BFNL Review - Round 16, 2025

The Roosters delivered on expectation despite an inaccurate 28-point win over Redan to move into fifth place on the BFNL table with two weeks to play.

Four teams are jostling for two spots in the six led by North Ballarat on 30 premiership points, Bacchus Marsh 28, Ballarat 26 and Sebastopol 24. While Clint Proctor's Roosters look safe for now, they're no certainties to feature at the business end with Sebastopol and Darley still to come.

However, a win over Sebastopol will guarantee Proctor a finals berth in his first season at the club.

Thirty-five scoring shots to 17 tells its own story regarding periods of dominance and wasted opportunities for the Roosters who led from go-to-woe despite the Lions’ resistance that amounted to winning the second and fourth quarters marginally.

It was the first time all season the Roosters had reached the 100 point tally against a team outside of the Lakers.

The merit in the nature of the performance should aid the confidence of a young group who have won three of their last four games.

The Roosters’ bigger bodies in Denver Grainger-Barras, Josh Morris and Cam McCallum were always going to prove a handful for the young Lions and all featured among the best alongside Coates League talent Wilbur Shea and underrated midfielder Elliot Lamb.

The spread of goalkickers will have pleased Proctor who has not had the luxury of a key forward at all this season.

Some 10 Roosters made up the 13 goal scoreline making it difficult for future opposition to pinpoint any repeat patterns around scoring.

Redan's run of outs against North Ballarat extends to seven games and have yet to win at Mars Stadium since 2017.

Bigger bodied Lions Dean Mathews and Daniel Bond received the nod of gratitude in a losing side to be named in the best ahead of the ever-consistent Rory Gunsser who continues to clock up the numbers of one beyond his years.

Redan face winnable games against the Lakers and Ballarat to finish their season on a high.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Elliot Lamb (North Ballarat) - 31 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 9 tackles

Lachlan George (Redan) - 35 disposals, 12 rebound 50s, 7 score involvements

Denver Grainger-Barras (North Ballarat) - 21 disposals, 13 score involvements, 10 marks

COACHES’ VERDICT

Clint Proctor (North Ballarat)
"Difficult game to find the balance of ball movement and territory - Redan play such a high tempo game - it really challenged our decision making in both facets of the game."

Steve Kane (Redan)
"Well done to North, they were a bit more composed with the footy than we were. Same old story for us, inability to execute our skills and turnovers has killed us. I thought when we moved the ball how we wanted and hit our targets we looked really dangerous but weren't able to do it for long enough or consistently enough."

The Swans kept their finals chances alive with a come from behind 37-point win over the Cobras at Alfredton Oval.

Visiting Bacchus Marsh stunned the hosts to lead by 24 points at quarter time before Ash Baker's young brigade swung into action booting seven of the next eight goals to claim a handy 16-point lead at the final change.

The Cobras, aiming for a return to finals for the first time since 2018, could not contain the momentum of the Swans as they coughed up eight final quarter goals to concede in excess of the ton despite allowing just one first quarter goal.

Swans’ key Harry Butler finished with five goals for the winners and experienced sharpshooter Andrew Hooper four, to stake their finals claim just two points outside the top six with two rounds to play.

Butler was named best ahead of spread runners and distributors Tristan Maple, Lewis Rinaldi, Fraser Perkins and Wyatt Squires.

For the Marsh, premier ruckman Luke Goetz was named best again as the Cobras failed to fully capitalise on the big man’s massive 'first touch' advantage around stoppage.

Usual suspects Jake McCreery and Josh Huxtable continued with their good seasons but could not deny the Swans a third straight win against the red, yellow and black.

The Cobras remain winless at Alfredton Oval since 2017.

Bacchus Marsh (6th) sit two points clear of Ballarat with season-on-the-line meetings against Sunbury and Sebastopol to come.

The Swans have Melton and Redan.    

STATS THAT MATTERED

Fraser Perkins (Ballarat) - 32 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 11 score involvements

Tristan Maple (Ballarat) - 41 disposals, 13 marks, 9 rebound 50s

Luke Goetz (Bacchus Marsh) - 61 hit outs, 20 disposals, 7 inside 50s

COACHES’ VERDICT

Ash Baker (Ballarat)
"After a sluggish start we were able to work our way back into the game in the second quarter and get the game more on our terms in the second half. Really pleased with our boys, we were able to compose ourselves and stick at it."

Dennis Armfield (Bacchus Marsh)
"We came out all guns blazing and executed our plan. However, after that it was all Ballarat, they outworked us both inside and out. We went into our shell and expelled energy chasing. It was a great learning experience for our younger players."

The Bloods bounced back to the winner’s list in Saturday's Match of the Round with a nail-biting six-point win over East Point at MacPherson Park.

Troy Scoble's Melton led by as much as 39 points during the second quarter after piling on seven unanswered goals post the games' opener from Kangas inside mid Mickitja Rotumah-Onus.

Both sides were missing key personnel for the big one, so opportunity came for the depth charges to plead their case for a finals berth if and when the missing soldiers return.

East Point were seemingly going through the motions early, allowing the Bloods to control the game with their trademark uncontested brand until something sparked the visitors into action - at a guess, pride.

Led by forward Jacob Brown (five goals), the Kangas booted 10 of the next 12 goals of the game from midway through the second term to work their way back into the game and in fact lead by two goals in the early part of the final term.

Pride may well have been the theme of the day as Bloods’ captain Braedan Kight came to life in the final term with three clutch goals to ensure the reigning premiers did enough to have their noses in front at the final siren.

Liam (five goals) and Ryan Carter proved a handful once again for the Kangas while Lachie Watkins and Harry Handley continued their stellar seasons to feature among vote calculations.

Such was the reliability of the pair, both renowned rebound defenders were thrust into the midfield rotations to help curb the Kangas’ momentum with a mounted challenge of their own.

The Kangas shared a greater depth of contributors despite the loss, in the absence of Matty Johnston, Bryson McDougall, Alex Molan, Joe Dodd, Jack Jeffrey and young starters Brodie Willems and Patrick Hannaford.

The experienced group of Jordy Johnston, Brown, Jackson Merrett, Joel Van Meel, Samuel Cue, Rotumah-Onus and progressive defender Joe Fraser almost dragged the Kangas over the line but just fell short.

The Bloods were missing seven of their own - Jordy Cotter, Jordy Kight, Ryan Davis, Jaycob Hickey, ruck option James Taylor and the Scoble boys Max and Chase who had played near every game this season.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Harrison Hanley (Melton) - 34 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 10 marks

Jordan Johnston (East Point) - 28 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 10 clearances

Lachlan Watkins (Melton) - 33 disposals, 11 marks, 10 intercept possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Troy Scoble (Melton)
"Really good to be a part of today from start to finish. Could've gone either way. Game of two elements, we controlled momentum and capitalised in the early part of the game which was pleasing, and East were impressive to control the middle part of the game especially around the contest - they are a such a strong contest team. The last (quarter) just came down to moments for each team given we have been in this scenario plenty of times this year and pleased on this occasion we got in front. East building really well going into finals and showed again they have unearthed some really impressive young talent."

Joe Carmody (East Point)
"Melton's ball movement and work rate was exceptional early. Fantastic effort by our boys to get into a winning position late but essentially (we) just ran out of petrol in the end. Getting some quality games out of our younger players. We've found a few for the future which is great for the club."

Sunbury took its time to shrug off a brave Lake Wendouree outfit before kicking away late to win by 59 points.

The big guns forward for the Lions in Jake Sutton and Daniel Johnston proved too overwhelming for the visitors as they combined for half of the hosts’ score and proving to be the difference in the game.

Sutton's five goals took him to a season tally of 58, three ahead of injured Bacchus Marsh forward Jake Owen in the race for the Tony Lockett Medal with two rounds to play.

There was speculation in the lead up that Sunbury's highest ever score of 177 against the Lakers was under threat but credit to Rohan Brown and his boys finding the desired levels of focus and application to keep the score within check.

In fact, it was the lowest score conceded by the Lakers since Round 9.

Will Clark, Kynan Raven, Kyle Anderson and in form big man Jaydo Wright led the resistance to minimise the damage and were admirable with their effort.

Sunbury's depth and finely tuned game on their own deck was always going to provide its challenges.

Nathan Wood, Jordan Tentonello and Murphy Boyd all made significant contributions which would have pleased coach Matty White just a couple of weeks shy of finals.

Interleague pair Jake Egan (two goals) and Zachary Stevens provided the Lakers with a few more headaches of their own but you couldn't doubt their effort.

The Lakers return on the scoreboard was again above their season average (46), an achievement they can claim for second week in a row.  

While the game was never in doubt, the Lakers can take positives having been within eight points at quarter time and 17 at the half against their highly rated third placed opponents.

Furthermore, the Lions were made to earn their highest scoring term of the afternoon, that came in the form of a 5.3 final quarter.

While there are mini wins to savour for the travelling Lakers, the Lions have bigger fish to fry on the horizon and would be happy getting through unscathed.

Lions’ quintet Tyson Lever, Jack Hannett, Mitch McLean, Tyson Cook and Myles Gollant did not play.    

STATS THAT MATTERED

Jaydo Wright (Lake Wendouree) - 33 hit outs, 26 disposals, 9 inside 50s

Jake Egan (Sunbury) - 34 disposals, 12 marks, 12 tackles

Jordan Tentonello (Sunbury) - 22 disposals, 12 intercept possessions, 7 score involvements

COACHES’ VERDICT

Matt White (Sunbury)
"Lakers really challenged us in the first half. Some poor execution from us early didn't help. We reset at half time and were able to get the game back on our terms and get through with a solid win."

Rohan Brown (Lake Wendouree)
"Very happy with our young group today. Two debutants were fantastic and exciting for our future. For three quarters we were right in the game and attitude was outstanding toward the game and contest. Class and bigger bodies of Egan, Sutton and Johnston the difference. Good luck to Matty and his boys moving into the finals."

The high-flying Devils sealed their second BFNL minor premiership under Dan Jordan in four years after a convincing 65-point win over Sebastopol at Darley Park.

This game, touted to be highly competitive given the Burras’ recent form against top four opposition, was essentially ‘all over' at half time.

A blistering nine-goals-to-one second term from the Devils extended a 17-point quarter time lead to 67 at the main break.

The Devils remain unbeaten for second quarters alone since the season opener, to coincide with their current 15 game winning streak.

Credit to Tony Lockyer's visiting party showing some of the fight we've seen in previous weeks by winning the second half 5.8 to 5.6 despite some key Devils 'put on ice' for the final 20 minutes.

The health and well-being of any group heading into finals cannot be underestimated amid one of the longest and most competitive BFNL seasons in recent times.

The Devils had as many as 10 goalkickers aiding the separation with small forward Harley Inglis finishing with a game high three goals to feature among the best.

The core midfield band was back together with aplomb, namely - Brett Bewley, Nick Hind and Luther Baker following Baker's return from a fortnight's rest.

Williamstown VFL listed ruck Lucas Impey was named best for the Devils ahead of Hind, Inglis, Bewley and young defenders Mitch Gardiner and Jack Crawford.

For the Burra, their second half resistance came largely on the back of Lachlan Cassidy, Ben and Toby Hutt, Sam Wilkinson and interleague representative Cooper Littlehales, who looks every bit a dangerous player on the rise.

While the Devils will nod in acknowledgement of minor premiership honours, the fight for a spot in the top six for the Burra hangs by a thread.

Sebastopol must win their last two games against North Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh to be any chance.

Even that scenario comes without any guarantees!

STATS THAT MATTERED

Brett Bewley (Darley) - 39 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 12 clearances

Lachlan Cassidy (Sebastopol) - 37 disposals, 16 marks, 9 rebound 50s

Lucas Impey (Darley) - 42 hit outs, 11 disposals, 6 1%ers 

COACHES’ VERDICT

Dan Jordan (Darley)
"Rapt with the win, we would've taken that result if you'd ask ahead of the game for sure. Our first half was super, resembling the type of footy we want to play moving forward. Credit to Sebastopol in the second half, they gave us a timely reminder of what we need to maintain for four quarters ahead of another challenging hit out against East Point. We embrace the learnings, and we move on."

Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)
"Taught a lesson in the second quarter by an outstanding Darley team. Full credit to DJ and the boys, the way they are able to connect and execute is top notch. Disappointing outcome to be honest as we have been building nicely, however there are always good learning opportunities from playing the best. This will help our group continue to move forward. Pleasing to show some second half fight and level it up. Good luck to Darley for the rest of the year, always enjoy the contests that are played in good spirits."