BFNL Football Review - Round 16, 2026

Bacchus Marsh kept their finals hopes alive with a thrilling come from behind win over East Point at Maddingley Park.

Returned Cobras’ forward Hamish Coulton snapped an unlikely goal late to break the hearts of the willing Kangas on tour while sending the large band of Cobras loyal and faithful into raptures.

The Cobras were dour in their struggle to stay in the game as the visitors led at every change including 23 points at the half.

Without next gen talents Josh Huxtable and Zach Dalli, the equation for the Cobras heading into the game was made that little more difficult keeping their season alive.

Progressive wiry defender Adam Blain was named best for his job on x-factor talent Jarrod Joyce (three goals). Still in the infancy of his senior career Blain has already taken on the best of opposition clubs in the absence of Wil Lalor (season).

While there was a depth of Cobra contributors dragging the quiver over the line coach Dennis Armfield and his staff settled on Jack Kovacevic, Luke Goetz, Jamie Fulton, Isaac Nixon and Hamish Coulton as the pick of the bunch behind Blain.

Key Cobra forwards Jake Owen and Joel Freeman looked threatening all day before finishing with two goals each in a game where goals were worth their weight in gold.

For the Kangas, while brave again, the four-quarter journey proved barely a fraction beyond them despite the efforts of experienced campaigners Liam Canny, Mickitja Rotumah-Onus, Liam Howard and Jacob Brown while youngsters Cooper Glenwright-McGuane and Deng Lual continued their upward trend with another impactful display.

The Cobras host ladder leaders Sebastopol in a tough Round 17 match up while the Kangas are at home to face Sunbury.

For the record Round 16’s loss by rebuilding East Point was their fifth loss of the season by 19 points or less.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Luke Goetz (Bacchus Marsh) - 71 hitouts, 14 disposals, 12 contested possessions

Jamie Fulton (Bacchus Marsh) - 30 disposals, 9 marks, 8 inside 50s

Jacob Brown (East Point) - 32 disposals, 9 rebound 50s, 8 marks

COACHES’ VERDICT

Dennis Armfield (Bacchus Marsh)
“A cracking game of contested football. East Point were on top early and hurting us on turnover. However, our boys did enough to stay close enough. I thought the second half we played our brand and unfortunately in the 3rd didn’t finish our work, kicking 1.6 to 0.3. It could have went either way late and I felt we executed our last 4 minutes superbly. Proud of the heart show by our young group.”

Tommy Molan (East Point)
“Our boys did a lot right today but unfortunately; we couldn’t kick a score to get the win. Credit to Bacchus Marsh they took their moments and their keys stood up late. We won a lot of the key stats in the game, and we continued to play our way, especially around stoppage but it wasn’t enough.”

Ballarat moved back into the top three holding out a persistent Redan in a low scoring affair at Alfredton Oval.

While Ash Baker’s bevy led at every change, the young Lions refused to throw in the towel even winning the last quarter, three goals to one, to be within eight points at the finish.

No surprise to see Fraser Perkins named best again, what a super organic product he has become under the development of firstly Chris Maple and now Baker.

Youngster Emmerson Hooper enjoyed a breakout game and looks at home at the level already while key recruits Alex Keath and Patrick Graham were also at the forefront in the Swans hard fought win.

For gallant Redan (again), midfielders Rory Gunsser and Brodie Pope enjoyed their fair share of the footy to be named best ahead of Lachie Bond and youngsters Sam Kallio, Bailey McKay and Lachie Clark.

With goals coming at a premium with just 17 goals kicked collectively it was Perkins again who did the damage with a game high four goals.

The Swans will be hoping Biggie is back from overseas to take his place against the Devils on Saturday with third place on the line at Alfredton Oval.

Redan, while out of the finals race can still shape the six overcoming the Bloods at MacPherson Park.

It’s not beyond them having beaten them at their previous meet.

Plenty to play out for both sides ahead in Round 17.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Brody Pope (Redan) - 40 disposals, 28 contested possessions, 14 clearances

Fraser Perkins (Ballarat) - 29 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 7 score involvements

Lewis Rinaldi (Ballarat) - 29 disposals, 8 clearances, 7 intercept possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Ash Baker (Ballarat)
“A tight tussle all day that we were glad to be on the right side of. Redan defended the ball really well and are playing a good brand of footy. We were able to find some good momentum during the third quarter, opening up a gap which we controlled fairly well against the wind in the last.”

Marc Greig (Redan)
“Another good game of footy. Close all day and we couldn’t quite get over the line again, but our lads kept coming right until the end. Ballarat’s wise heads showed good leadership and helped them get the job done. 3 more debutants were exciting for the club, and to have 9 players that played seniors yesterday, still eligible to play u18.5’s showed the talent we have to work with moving forward.”

Melton are one step closer to booking a place in the coming finals series following an impressive 27-point win over the Devils at Darley Park.

It was a case of déjà vous for many as the Bloods, under coach Troy Scoble, maintained its recent stranglehold over the Devils with a sixth win from their last seven meets.

But they did have some help!

As good and as honest as Melton were the Devils had a case of the yips with their field kicking that led to turnovers and more often scores.

Despite the Devils’ narrow five-point lead at three quarter time, Melton were ultimately the better side for longer having won three individual quarters in isolation and kicked eight of the last nine goals of the game to run away with the victory.

Footscray VFL talent Billy Crofts (three goals) was named best for the winners ahead of Jaycob Hickey who seemingly saves his biggest days for the Devils.

Given the Devils fundamentally flawed display, especially by foot, their defence was found under the pump for frustrating periods.

Matthew Brett and Zane Le Huray were recognised for their rebound and effort with the unenviable task denying the Carter boys. Brodie Ward performed admirably on Braedan Kight despite the 2024 Tony Lockett Medallist finishing with three goals.

The Devils own playmaker Billy Myers finished with a game high four goals.

The Bloods must beat Redan this week to consolidate their spot in the top six while the Devils (4th) return up the highway for a tough assignment with Ballarat (3rd).

A win for Dan Jordan’s touring party would see them replace the Swans in third place on the BFNL ladder, with just one round to follow.

Melton’s Conrad Farrugia (shoulder) is doubtful for the Bloods meeting with Redan after leaving the ground in the third quarter.

The Devils and the Bloods have now met on 50 occasions since their arrival in the BFNL (1997) - it’s Melton who hold the bragging rights with 25 wins and a draw.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Jaycob Hickey (Melton) - 37 disposals, 9 clearances, 7 tackles

Billy Crofts (Melton) - 28 disposals, 8 clearances, 7 marks

Brett Bewley (Darley) - 40 disposals, 11 clearances, 7 score involvements

COACHES’ VERDICT

Dan Jordan (Darley)
“Melton thoroughly deserved the win. Fundamentally we were flawed and they made us pay on the scoreboard. We’ve got a bit to work on with our connection and have a couple more weeks against quality opposition to get it right. We did some good things, and I was relatively happy leading 16 points up in the third but again credit to Melton who finished too well for us.”

Troy Scoble (Melton)
“See sawing game of momentum, felt the game initially went in 15-minute patches of one team on top then that went to 10, then 5, then the game flipping both ways constantly. Proud for the lads to hang in and stay resilient through the middle part of the game when it wasn’t going our way, as Darley are an extremely tough team to play against and get momentum back from. When we got a few looks in the last quarter to execute, it was great reward for the team. The players have dug in the whole year met with disappointment in games like these prior falling just short but have been able to keep our season alive and still have a shot at the 6. Recover well and onto next week.”

Sunbury were no match for North Ballarat at home despite the inclusion of reigning Tony Lockett Medallist Jake Sutton (Sydney VFL) who booted four goals.

After scores were tied at quarter time the Roosters raised their game to extend with 10 goals to six running out comfortable winners.

Dangerous forward pairing Jye Lockett (four goals) and Jamie Quick (three goals) continued their rich vein of form in the front half for the Roosters proving arguably the difference on the scoring front between the two sides.

Dom Penny and Sam Glover continue to impress in their rebound and distribution roles for the winners, while speedsters Reggie Palmer and Taj Bowman thrived on the wide expanses of Clarke Oval, all finishing in the best alongside old school ‘follower’ Seb Collins.

Roosters’ coach Cling Proctor would be loving what he’s seeing from his progressive group, a genuine, now ready-made finals brand of footy.

For the Lions, all not lost, they won’t be the last team to lower their colours to the Roosters on road to finals.

While Sutton was named best on his return there were solid contributions from Jake Egan (two goals), Ben Cameron, Josh Guthrie, Ben Eales and Jack Hannett.

Sunbury head to Eastern Oval in the penultimate round to meet the Kangas while North Ballarat expect to welcome a couple more soldiers back for a run ahead of a monster Round 18 clash with the Devils.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Dominic Penny (North Ballarat) - 36 disposals, 13 clearances, 11 rebound 50s 

Jye Lockett (North Ballarat) - 25 disposals, 12 marks, 8 score involvements

Tyson Lever (Sunbury) - 23 disposals, 12 intercept possessions, 9 rebound 50s

COACHES’ VERDICT

Matty White (Sunbury)
“Great to have Sutton down for the weekend, wish we had him more, but Sydney VFL look to go deep into finals. So good luck to him. Well done to Proc and North. Defended us well all day and capitalised when they had the momentum. We just couldn’t get our offensive game going and let a couple of opportunities slip when we had them. Review and get ready for a big trip up the highway to East.”

Clint Proctor (North Ballarat)
“Excellent performance from the lads - collectively that’s the best we have played in a while. Sunbury are such a well-coached team, it’s never easy playing them especially away! But we were able to execute today and get the game on our terms. Looking forward to the next contest and last “home game” of the year.

Sebastopol flexed their muscles, returning to the winner’s list with a dominant display over struggling Lake Wendouree.

Tony Lockyer’s flock had their pedal to the metal, near mirror imaging their first and second halves on the goal front with 13 and 14 goals respectively.

Again, the depth of midfield stocks of the ladder leaders came to the fore as Gedd Hommelhoff impressed in a breakout performance given the opportunity in the absence of Lachie Cassidy.

The magnets continued to be ‘thrown around’ by Lockyer as wing/mid Bailey Medwell (six goals) was sent deep forward to exercise his versatility.

Refreshed big man Joel Edwards finished the day with an equalling game high six goals after a nervous start that yielded three straight behinds.

Sebastopol did simply what they had to do despite the heightened degrees of inevitability about the result heading in.

The Lakers’ horror run with injury continued with Bailey Ryan unable to return after a heavy hit in the third term while Jack Butler succumbed to a season ending hamstring strain - he cannot take a trick!

Corey Rich, Archie Todd and Timmy Collins featured prominently again for the Lakers despite another heavy loss, while the efforts of James Clark and Josh Canny earned themselves nominations among the best.

The Burra are highway bound for their penultimate hit out ahead of finals taking on Bacchus Marsh while the Lakers head to Mars for a daunting mission against second placed North Ballarat

STATS THAT MATTERED

Joel Edwards (Sebastopol) - 26 disposals, 14 marks, 6 goals

Bailey Medwell (Sebastopol) - 22 disposals, 11 marks, 6 goals

Alfred Jarnestrom (Lake Wendouree) - 41 disposals, 15 rebound 50s, 11 intercept possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)
“Pleased with the performance overall. Was very happy with how the boys set up the day into the breeze in the first quarter. Clean with our use and set up some good looks on goal into a tricky wind. We wish Jake and the Lakers all the best for the run home, they had some good passages in the second half and have some great youth coming through. Plenty to learn for us still, we now commit to our review and look forward to the highway trip vs Bacchus Marsh.”

Jake Lohmann (Lake Wendouree)
“Sebas way too good from the start and had a strong 4 quarter performance. We did have some really good looks in the third quarter and arm wrestled the territory battle and were able to hit the scoreboard. Tough day. Not enough pressure on ball and fundamentally fumbled so we weren’t clean enough throughout the game. We couldn’t get our Lakers style going at all. Disappointed with the effort which is a mindset thing however no one is complaining and with the 22 we had out there - we are maximising and we will keep the standards high, we want to keep getting better. What can we keep getting out of each session and each game is the question and the answer we will continue to find as a group. Brotherhood.”