BFNL Football Review - Round 8, 2026

The Cobras simply did enough to earn an all-important fifth win of the season with a 65-point victory over the Lakers at Maddingley Park.

The percentage builder helps consolidate the Cobras’ position inside the top six, now two games clear of Melton (6th), Sunbury (7th) and East Point (8th).

Dennis Armfield’s group had to get the job done without bookends Jake Owen and Wil Lalor.

Unlikely goal source, Jack Kovacevic, finished with a game high four goals to answer the call ahead of nine other Cobras to hit the scoreboard.

Opportunists Ethan McKercher and Billy Griffiths were the beneficiaries of the crumb chiming in with three apiece.

There were some new faces named among the best for the Cobras - Hunter Tudball, James McDaid (Western Jets) and season additions Zach Vesty and Billy Griffiths joined Kovacevic and Josh Huxtable to be in the BOG conversation.

The Lakers were honest once again with five fourth-quarter goals to register their highest score in 12 months.

Rohan Brown’s boys would have enjoyed the spread of seven goalkickers hitting the scoreboard.

New recruits Corey Rich and Alfred Jarnestrom were considered best for the Lakers ahead of Kynan Raven who made it a third appearance in eight games.

The winless Lakers will fight on chasing an elusive maiden win in 2026 when they host North Ballarat in Round 9.

The Cobras are away to ladder leaders Sebastopol this week and are likely to be without Owen and Lalor for another week.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Corey Rich (Lake Wendouree) - 45 disposals, 16 marks, 11 clearances

Luke Goetz (Bacchus Marsh) - 50 hitouts, 22 disposals, 9 score involvements

Tyson Shea (Bacchus Marsh) - 32 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 9 tackles

COACHES’ VERDICT

Dennis Armfield (Bacchus Marsh)
“Thank you to Rohan and the rest of the Lakers for helping make our Big Freeze a huge day for our community. They came hungry and full of energy. Their speed and ability to attack from turnover was great. I thought our boys executed well in parts and great to bounce back on the winners list. We saw some boys in new roles which is still exciting for our team. We look forward now to #1 Sebas.”

Rohan Brown (Lake Wendouree)
“Rinse and repeat message for me. Thought we were great all day, we left a few goals out there especially in the 2nd quarter. Credit to Dennis and his boys they opened the game up and got control and took opportunity to score. We kicked our highest score for the year. Baz Ryan & Antonac late outs, no bench after half time & at times played with 17 on ground to add to an already massive injury list (not complaining that's footy!). To nearly win the last quarter is a mini win for our boys and as always, we walk away very proud of our group. Credit to Bacchus Marsh FNC and all the work they did for The Big Freeze in the Marsh.”

The ‘real deal’ Swans made it six wins in a row accounting for 2025 grand finalists Sunbury by 19 points at Alfredton Oval.

Given the enviable depth and health of Ash Baker’s list, it would be no surprise to see them continue on their impressive run with a win over the Devils at Darley Park this weekend.

The Swans have travelled just once away from Ballarat this season with a 12-point win over Melton after a slow start - so the challenge is out there to consolidate their credentials this week away from home.

Sunbury coach Matty White was typically honest with his assessment of the Swans in the post-match indicating the margin may have flattered his Pride.

The Swans, not unlike the Burra and the Roosters have been the story of the year so far.

Their effort at the weekend was solid again, every bit of a side in the mix for a top seed come the business end.

There was very little separating the Swans and Sunbury at each of the breaks in a seesawing affair before the well drilled bevy kicked away in the final term adding 3.5 to the Lions’ 1.1 to win ‘going away’.

200cm Swans trio Patrick Graham (best), Alex Keath and Biggie Nyuon (four goals) featured prominently once again, sounding alarm bells for the Devils moving forward given their clear lack of height options.

Swans mid/half back Tristan Maple returned with Keath to bolster stocks with immediate effect.

In form midfield combo Lewis Rinaldi, Thomas Simpson and Brad Crouch were good again, copy and paste impact from the previous week’s win over the Cobras.

All of the Swans growing stable of big guns are in form and are being well supported by a progressive depth pool who would get a game in any other team in the BFNL.

Hard to beat moving forward.

Sunbury did plenty right on the road against one of the new flag fancies and should take plenty of learnings from the contest ahead of their next meeting scheduled for Clarke Oval in Round 18. Given what we know of the opening eight rounds, expect a fallout from the Round 18 rematch ahead of finals.

Looking for Lions who made it difficult for the Swans getting a game in their own terms for long enough, one couldn’t ignore the efforts of Josh Guthrie (best), Jack Newitt and Daniel Johnston (three goals).

Next gen talent Cody Bramble continues his successful return from an ACL tear that sidelined the speedster for 12 months.

Sunbury host East Point for a must win game in Round 9 while the Swans are primed to inflict the Devils with their fourth loss of the season and their first at home since the 2024 second semi-final.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Thomas Simpson (Ballarat) - 34 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 10 inside 50s 

Patrick Graham (Ballarat) - 51 hitouts, 17 disposals, 11 contested possessions

Tyson Lever (Sunbury) - 28 disposals, 10 rebound 50s, 9 intercept possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Ash Baker (Ballarat)
“Great contested game of football today between two super competitive teams. Credit to Matt and his Sunbury side - they came with plenty of intent and pressure and proved why they are the number 1 ranked team for contested possession. In trying conditions, Sunbury certainly brought plenty of pressure early and in an arm wrestle, there wasn’t much separating the teams at half time. Our boys were able to re-assess at half time, steady and get the game more on our terms late in the second half. Pleased with our ability to stick at it and pleased that our two debutants - both 16 years of age - were able to experience a top-level game of BFNL senior football.”

Matt White (Sunbury)
“Great game of footy and a heap of positives to take away from it. Got some top end guys in some form at the moment which is great but we weren’t able to hold on against one of the top teams in the league. Put it down to around 15 mins of footy from Ballarat that we just couldn’t stop. Probably lucky the missed a few shots that makes the scoreline look a bit better. Recover and get ourselves ready for a big game at home now!”

The Kangas find themselves just percentage outside of the six following a comfortable 60-point win over an inaccurate Redan.

Forward pair Jack Jeffrey (four) and Jarrod Joyce (three) combined for seven goals to earn some needed separation on the scoreboard given the Kangas’ inferior percentage.

Midfielders Mickitja Rotumah-Onus and Jesse Cairns enjoyed another productive day at the source while Deng Lual and Liam Howard continue to build on some mid-season form.

Redan did themselves no favours on the scoreboard in the opening half with 1.9 next to their name. It was 10 shots on goal apiece at the main break but a 20-point lead to the hosts - real break your heart stuff on the conversion front.

The bird had flown for the Lions as they struggled in the second half adding just 2.2 to the Kangas’ 8.6. Game over.

The young Lions have not won a last quarter since their season opening win over the Lakers.

While disappointed with the outcome, it wasn’t without admirable effort from a handful of Lions including Rory Gunsser, Jake Connolly, Oscar Henderson, Billy Douglass and Harry Lawson.

The Lions host a vulnerable Bloods out for next week while the Kangas prepare for a genuine throw at the stumps opportunity against Sunbury.

Both sides are locked on three wins and sit seventh and eighth on the table.

Should be another cracking round of BFNL action this weekend.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Mickitja Rotumah-Onus (East Point) - 32 disposals, 25 contested possessions, 15 clearances

Thomas Brown (East Point) - 41 hitouts, 17 disposals, 5 marks

Zach Lang (Redan) - 23 disposals, 13 rebound 50s, 10 intercept possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Joe Carmody (East Point)
“We were a bit reactionary early and took a while to adjust to the conditions. Midfielders got to work from the second quarter onwards and were able to gain territory. Good spread of contributors across the ground.”

Marc Greig (Redan)
“1 goal 9 behinds until half time told the story. A trend over the last 3 games where we have had plenty of opportunities in the first quarters to put some scoreboard pressure on but can’t nail our shots. It allowed the oppo momentum when the kicked a couple in a row.”

Four goals from Roosters match winner Jamie Quick has given coach Clint Proctor arguably his most satisfying win from his 26 games in charge.

Under trying conditions that resembled more of an arm wrestle, the hosts were expected to be up against it given a host of key outs.

The Roosters had nine players aged 18 or younger to worry the reigning premiers out of a game that went down to the wire.

The Devils never looked comfortable in the conditions nor at the venue that has yielded just one win from their last six visits.

All kudos to Proctor and his Roosters getting the job done with 12 players sidelined with injury and unavailability.

Quick’s four goals were the difference in a low scoring game.

Seb Collins, Finn Russell and Josh Morris stood up alongside Quick to aid the cause and win as underdogs.

North Ballarat will feature prominently at the business end, wins like these are invaluable as the missing troops stagger their returns.

While Darley coach Dan Jordan was relatively positive in the aftermath it really was one game that got away.

The once enviable aura of the Devils is diminishing by the week despite stellar seasons from big three Brett Bewley, Billy Myers and Nick Hind who featured prominently again in the narrow loss.

The week ahead does not get any easier for the Devils as they prepare to take on the high-flying Swans (2nd) at Darley Park.

North Ballarat are away to the Lakers.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Billy Myers (Darley) - 34 disposals, 12 intercept possessions, 9 rebound 50s

Josh Morris (North Ballarat) - 30 disposals, 10 marks, 8 intercept possessions

Oscar Stone (North Ballarat) - 18 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 8 tackles

COACHES’ VERDICT

Clint Proctor (North Ballarat)
“Unreal win! On the canvas atm with injuries so credit must go to the lads who played today. Conditions helped us no doubt - Darely such a powerful team around stoppages and are always the benchmark. We were able to apply enough pressure to keep the match in tight and eventually take our moments late.”

Dan Jordan (Darley)
“Proud of the boy’s effort today in difficult conditions - we had a crack. Credit to North Ballarat who ended on the right side of an arm wrestle. Jamie Quick was the difference.”

Ladder leaders Sebastopol overcame a scare to earn the premiership points against a brave Melton in perfect conditions at MacPherson Park.

The Bloods led at every change, as their pressure and effort wound the clock back despite a handful of key outs. But it was the Burra who refused to give in, hell bent on securing an all-important road win.

Not all went right for Tony Lockyer’s men - while you couldn’t doubt their effort and intent, they were scratchy with their ball use and decision making early on.

Credit to the Burra staying the course booting 10 goals to five in the second half to overrun the Bloods, validating their position at the top of the BFNL table.

Ash Munari booted four goals for the winners and Adam Forbes two, while Bloods forward Braedan Kight returned his biggest haul of the season to match Munari’s day out with four majors.

There were a host of impact contributors from both sides - coaches Lockyer and Troy Scoble would’ve been proud of their groups output. Quality game.

The Burra hierarchy settled on smooth mover Luke Kiel and ball magnet Felix Henderson as their best while the Bloods recognised Caleb Burquest in a break-out game for the youngster and the x-factor display from Kight inside forward 50.

Sebastopol host Bacchus Marsh (5th) in Round 9 as the Bloods prepare for a trip down the highway to meet Redan (9th) at City Oval.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Felix Henderson (Sebastopol) - 30 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 12 clearances

Lachlan Cassidy (Sebastopol) - 30 disposals, 8 marks, 7 score involvements

Jordyn Cotter (Melton) - 26 disposals, 9 intercept possessions, 6 1%ers

COACHES’ VERDICT

Troy Scoble (Melton)
“We continue to show resilience, our effort and commitment to execute the plan today nearly got us there. Did a lot right for majority of game, 2.4 to 5.1 in the third shifted momentum. Went to the wire and on the wrong side again. We will soldier on!”

Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)
“Well done to Melton who came to play and were a much better side early. They were clean, worked really hard and deserved to be in front. We were disappointed with our own input early but showed some grit to stay in the contest when things weren’t going our way. We started to connect better in the second half and gather some momentum. Few lessons to take away but super proud of the boys/club to get the job done in the end. Melton showed they have what it takes to be contending at the business end of the year. Well done to Troy and the club for hosting another great day of footy. Quality on and off field.”