrive on rebound led by Tyson Lever.

Quality of entries aiding that mid-forward connection will also be a telling feature as Lions’ forward pair Daniel Johnston and Pat Scanlon look for any aerial advantage.

Gee, my gut was leaning to Bacchus Marsh to cause an upset until I heard of Egan’s imminent return.

After more thought, the sense of an upset still remains. Ignore the current standings of the McDonald’s BFNL ladder, the Lions are favourites albeit on the road.

Scoop’s tip: Bacchus Marsh

The Swans leave the city of Ballarat for the first time this season for an enthralling meeting with the Bloods.

It’s always a test down the highway given the four sides in the ‘East’ all played finals last year.

Sure, Ballarat enjoyed an afternoon of the finals action themselves but outside of ‘Brick city’ for the touring party, the degrees of difficulty are raised, like it or not.

However, Swans’ coach Ash Baker will arrive confident he has the right mix of experience and talent, not to mention Ballarat’s point of difference.

The reference to the tall timber stocks at the Swans does get a little monotonous but the reality is - they are the significant point of difference.

Expect Biggie Nyuon to return after a rest from general soreness while Patrick Graham and key back Alex Keith should be keen to exploit their vertical advantage over an unsettled Bloods line up.

Yes, the Bloods can’t take a trick at the moment. In fact, ‘the moment’ is extending near the 12-month period with no less than five players missing from their best 22 from week to week.

Just who lines up for the Bloods this week, not even coach Troy Scoble will know until as late as Saturday morning such has been the frustrations of sidelined personnel.

If the Bloods can recapture the form that saw them account for last year’s grand finalists in successive weeks in Rounds 3 and 4, surely that alone makes a genuine case for them getting the job done on their own ‘dung hill’.

The Bloods have proven they can scrap with the best despite ‘men down’, their wins over Sunbury, Darley and last year’s preliminary final near miss will attest.

What version we see of the ‘Bloodahood’ this weekend will tell its own story on the scoreboard come 5pm.

Last week, up and about early before getting smashed. The ‘tipping point’ had finally claimed the Bloods for the last three quarters at Mars Stadium.

Can they bounce back quickly and deny a progressive Swans bevy, potentially vulnerable first up on the road?

The Swans’ list of talent rivals the Bloods on paper, however getting it done at Maccy Park gives me a leaning toward the hosts, but I wouldn’t be surprised if mistaken.

In the event of the Swans claiming the points it’s then they will have announced their arrival as a legitimate contender with a tough month ahead post the interleague bye.

If the Swans get the road scalp, three of their next four games are at home despite stiff opposition, a real chance to set up their season already buoyed with a 4-1 start.

For the Bloods, they can’t afford to look too far ahead - just one week at a time given their situation. No win can be considered a ‘lock’ given their current landscape.

Something tells me they might do enough to hold out the Swans in a tight one.

Curious to see how Scoble deals with the trumpeter Swans and how Baker denies the Bloods rebound defence and x-factor forward Braedan Kight an afternoon on their terms.

Should be a ‘biggie’!

Scoop’s tip: Melton

While the timing for the Lions to host red-hot North Ballarat is not ideal, coach Marc Greig will embrace the challenge as another opportunity for his young group to grow.

The Roosters have won their last four games in a row and sit on top of the BFNL table with a superior percentage and will look to build on that ahead of the May 23rd break.

Just to revisit that timing notion mentioned at the top for a second, Saturday will mark the highly anticipated debut of former SANFL ruckman Dave Brinker-Ritchie in Roosters’ colours.

The North Melbourne VFL listed talent has been held back due to ongoing knee soreness but has been cleared to play, adding to the spoil of riches at coach Clint Proctor’s disposal.

In fairness Proctor hasn’t had it all his own way in recent weeks with injuries to Brock Leonard (knee), Wilbur Shea (shoulder - season), Fletcher Loader (foot - season) and the more recent departure of Denver Grainger-Barras who is heading overseas (pre-planned) before a return to finals.

It’s arguably the first time Proctor, now in his second year, can openly cope with losing a few soldiers given the way his team have bought into the structure and execution of a plan.

While there were never any doubts on the Roosters’ a-grade spine, the impact of their spread players was always going to ask questions.

If the opening five rounds are any indication, the buy-in and compliance of the group has been nothing short of impressive as their place on the BFNL ladder will attest.

Sam Glover and Josh Morris have been the cornerstone in defence, rank one in the competition for scores against (46.2) and have yet to play two of the bottom three sides.

Redan will have very little investment in the numbers which does allow them freedoms without reservation.

Greig has his young group building from week to week endeavouring to stay in games for longer or at least fighting it out to the very finish.

That theory was noted last week despite the Lions’ 65-point loss to the Cobras.

The relatively more experienced Bond boys in Lachlan, Taj and Daniel, alongside Lachlan McLean and sprightly young talent Oliver Pittard provide some dangerous offensive presence while the distribution of Harry Lawson was very encouraging.

Unfortunately, the Lions have too many injuries to key players that would’ve at least made a case for mounting an upset.

While it’s not all about win/loss for Greig in his first season at helm of such a young group, rather an eye to ‘keep moving forward’.

However, the requirements of this editorial says I have to make a call regardless.

Scoop’s tip: North Ballarat

This star-studded matchup between the Burra and the Devils has the potential to go down to the wire when the two sides face off at Marty Busch Reserve.

The Burra were disappointing last week on the road to Sunbury but that, in hindsight, should come as no surprise, considering the proud club has NEVER won at Clarke Oval (0-23).

At home against the Devils won’t be an easy assignment by any stretch for Tony Lockyer’s 4-1 outfit but the weekend bares as good as time as any to take down the reigning premiers, despite an imposing 24-1 record from their last 25 BFNL games.

Sebastopol coach Tony Lockyer will welcome the challenge in front of home fans despite their recent struggles against the black and white.

Newcomers Joel Edwards, Jack Buckley, Felix Henderson and returning Bailey Medwell complement an already talented and healthy list ready to embrace another footy audit amidst a testing 2026 season.

The failings of the Burra last week may work in Lockyer’s favour, with a greater focus on their own process as opposed to being preoccupied with the long list of enviable, very real challenges within the Devils’ line up.

Sure, Dan Jordan’s army could not have impressed more last week against the Lakers but the reality is the unofficial competition benchmark has had to come from behind in near all of their games this season to get the job done.

While the Devils remain a work in progress, the degrees of difficulty on the road will ask questions of their resilience putting a four-quarter performance together against quality opposition.

Jordan would be the first to concede such comfort has yet to materialise.

Burra key soldiers in Lockyer, Luke Kiel, Toby and Ben Hutt, Lachlan Cassidy, Adam Forbes and Jack Bambury to name a few, will be fully aware what lies in waiting but for the Devils it’s somewhat of a different story given the hosts off season inclusions and rare, full bill of health.

The Devils’ recent record is compelling, too many names to mention but all too familiar for Lockyer given recent history.

Run with roles, targeted match ups or simply a head-to-head approach lies in the trusting hands of the beholders.

While the stakes pale in comparison to what’s to come at the business end, good

luck convincing either of these league heavyweights.

Should be a cracker, here’s hoping expectations live up to the billing.

Scoop’s tip: Darley

While neither side is yet to win a game, expect the Kangas to enter Saturday’s contest at CE Brown Reserve warm favourites.

Unfortunately, key personnel from both camps are expected to miss.

The Lakers’ highly touted recruit Will Fordham (leg-unlikely) joins integral teammates Jake Lohmann (hamstring), Angus Gove (elbow) and Joel O’Connell (leg) on the sidelines while the Kangas prepare without Jarrod Joyce (knee), Jacob Brown (hamstring), Geordie Slater (knee) and the unlikelihood of inside mid Mickijta Rotomuh-Onus (groin).

The Lakers have shown some resistance early in games including a first half win over the Swans and booted three of the first four goals of the game last week against reigning premiers Darley.

On the flipside the Kangas matched it with the Swans for three quarters to be within touch and stretched the Devils into time on before a late rally from Dan Jordan’s men averted the upset of the season.

The concern for the Lakers is their leaky defence who have been extended little favours from their midfield counterparts in the form of low pressured entries.

Last week was the prime example despite an obvious gulf in class and experience.

The Lakers conceded 26 unanswered goals which is enough to suggest they may need to shift a few magnets, minimising the damage moving forward.

If that example in isolation is not enough, the 162-point average concede over the opening 5 rounds rings alarm bells.

The Kangas have endured their own struggles in the rebuild conceding on average 108 points per game but have been more competitive on the offensive front averaging 54 points per game compared to the Lakers’ 41.

Kangas’ coach Joe Carmody has too many potential winners head-to-head across the ground to be troubled by Rohan Brown’s Lakers for long enough to be concerned.

But try telling that to Carmody!

The experienced mentor won’t take anything for granted, acutely aware of the benefits a win can do for the morale of a club in the infancy of a rebuild.

It’s fair to assume Brown is in a similar boat with his boys, desperate for a win and the spoils that come with it.

However, the reality of the Lakers securing the premiership points appears beyond them.

Expect the Kangas to notch up their first win of the season and celebrate in song as if it were a final.

Scoop’s tip: East Point