BFNL Football Review - Round 7, 2026

The slick Swans notched their sixth win of the season with a comfortable 55-point win over the Cobras at Alfredton Oval.

Home fans were treated to a clinic from Ash Baker’s bevy in relatively fine conditions for the most part, leaving little or no excuses for the visitors.

The superior work rate of the Swans was palpable. Their ability to outnumber the Cobras at the contest, create the overlap and impact on the spread was an afternoon constant.

Their number one ranked pressure rating without the ball was also validated.

The Swans had arguably 15 of the best 20 players on the ground while the Cobras struggled for any periods of connection.

While the win elevates the Swans into second place on the ladder, percentage shy of Sebastopol, the Cobras cling to fifth with a vulnerable percentage.

The disappointing loss for Armfield’s quiver was compounded even further with a hamstring strain to key forward Jake Owen who missed a large chunk of the second half. Scans will tell us more during the week.

Swans running machines Thomas Simpson, Fraser Perkins and Lewis Rinaldi did most of the damage between the arcs while Biggie Nyuon was once again the leading goal scorer on the ground finishing with three.

Cobras’ half forward Isaac Nixon and Owen were the only two that looked like threatening in their front half, while the territory gains from the boot of Sam Griffiths helped minimise the damage.

Second and third gamers Adam Blain and Jonas Cukavac showed enough to earn another crack at it next week against the Lakers.

In a nutshell, this hit out told us more about the Swans staking their early premiership claims.

Ballarat host Sunbury (7th) next week while the Cobras host the winless Lakers at Maddingley Park.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Lewis Rinaldi (Ballarat) - 29 disposals, 9 marks, 7 tackles

Thomas Simpson (Ballarat) - 29 disposals, 13 score involvements, 10 tackles

Jack Parente (Bacchus Marsh) - 28 disposals, 18 contested possessions, 10 clearances

COACHES’ VERDICT

Ash Baker (Ballarat)
Really pleased with our effort today. In trying conditions early, I was pleased with our pressure and contest numbers. I thought this set us up well across the first three quarters of football. To Bacchus Marsh’s credit, they kept coming and challenged us early in the last, however we were able to respond late in the game. Overall- really pleased with our game as we now turn our attention to another home game next week against Sunbury.

Dennis Armfield (Bacchus Marsh)
We just couldn’t click today, Ash and his boys are very well drilled unit. They play a real team brand of footy. We had our chances but just couldn’t score. At one stage 10-12 entries for 1 point. I liked the fact we kept fighting yet beaten by a quality squad. We will recover and focus on a visiting Lakers who have shown they can play a good brand.

An inaccurate Sunbury kicked away after halftime to break the shackles of a very determined Lakers outfit to win by 46 points at Clarke Oval.

The second half yielded 21 scoring shots to five (6.15 to 2.3) in favour of Matty White’s Pride, and both coaches identified some progress in the aftermath.

Lakers’ coach Rohan Brown promised his undermanned group would bring effort and that they did to be within 10 points at the main break - a mini win for the struggling club.

Most had Sunbury winning by 100+ points or at least bringing up the ton on the scoreboard. Both predictions fell well short.

Credit to Brown, who paid particular homage to the contributions of Tyson Walsh and Archie Todd.

For the winners, the judges couldn’t split Cody Bramble and Daniel Johnston (five goals) for best on ground honours.

While White was happy of the response from his boys in the second half, the impact of Josh Guthrie, Brock Landt (two goals) and Bramble in particular was a shining light given the three have missed a bit of footy.

The Lions would have been thrilled for Liam Spiteri and Joel Muir who endeavour to cement their place in a team on the road back to full health.

For the visitors, Round 7 marked the second game in a row the Lakers restricted their opposition to below 100 points and be within a respectable 7-8 goals at the finish.

Walsh and Todd aside, Logan Clark, Corey Rich, Joel O’Connell and Timmy Collins were also prominent.

With goals at a premium, only Lions pair Daniel Johnston (5) and Brock Landt (2) ended with multiples.

Sunbury will start underdogs on the road in their next match against Ballarat.

Looking forward to seeing how White goes about denying the number one pressure and handball team in the comp.

The Lakers are down the highway again at the weekend to take on the Cobras at Maddingley Park.

Effort and in-house mini wins will be high on the Lakers’ agenda while the Cobras aim to go big despite the (potential) absence of key prime movers Jake Owen (hamstring) and Josh Huxtable (Williamstown VFL).

STATS THAT MATTERED

Daniel Johnston (Sunbury) - 25 disposals, 17 score involvements, 10 marks

Benjamin Cameron (Sunbury) - 25 disposals, 11 score involvements, 8 inside 50s

Bailey Ryan (Lake Wendouree) - 39 disposals, 15 rebound 50s, 7 intercept possessions

COACHES’ VERDICT

Matty White (Sunbury)
Hard win in the end. Lakers came with a plan, and we got a jump but got sucked into playing a dead way and Lakers played well off that in the first half and especially in the 2nd term. Which made the game close at half time. A few positional changes at half time got us going in the 3rd and we were able to finish the game off well in the soaking conditions. 21 scoring shots to 5 in the second half got our guys going. Still room for improvements especially with our goal kicking but some good signs going forward.

Rohan Brown (Lake Wendouree)
Very proud of our group especially in the 1st half. Asked for effort, connection and belief and we got all of it. Our kids are being exposed to some of the best and showing what the future of the Lakers will be like. Tyson Walsh & Archie Tood exceptional. Taking the little wins and we had a fair few yesterday which was great for our group.

The Kangas made it two wins in a row after a thrilling four-point victory over more fancied rivals Melton.

Coach Joe Catmody’s rebuild is beginning to see some rewards on the scoreboard already as they led at every change to hold out a desperate Bloods unit in a highly contested affair.

The win sees the Kangas just one game and percentage outside the top six with a winnable game against Redan (9th) up next.

Both sides were shy on a few stars for this battle that went down to the wire. Could a less experienced player show maturity beyond their years to feature in a hard-fought struggle?

You bet!

Kangas’ trio Copper Glenwright-McGuane, Luca Geue and Deng Lual played significant support roles to finish in the best behind captain Liam Canny and inside mid Mickitja Rotumah-Onus.

Alex Molan and Jarrod Joyce (three goals) made their highly anticipated returns with immediate impact.

For the Bloods, who cling to sixth place on the ladder with three wins, percentage clear of Sunbury - this result has not gone to plan despite the obvious dangers the Kangas present on their own deck.

While Troy Scoble’s visiting party fell agonisingly short - it was one they were meant to win despite glowing efforts from Josh Stewart (best), Liam Carter (three goals), Harry Hanley, Braedan Kight (two goals), Ryan Davis and Lachlan Phillips. So close for the Bloods, but no cigar.

The Bloods will look to bounce back at home this week, but they’ll have to do it against ladder leaders Sebastopol.

The Kangas would surely have savoured Saturday’s win in celebration and song - and deservingly so. An interesting challenge in the form of Redan presents in Round 8 at Eastern Oval.

Expect the Redan Lions to get a handful of players back, raising the degree of difficulty making it a third win on the trot for Carmody’s young men.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Mickitja Rotumah-Onus (East Point) - 26 disposals, 21 contested possessions, 16 clearances

Liam Howard (East Point) - 18 disposals, 11 intercept possessions, 10 1%ers

Josh Stewart (Melton) - 54 hitouts, 12 tackles, 5 inside 50s

COACHES’ VERDICT

Joe Carmody (East Point)
Really contested game. Credit to both teams that cracked in hard all day. The games we play against Melton are always tough battles and we are grateful we could get the result today.

Troy Scoble (Melton)
Terrific reconciliation week celebration well done and thanks to East Point. Typical Melton east point game from recent years, tough conditions contested unfortunately for us we could not capitalise when we needed. We are very good at close losses. East earned there win today well done.

The Devils returned to the winner’s list, overpowering a young Lions outfit by 89 points at Darley Park.

The reigning premiers looked in control from the outset and were rarely troubled having kept the Lions goalless in the second and final terms.

While the Devils were inaccurate on goal in the opening half with 8.13 to their name, a correction saw Dan Jordan’s army earn some bang for buck in the second squaring the ledger 17.17 at the final siren.

X-factor forward Wil Johnson booted a game high five goals while big guns Brett Bewley and Nick Hind chimed in with three apiece.

Former Lion Lachie George continues to build in his new colours adding two of his own.

Progressive utility Mickey Edwards was named best for the winners ahead of midfield duo Bewley and milestone 200 gamer Luther Baker who had arguably his best game of the season.

Zane Le Huray was the pick of the defenders to be recognised alongside Johnson and George among the best.

For Redan, the assignment was always going to be tough, but they must be commended on their effort.

While it was slim pickings on the goal front, the contributions of Zac Mortlock, Jacob Werts and Lachie Bond were recognised by the Lions hierarchy.

Ever consistent youngster Oliver Pittard made it a seventh appearance in the best players in as many outings. Super effort.

The challenge for the Devils gets very real next week on the road for a meeting with North Ballarat (4th). Jordan will be looking to build on their modest away record in 2026 (1-2).

Redan should welcome back up to five players ahead of their trip to Eastern Oval to take on the Kangas (8th) who have won their last two games.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Brett Bewley (Darley) - 40 disposals, 11 score involvements, 10 inside 50s

Billy Myers (Darley) - 31 disposals, 8 marks, 8 intercept possessions

Harry Lawson (Redan) - 32 disposals, 8 marks, 7 rebound 50s 

COACHES’ VERDICT

Dan Jordan (Darley)
Pleasing effort against a spirited Redan team who made us earn our dues to the very end. Happy to see a response from our boys off the break in a few areas we have been working on.

Marc Greig (Redan)
Experienced opposition played a very attacking brand and were too good. Our young fellas learnt lots from the game, from a physical, verbal and mindset point of view.

League improvers Sebastopol continued their impressive start to the 2026 season with an emphatic 59-point win over North Ballarat at Marty Busch Reserve.

It was the Burra’s sixth win in seven rounds, just one victory shy of their total success from last season.

Tony Lockyer’s men are making a fortress of Marty Busch this season, unbeaten in four games (East Point, Redan, Darley, North Ballarat) by an average winning margin of 57.5 points. Impressive.

There’s little doubt Sebastopol have the healthiest list in the comp, thriving with an enviable number of top end midfield options. The depth in rotations is enabling a clear edge over all rivals when the whips are cracking.

The four quarter, dominant win has put the rest of the competition on notice despite the Roosters being without a bench for the final term.

Sam Glover (hip), Declyn McGuigan (concussion), Isaac Lovisson (quad), Jarrod Curran (hamstring) are all in doubt for the Roosters’ Round  8 clash with Darley (3rd) joining Isaac Carey (knee - 3 weeks), Reggie Palmer (arm - 6 weeks), Simon McCartin (calf - 2 weeks), Brock Leonard (ACL - season), Fletcher Loader (foot - season) and Wilbur Shea (shoulder - season) on the sidelines.

Clint Proctor named half a dozen next gen players in the best, led by Dominic Penny, Jye Lockett and Taj Bowman.

The Burra had a host of contributors across the ground before settling on Jacob Fletcher as the pick of the bunch ahead of inform quintet Toby Hutt (two goals), Luke Kiel, Bailey Medwell, Jack Bambury and Jack Buckley.

Sebastopol are on the road this week for a meeting with sixth placed Melton.

STATS THAT MATTERED

Toby Hutt (Sebastopol) - 26 disposals, 18 hitouts, 8 marks

Jack Buckley (Sebastopol) - 32 disposals, 11 rebound 50s, 8 marks

Joshua Morris (North Ballarat) - 29 disposals, 8 rebound 50s, 6 marks

COACHES’ VERDICT

Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)
Pleased with that one. We wanted to bring our pressure/contest game to a form team in North and felt we did that right from the start. Given North’s spread of contributors we knew it was critical everyone played their role and stepped up to the challenge. Again, it was another strong contested BFNL game played in great spirits. The competition is in great shape right now. Huge credit to Clint and his boys who have taken some big steps forward since last year. They’ll be a dangerous side come September.

Clint Proctor (North Ballarat)
Hard day at the office, Sebastopol were a class above today; organised and difficult to play against - it felt like we were beaten in the contest and spread as-well which is not really our way! Struggled to defend the ground and gain any ball movement. All is not lost; a time to reflect and move onto the next contest.