BFNL Football Review - Week 2 Finals, 2026

Ballarat stormed into the McDonald’s BFNL Grand Final after an emphatic 57-point win over Sebastopol in Saturday’s second semi final at City Oval.

Ash Baker’s bevy led at every change to claim its first win over Tony Lockyer’s Sebastopol this season, saving their best performance until last.

The Swans were full to the brink exhausting their player points allocation before overwhelming the Burra who struggled to bounce back from their qualifying final win over North Ballarat seven days earlier.

Soon to be crowned Tony Lockett Medallist Biggie Nyuon proved another handful of a match up and major avenue to goal as the 200cm forward finished with a game high six goals.

With goals coming at a premium, Biggie’s six goal return cannot be underestimated. The Swans needed eight individual goalkickers to post their 13-goal tally while it was slim pickings for the Burra as Luke Kiel and Jacob Fletcher finished with two apiece and Cooper Littlehales (one) made up their disappointing five goal return.

Swans’ ruckman Patrick Graham was considered best on ground by many but didn’t feature among the Swans’ preferences, highlighting the depth of contribution from the bevy.

Werribee VFL listed talent Thomas Simpson was named best for the winners ahead of Fraser Perkins (one goal), Biggie Nyuon, Tyson Richard (two goals) and Zac Haintz for his role on Adam Forbes (0 goals).

Former AFL listed pair Alex Keath and Luke Dunstan made their mark on the game giving their future grand final opponent (Sebastopol or North Ballarat) something to think about moving forward.

While the short fall of Sebastopol is a cause for some concern, a forgiven run can be afforded given it was just their fourth loss of the season. Tony Lockyer’s men have earned their double chance status and a second crack lobbing into a grand final.

Lockyer himself flew the lone flag in the resistance of the Swans, but it was all too much for a Burra.

Midfielders Jack Bambury and Lachlan Cassidy were typically sound with their output while defender Luke Phillips fought doggedly to contain Biggie and acquitted himself well.

The Swans and Ash Baker will savour the week off, a chance to rest and refuel ahead of a golden opportunity to break their premiership drought dating back to 2008 when Baker, then a player, kicked the winner with the last kick of the day.

Sebastopol or North Ballarat will meet in Saturday’s preliminary final to determine the Swans opponent in the McDonald’s BFNL Grand Final.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Thomas Simpson (Ballarat) - 42 disposals, 13 score involvements, 12 inside 50s

Fraser Perkins (Ballarat) - 43 disposals, 11 clearances, 9 score involvements

Toby Hutt (Sebastopol) - 23 hitouts, 22 disposals, 9 marks 

COACHES’ VERDICT

Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)
“An off start in terms of our own input unfortunately. We were 20% off and Ballarat were not, we gave a good side a jump start. Ash and Ballarat boys deserved the win. Our boys responded in the contest as they have done all year but ultimately the start was the difference. Our super consistent year has earned us the double chance to cover an ‘off day’. We take the reset opportunity and can’t wait to crack into the prelim next week!”

Ash Baker (Ballarat)
“Really pleasing result today. Thought we bought plenty of energy to the contest early and were able to get the game on our terms which was pleasing. Sebas are a quality outfit and kept challenging us all day. The boys are looking forward to a well-earned week off as we begin our preparation for two weeks’ time.”

A five-goal opening half from North Ballarat forward Jamie Quick has helped the minor premiers progress to a preliminary final showdown with Sebastopol.

The x-factor brilliance of Quick was on display when the game was on the line before he finished with six goals, making it 10 goals from his two finals as the Roosters dismantled the Lions by 66 points at Marty Busch Reserve.

North Ballarat led at every change with margins of 20, 29, 48 and eventually 66 points in a runaway four quarter performance in front of keen onlookers and next opponent Sebastopol.

Roosters’ coach Clint Proctor had a day out with the magnets, everything seemed to work in arguably their most complete performance of the season.

Despite the hype of the evenly matched top six heading into finals the 66-point margin was the fourth in five games beyond 33 points and third of 57+.

Momentum is having a large say in these finals, not to mention reward for starting well. Every team who has led at quarter time in each of the five finals has won the game - catch up footy against sides of this ilk has proven a bridge too far.

The Roosters had a host of impact players before settling on Tom Bromley-Lynch (two goals) for his role on Lions’ captain Tyson Lever, Elliot Lamb, Dave Brinker-Ritchie, Jai Lockett (four goals), Jarrod Curran and of course, Quick.

Credit to the Lions for playing out the game in good spirits despite the realities of an unfavourable scoreboard. Ben Cameron and Cody Bramble were the clear standouts in a losing side while Myles Gollant fought tirelessly in the ruck against the odds to feature among the best players.

While Sunbury had up to eight players with VFL experience, it was found wanting under the bonnet, after a season long struggle with injury.

Yes, the Roosters have endured their fair share of inconvenience over the journey but for the here and now, clearly Proctors’ Roosters are in the perfect space to challenge for a grand final berth.

Saturday’s preliminary final is a rematch of the classic qualifying final witnessed a fortnight ago.

The winner will meet Ballarat in the McDonald’s BFNL Grand Final.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Jye Lockett (North Ballarat) - 27 disposals, 14 marks, 14 score involvements

Jack Newitt (Sunbury) - 28 dispoals, 8 intercept possessions, 7 1%ers

Joshua Morris (North Ballarat) - 31 disposals, 9 score involvements, 7 inside 50s

COACHES’ VERDICT

Clint Proctor (North Ballarat)
“Congrats to Matty White and his lads - the game was played in the right spirits and way. Good response from the lads, it’s pleasing to see we took our lessons from last week into this match. Looking forward to the next challenge against Sebas again.”

Matty White (Sunbury)
“Disappointing day in the end, we couldn’t get anything going our way. North’s pressure was elite and dominant through the midfield, and we had no answers for (Jamie) Quick. Flipped the team around a few times to try a different mix but outplayed in the end. Unfortunately, that’s the end of the year for us and we rest and now look towards next year. Good luck to the remaining coaches for the rest of the finals.”