Bacchus Marsh face an ideal opportunity to atone for last week’s disappointment when they host the Lakers at Maddingley Park.

Dennis Armfield’s group cling to fifth spot on the BFNL table, a game clear of Melton and Sunbury who are sure to mount a challenge on the rise at some stage.

The Cobras, while expected to win, will have to get the job done without prime mover Jake Owen (hamstring).

Evidently Owen’s aerial prowess makes up one of just two key areas the Cobras rank in the ‘elite’ space according to Premier Data.

The other, hitouts - enter Luke Goetz.

The standout ruckman endured a tough afternoon last week, like many of his teammates, up against 200cm mobile Swans pair Patrick Graham and Biggie Nyuon.

Goetz task on Saturday has been made relatively easier in the absence of well-respected Lakers’ ruckman Tom Zampatti who succumbed to a repeat ACL injury three weeks ago.

More broadly the numbers don’t lie for the Cobras. Closing the gap between their best and worst is symptomatic of a young team striving for greater consistency.

Essentially, we’ve seen firsthand how good the Cobras can be and what that looks like but on the flipside for periods against the Devils and the Swans they’ve been found wanting.

In fairness to the Cobras, they are yet to field their best 22 all season and that will remain the case for as long as trump card Jake Owen is sidelined.

Armfield is a positive voice and has the ability to get his boys to lift on the back of disappointment so expect a correction from the Cobras in front of home fans on Saturday.

Given the ‘outs’ at the Cobras, personnel are essentially auditioning on the run to be a part of their best 22 moving forward. That motivation alone should warrant a spike response.

The Cobras would be rapt with the last month from Sam Griffiths and Isaac Nixon and the consistent effort of tireless mid Jack Parente who seems to come up against players out of the VFL and AFL system from week to week.

For Rohan Brown’s Lakers mini wins will again forefront the agenda. Like it or not it’s just the reality of where they’re at.

It’s the second away trip in as many weeks down the highway for the Lakers and their third in five weeks. For the opening half of last week’s loss to Sunbury, Brown’s boys look to be enjoying the bonding nature of footy on the road to be within 11 points.

Clutching at straws I know but the Lakers also kicked three of the opening four goals of the game against the Devils in Round 5.

Can the clear underdogs click early once again and ask questions of a Cobras outfit potentially on the back foot from last week and the injury to Owen?

In the mini win stakes, the Lakers have a chance pinching a first or second quarter, catching the Cobras napping but expect the longer this game goes the hosts will do enough to secure the points and strive for any percentage advantages that come up with it.

The scoreboard will surely reflect the fruits of the Cobras labour as the Lakers endeavour to deny them an afternoon on their own terms.

Scoop’s tip: Bacchus Marsh

Melton (6th) face the difficult task of ladder leaders Sebastopol at MacPherson Park in Saturday’s match of the round in the ‘East’.

While the clearance stat in isolation carries varying degrees of weight from coach to coach, the Bloods will need to address their ‘average’ returns (-7.4 avg) against a deep Burra’s midfield or contemplate the prospect of “chasing the game”.

Furthermore, the Burra rank #1 in the comp for inside 50s with an average of 60 per game, exceeding the previous two dominant premiers in Darley and Melton who were around the mid-50s.

A healthy Bloods outfit would have no reason to fear Tony Lockyer’s flock given they’re prominent in a host of key areas and lead the competition for pressure and intercept possessions.

However, the unwelcomed, overwhelming stat the Bloods have over the Burra is a casualty list they can’t shake leaving them exposed in the ‘bottom six’ conversation.

Lachie Watkins, Ryan Carter, Riley Walker, Brodie Sullivan and latest casualty Adrian Monitto are five players the Bloods missed in last week’s four-point loss to East Point.

All are unlikely to return for this all important stoush against the Burra who could push them outside the six for the first time in a longtime under Troy Scoble.

Sebastopol are seemingly a band of brothers at the moment, healthy and embracing their challenges under Lockyer from week to week.

Lockyer is not getting ahead of himself nor engaging in the potential ceiling of his group just yet.

The ‘flag favourites’ tag was put to the veteran playing coach midweek and duly deflected with a straight bat.

“Settle down mate, settle down!”

When the likes of Lockyer, Toby and Ben Hutt, Lachie Cassidy, Luke Kiel, Jack Bambury, Felix Henderson, Jack Buckley are healthy, streaming up and down the ground as we’ve seen over the last month especially, why wouldn’t you have them in the mix.

Just don’t tell Tony!

Much will be asked of the Bloods core to hold out the Burra. They’ve proven more than capable on their day and having dragged themselves off the canvas on a number of occasions to win games many believe they couldn’t.

The Bloods just aren’t travelling well enough for mine at the moment, but a peak performance would certainly stretch the Burra regardless of their absentees.

However, I’m tipping the wave of the Burra to maintain its momentum for another week in a physical affair.

Scoop’s tip: Sebastopol

2025 Grand Finalists Sunbury will need to bring their best if they’re to trouble the high-flying Swans (6-1) on the road at Alfredton Oval.

The Lions will be required to do it without Sydney Swans VFL, and reigning Tony Locket Medallist Jake Sutton.

Matty White’s Pride are a far cry from their high achieving exploits of 2025 but injuries and inadvertent departures have stalled their progress.

While the inclusions for the Lions have shown encouraging returns, the progressive nature of the Swans has been something to behold - to take up and notice.

Furthermore, their chances can only be improved with the return of former AFL intercept defender Alex Keath. More recent addition, Luke Dunstan’s (ex-AFL St Kilda and Melbourne) is expected to debut in Swans colours next week against Darley.

Ash Baker’s bevy have been able to achieve high end numbers in the ‘keeping off’ space, an area we normally associate with Sunbury and Melton.

Adding further weight to the ‘marks’ conversation in particular, only Sebastopol average more marks inside 50 per game.

For the record, there’s more to the bevy than high profile trio Biggie Nyuon, Alex Keath and Brad Crouch - and the numbers will agree.

The organic growth of the Swans is not dissimilar to the Bloods of yesteryear and the Lions of last season - the impact is palpable.

Pigeonhole the Swans’ top-end at your end peril - they ‘bat deep’, down to their 22nd man, all of whom would get a game in any BFNL team .

What you get with Sunbury, is what you see, what you’re familiar with.

While you can’t underestimate the Lions ceiling on any given day, White was one of the first opposition coaches noting the Swans were on the up.

And that they are, proving that again last week after dominating Bacchus Marsh from the outset.

Sure, the depth stocks at Sunbury are staking their claims to be part of their best 22 moving forward but it’s going to take more, taming the Swans.

I get there’s a certain feel among many, the Lions will do enough to return to finals but don’t count on the ‘hurry up’ with a win over the Swans in Ballarat at the weekend.

Ash Baker’s bevy are the real deal.

Lions beware!

Scoop’s tip: Ballarat

North Ballarat has been decimated with injury and unavailability of 11 front line starters ahead of its match of the round meeting with Darley at Mars Stadium.

Star utility Sam Glover (internal bleeding), Isaac Lovisson (hamstring), Jarrod Curran (hamstring) and Declyn McGuigan (concussion) are the latest casualties from the Roosters camp to be ruled out of the Round 8 blockbuster.

Both sides enter the clash with solid home and away form, locked together on five wins, third (Darley) and fourth (North) on the BFNL ladder.

While the external appetite for this bout has been soured by the mounting casualty list at the Roosters, the same cannot be said for the anticipation held inside both camps as yet another of many on-field footy audits in season 2026 presents.

While this contest is morphing into a throw at the stumps game for Clint Proctor’s Roosters, try telling that to Devils’ mentor Dan Jordan!

The two-time premiership coach will be taking nothing for granted fully aware of the Devils own struggles peaking on the road this year.

The reigning premiers have just one win from three outings in the white shorts and were in trouble during their only success on the road against East Point.

It’s the Roosters’ number one ranked defence vs the Devils’ number one ranked offence if scores for and against are the barometer.

In 13/28 quarters this season, the Roosters have held their opposition to one goal or less which will ask questions of the Devils forward connection.

Only once this season have the Roosters lost the inside 50 count, centre clearance and groundball stat which is validation for their improvement.

Unfortunately for Proctor, there were telling signs last week his group had reached their tipping point.

Gee they’ve been brave and competitive despite the setbacks, and you can count on them leaving it all out there again on Saturday regardless of the result.

The undermanned Roosters will need to find a way curtailing a host of Devils talent well aware of this game’s importance in the context of a very even season.

Gun trio Brett Bewley, Nick Hind and Billy Myers arrive in scary touch, while the form of Luther Baker, Mickey Edwards, Joel Cadman and current BFNL leading goal kicker Wil Johnson is on the upward trend which would be music to the ears of Devils fans.

Despite the absentees, the Roosters still carry enough armoury including a home deck to challenge Bewley’s entourage.

It’s advantage North Ballarat in the ruck stocks with newcomers Dave Brinker-Ritchie and Seb Collins while the form of Josh Morris and ‘Glover prodigy’ Dominic Penny in defence has been first class.

Just what the Roosters can manufacture out of dangerous forward pair Jye Lockett and Jamie Quick will tell its own story around the result in the aftermath.

The Devils have been dealt all the favours ahead of their all-important road trip against a Roosters outfit virtually on their knees. It’s up to Jordan and his on-field leaders to ensure they don’t stand up.

Scoop’s tip: Darley

The rebuilding Kangas could find themselves just percentage outside the six with a win over the Lions at Easten Oval on Saturday.

Their chances of a third win of the season will be aided by the potential return of x-factor swing man Jacob Brown who must get through a fitness test on his troublesome hamstring to earn a recall.

Experienced Kangas defender Sam Cue returns from his suspension to bolster stocks against a Redan outfit hopeful of a few inclusions of their own - namely Brodie Pope, Jake Connolly, Oscar Henderson and Liam Hoy

While it was no surprise to see the Lions outclassed against a more seasoned Devils unit last week, the Kangas win over the Bloods certainly raised a few eyebrows across the competition AND at home.

Despite their eighth placing on the BFNL table the Kangas have managed to maintain their reputation as an above average side in clearance and groundball numbers according to Premier data.

Ruckman Thomas Brown, Mickitja Rotumah-Onus, Joe Dodd (suspended) and Liam Canny have proven the catalyst around stoppage, while the safe return of Alex Molan and Jarrod Joyce (three goals) last week, saw the Kangas resemble something closer to the best version of themselves.

Just what to expect from a young Redan side is a difficult proposition despite just one win separating the two sides.

Not dissimilar to East Point, Redan coach Marc Greig has enjoyed little luck on the injury front in his first season in charge with Taj Bond (broken foot) their latest casualty.

A return date for the key ruck/forward has not been confirmed and I can’t see the Lions pinching a result without him.

Lions revelation Oliver Pittard continues to take steps forward in the infancy of his senior career and remains the only player in the BFNL to be named in the best in all seven games.

Unfortunately for Redan however, excluding their big win over the Lakers in Round 1, they have won just three quarters and are 0-6 for last quarters.

If Joe Carmody’s Kangas can find some separation through the middle part of the game the likes of Joyce and Brown (test) could have a day out.

While Redan usual suspects Lachie Bond, Rory Gunsser, Jacob Werts and Pittard loom the four players to lead the resistance, the Kangas can’t afford to underestimate impact returns from Pope, Connolly, Henderson and Hoy.

The challenge for Greig and his pride will be denying the hosts an afternoon on their own terms.

I’m not sure they can for long enough at Eastern Oval to sway opinion.

Scoop’s tip: East Point