he equation for Matty White’s Pride is simple - keep winning.

However, the former Richmond and Port Adelaide speedster would be well aware that scenario is easier said than done given Redan have beaten Melton and stretched the reigning premiers Darley over recent weeks.

Sunbury are always a tough assignment to overcome, at home especially, but Redan coach Marc Greig can take some positives knowing the hosts will be without reigning Henderson Medallist Jake Egan (arm) and VFL forward pair Jake Sutton and Daniel Johnston (unlikely) due to their recent form at the penultimate level.

Sure, Redan lose Cooper Craig-Peters back to Footscray VFL but that was always a given, based on his level of consistency at the higher level for some time now.

The hosts will be buoyed with the inclusion of Riley Miller while Ben Cameron and Dean Muir will be touch and go at the selection table.

Despite a number of outs for Sunbury pretty much since Round 2, the buy-in from the in experienced soldiers has been really encouraging amid the frustration.

Cody Bramble and Blake Walker look like they should never miss again at senior level unless injured, while the addition of Jordyn Gillard (Montmorency/Coburg VFL) has been a bonus following his six-goal performance in Round 11.

Redan’s three-win season suggests a successful road trip, to Sunbury in particular, will be a bridge too far but try telling that to an exuberant young group who hold no fear.

They too, have had their frustrations with injury and unavailability but are building on their competitiveness and compliance under Greig in his first year.

The capabilities of the visitors are untapped given their age profile but expect the likes of Rory Gunsser, Brodie Pope, Lachlan Bond, Harry Lawson and Ollie Pittard to challenge their more favoured opposition as they have done others over recent weeks.

Scoop’s tip: Sunbury

The Bloods would love a copy and paste version of their previous meet with the Lakers when the two sides go head-to-head at MacPherson Park.

Some 13 goalkickers did the damage for the Bloods in Round 2, arguably their best team performance offensively for the season.

But Troy Scoble’s ‘Bloodahood’ will have to get used to a period without Harry Hanley, who has been named the bests on nine of 11 occasions, and Max Scoble who have embarked on an overseas trip joining a handful of players from other clubs opting for some Northern hemisphere sun.

Great for the adventurers, untimely for clubs. Denver Grainger-Barass (North Ballarat), Lachlan Walker (Melton), Adam Azzopardi (Darley), Jarrod White (Darley) and Brock Landt (Sunbury) are five names off the top to head overseas in the current season.

Scoble will have to play the waiting game for another week with a host of soldiers not due for a return until the Sunbury game.

Footscray VFL listed talent Billy Crofts won’t play as he returns off the Doggies’ bye to the higher level. Only Jack Walker at this stage is in consideration for a return from injury.

For all the editorial and attention shared on the misfortunes of injury, the Lakers can’t take a trick.

Tom Zampatti, Jake Lohman, Bailey Ryan, Angus Gove, Will Fordham, Kaian Constable and Sam Haywood are all done for the season!

Harvey Hicks is still 2-3 weeks away while experienced pair Joel O’Connell and Timmy Collins are in serious doubt following their Round 11 clash with Sunbury.

It’s a horror show on the casualty front for Lakers’ coach Rohan Brown but they welcome back Paddy Corbett and Josh Canny after some time out with injury.

Given the two sides will have up to 20 players sidelined it is what is left that counts on game day and dictates the nature of the script in the aftermath.

Looking forward to the opening half in particular - Melton rank #1 and #3 for first and second quarters respectively while the Lakers four individual quarter wins this season have come in the opening half - split 2 and 2.

The Bloods will do enough to win comfortably, just how long it takes to shake the resistance of the Lakers led by Alfred Jarnestrom, Corey Rich and Lewis Antonac will be reflected on the scoreboard.

LIVE SATURDAY WITH FULL COMMENTARY FROM 2PM VIA BFNL.COM.AU

Scoop's tip: Melton

The Roosters welcome back a host of key staples for their clash against the Cobras who arrive without top end, hamstrung pair Jake Owen and Wil Lalor.

Sam Glover, Jamie Quick, Declyn McGuigan, Isaac Carey and Harvey Lewis all return for Clint Proctor’s dash toward finals.

While a handful of Roosters remain sidelined, one cannot underestimate the relief for Proctor having negotiated the last month with as many as 10 soldiers out, yet still found a way to bank recent wins against Darley and Sebastopol - both at Mars Stadium.

These results alone spell danger for the Cobras who have lost four of their last five games by an average of 57 points.

Unfortunately, in the absence of Owen in particular, who has missed three and a half of those four games, forward presence and ultimately scoring (averaging 43.5 points over the sample size) has been a genuine struggle for the Cobras.

North Ballarat has made Mars Stadium a fortress in 2026 having won their last five on the trot by an average of 55 points.

If the Cobras, under Dennis Armfield, can find a way to be within six goals given fair weather, it would be a decent effort given only Ballarat in Round 1 have been able to salute at the testing venue.

Hard to beat the Roosters from here on, as the once missing troops begin to circle - launching a more than capable assault on a valued top three position at the business end.

Armfield can wish for compliance from his relatively inexperienced group, a quarter-by-quarter effort in isolation to minimise the clear and present dangers.

Five teams have already left Mars Stadium empty handed, upstaged simply by an underrated, honest Roosters outfit on the day.

Mini wins will give Armfield something to take away in the likely event of a fifth loss in six games.

This tough, uncompromising comp can produce an upset. However, like many sides at the moment, I’m not sure the Cobras are healthy enough to upstage the rise of the Roosters on their home deck.

Jack Parente (foot) and Sam Griffiths (suspended) will also miss the trip for the visitors.

Scoop’s tip: North Ballarat

Expect this top of the table clash to resemble a war of attrition as the Burra host the Swans fresh off the break.

A bare 3.1% is all that separates these two in-form sides after 11 games in one of the toughest, more even competitions entertained within the BFNL for some years.

‘Healthy list’ has been the buzz phrase this season as each team deals with their fragilities from week to week.

In fairness, and credit to them, both Sebastopol (2nd) and Ballarat (1st) have enjoyed the best runs of any rivals on the health front and it’s with much anticipation we get to witness that firsthand on Saturday.

The Burra faithful will arrive in their droves and in full voice, playing their role as the unofficial 23rd man, urging their boys over the line with an opportunity to reclaim top spot on the ladder.

While the hosts will have to do it without their fearless leader and coach Tony Lockyer, there is some good news with the potential returns of Bailey Medwell, Lachie Cassidy and Gedd Hommelhoff.

The Swans are seemingly bulletproof at the moment. While I’m sure they’ve had their moments throughout the season on the injury front, their depth stocks are filling the void.

Unfortunately for Swans’ coach Ash Baker, progressive young defender Sam Batistella is unavailable but Bailey Fraser looks set for a timely return.

Wyatt Squires (foot) and Rhys Perry (ankle) will spend another week on the sidelines, given every chance to fully recover ahead of an exciting finals tilt for the bevy.

The availability of VFL pair Tristan Maple (Footscray) and Thomas Simpson (Werribee) will attract fair degrees of interest given their form at club level. Maple is flying having been named in the best on all five Ballarat appearances this season while Simpson has impressed landing the in the best on four of six occasions.

Speculation aside, there’s enough talent in the ‘certainties’ to play to validate a match up for the ages.

The Swans have as many as five former AFL players and two listed VFL talents while the Burra have a host of ex VFL talent and a trio of additions from highly respected GFL club St Joeys.

All have made their mark at some stage during the season, while there has been defining progress out of both camps with their organic growth.

A word on the scoring front, while Ballarat rank #1 for third and fourth quarters , they rank 8th for first quarters with only Redan and the Lakers below them.

The Burra must start well and get the nervous beginners in the Swans on the back foot early and capitalise on any ‘home ground’ momentum.

Oh, and one more, not so little thing for the Burra to sort out - Biggie!

Tough ask.

Settling on a winner here is essentially a throw at the stumps.

Scoop’s tip: Ballarat

Darley’s own dual Henderson Medallist and inspirational leader Brett Bewley will miss Saturday’s all-important run-home clash with East Point following news of a broken leg sustained before the bye.

The injury occurred during the second quarter of Darley’s Round 11 clash with Redan on June 27.

The dual Premiership captain played through the pain and discomfort to finish with 37 disposals and a crucial hand in the match winning goal.

His return is speculative at this time but the powers that be are eyeing the prospect of finals as ‘hopeful’.

The Devils’ skipper joins in form midfielder Joel Cadman (hamstring) and Billy Myers (finger) on the sidelines.

As a result, the equation ahead for the Devils (3rd) against the eighth placed Kangas just rose into the danger game status if it wasn’t already.

Two glaring stats in favour of Dan Jordan’s backs-to-the-wall army is they’re on a 16-0 winning run at home dating back to the final’s series of 2024 and, East Point have not won at Darley Park since 2014.

This match, despite their separation on the ladder is a flip of the coin encounter given the Kangas only outs are Jesse Cairns (hamstring) and Sam Cue (leg) also noting Jackson Merrett’s departure from the club earlier this season.

Jordan will have been the first to process and plan for a match without Bewley, Myers and Joel Cadman despite the unfortunate rareness of the occasion.

The two-time premiership coach is not one to look in the rear vision mirror to contemplate what lays ahead, rather channel his energies into the ‘what haves’ as the Devils hope for some respite in the form of potential returns via Will Johnson, Jayven Tanner and Harley Inglis.

On the flipside outgoing Kangas’ coach Joe Carmody will arrive full of confidence despite just one win at the venue as a player and coach over his long journey in the BFNL.

The Kangas have lost their last three games but were within touch of all Sunbury, Sebastopol and Melton.

The momentum of the Kangas’ rebuild, while not evident in the win/loss column, and the knowledge of being in their last meet against the Devils up until time on in the last quarter should hold them in good stead.

Mickitja Rotumah-Onus, Liam Canny, Jacob Brown and Joe Dodd have maintained their form and will ask questions of their opposing leader equivalents Luther Baker, Nick Hind, Matthew Brett, Lachie George and Zane Le Huray to stand up.

The wounded Devils have been brave over the last month (3-0), but what say of them now given the current landscape without Brett Bewley, Billy Myers and Joel Cadman?

What was once a mandatory Darley selection has been reduced merely to a postcode decision.

Scoop’s tip: Darley