The Devils will look to consolidate their top three credentials when they head across town to meet the Cobras at Maddingley Park.

Dan Jordan’s army have had the wood over their local rivals having won the last eight meetings and 43 of the 58 encounters head-to-head since Darley entered the BFNL in 1997.

Saturday’s local derby will look a shade different on recent meets given the absence of (in particular) Cobra big guns Jake Owen (hamstring) and Wil Lalor (hamstring)and Devils star duo Brett Bewley (leg) and Billy Myers (thumb).

Given the current landscape, the assignment for Dennis Armfield’s quiver looks another tough one to say the least given the Cobras have lost five of their last six games by an average of 59.4 points.

Some consideration for the Cobras it must be said given their tough draw with games against Ballarat (twice), Sebastopol, Melton and North Ballarat.

The task of posting a big enough score in isolation looms the Cobras’ greatest challenge having averaged just 43 points per game in the five losses.

Cobras’ big man Luke Goetz will start a warm favourite in the ruck to provide his ground level midfielders in Tyson Shea and Jamie Fulton first use but denying a match hardened, highly rated ground ball rotation led by Devils’ trio Nick Hind, Lachie George and Luther Baker will ensure the clearance battle is well earned.

The Cobras will welcome the return of up to five players for the hit out, names including Josh Huxtable (Williamstown VFL), James McDaid (Western Jets), Sam Griffiths (suspension), Jack Parente (foot) and Angus Morgan (quad).

Those ins and the much-publicised absence of Bewley and Myers provides a timely confidence boost for a group currently reeling in seventh place after spending a majority of the early season entrenched inside the top six.

The Cobras at their best would challenge the Devils who are not shy on a collective of young stocks either.

When depth is exposed, inconsistency more often follows.

Can the Cobras get under the skin of the Devils and hit the scoreboard early? It will require a buy-in capable of covering the ground, winning their own ball and executing inside 50.

On the flipside the Devils will look to start well, embedding the Cobras’ vulnerabilities over the last six weeks.

A solid start from the visitors could open this game up early given the Cobras rank ninth (3-9) for second quarters with only the Lakers in their tracks.

When we look at the two teams side-by-side, it’s the Devils who hold the class edge to suggest they can overwhelm a young Cobras combination still trying to find their feet at the level.

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Scoop’s tip: Darley

The Bloods (5th) will start warm favourites against the Lions (6th) at MacPherson Park despite just one game and percentage separating the two sides on the BFNL ladder.

Troy Scoble’s group are chasing a third win at home in as many weeks, looking to widen the gap on Sunbury who have struggled to reach the heights of last season despite a standout win over Sebastopol on May 9th (Round 5).

Unfortunately for Matty White’s Pride their five-win season to date has been below par with as many as 42 players having don the jumper over a frustrating 2026.

The reality of the win/loss front tells us Sunbury have beaten only one team above them (Sebastopol) all year and have yet to string together back-to-back wins.

While the Bloods are in a similar boat with just one win over teams above them (Darley), it’s worth noting Scoble’s group has won seven of their last 10 meetings with the Lions including an 83-point demolition job at Clarke Oval 12 weeks ago on Anzac Day.

The fact that Sunbury has not won at MacPherson Park since 2017 confirms the balance of favour with the hosts.

There’s been much speculation and interest around the ‘mid table’ seasons of these two sides as both coaches (like most in the BFNL this year) deal with the fragilities and demands of todays footy.

Injury, work, travel, VFL, weddings, concussion and relocation have all had a say in the weekly shenanigans at both clubs as they strive to recapture the consistency of previous campaigns.

For what it’s worth, the Bloods have proven gettable at home (3-3) and will look vulnerable in areas again on Saturday but I’m not sure Sunbury’s visiting party will pack enough punch to deny Scoble’s ‘Bloodahood’ an all-important seventh win of the season with tough assignments against Ballarat, North Ballarat and Darley to follow.

While Scoble would be the first to concede his boys won’t start favourites in any of those three games moving forward, he will be conscious of the clear and present dangers of the Lions who are likely (again) to be without key trio Jake Sutton (Sydney VFL), Daniel Johnston (Coburg VFL) and Jake Egan (arm) for another week.

There is some positive news on the selection front however with the likely recall of Lions ruckman Joel Muir to senior level and the much-anticipated return of Brock Landt (overseas) and Zach Stevens (arm) via the reserves.

The Bloods welcome back Ryan Carter (work) and Brodie Sullivan (wing).

Scoop’s tip: Melton

The Kangas will need little motivation getting up for this clash when they host the Roosters at Eastern Oval.

Outgoing coach Joe Carmody was the first to concede his young group were “embarrassed” with their Round 3 showing at Mars Stadium despite the infancy into a rebuild.

Kangas’ swingman Jacob Brown missed the 98-point drubbing with a hamstring strain and could do little but watch on from the sidelines, craving for an opportunity to restore the faith.

Brown gets his chance on Saturday but the prospects of turning the tables remain slim.

X-factor Kangas’ forward Jarrod Joyce was injured early in the game and he too will embrace the challenge for atonement.

The Roosters are on the rise and are expected to feature prominently at the business end as coach Clint Proctor continues to build on his ideal of their best 22.

That task alone is not as easy as first thought given the organic growth at the Roosters in the absence of more familiar names with proven talent.

Jamie Quick and Elliott Lamb will return while veteran Simon McCartin is set miss with a quad complaint.

Unfortunately, the Kangas lose Tom Brown (hand) and Alex Molan (hamstring tightness) but welcome back underrated midfielder Jesse Cairns (hamstring).

Expect the Roosters to be challenged early, getting the game on their own terms given the Kangas proud combination at the source.

However, if the Kangas midfield are off their tucker in any way, the Roosters will pounce and cause havoc on the spread with their trademark compliance and work rate.

Naming just some of the Roosters’ firepower would be an injustice to the rest given the load has been relatively shared over their nine-win season.

North Ballarat should win this game and win well, staking their claim as a top three candidate.

The Kangas rank no higher than eighth for win/loss in any quarter and could be found wanting late if the Roosters can get their running game going.

It’s been a challenging period for the competitive Kangas over recent weeks having lost their last three games and Saturday’s task while at home doesn’t look any easier.

Scoop’s tip: North Ballarat

Expect Redan to provide enough resistance to elevate this meeting into an old school ‘danger game’ for ladder leaders Sebastopol.

The cliche will come as no surprise to the Burra hierarchy given the evidence on display from the Lions over recent weeks that has included wins over Melton, Sunbury and within a goal of reigning premiers Darley.

Sure, the Lions were smashed off the park back in Round 3 but they were missing some handy stock.

Lachlan Bond, Brodie Pope, Zac Mortlock, Jake Connolly, Will Madden and Jacob Werts are just some of the names to miss - all have featured prominently in the recent rise of Redan.

Key tall Taj Bond is also expected to make his belated return since he sustained a broken foot in the Interleague game against the Hampden League.

I’m not suggesting Redan will win this game by any stretch, just reiterating their more fancied rivals will be made to work harder for it while their leader Tony Lockyer for one, is sidelined for another week.

Jeff Buckley and Gedd Hommelhoff will face fitness tests to earn the green light.

There’s plenty to like about what’s going on at the Burra.

Just the ways they have managed to finish off games in a flurry has been impressive.

In fact, Sebastopol rank #1 not only on the BFNL table but also for last quarters in isolation (W10 L2).

Memo for Redan coach Marc Greig who has a W2 L10 record for last quarters - beware the Burra blitz!

Sebastopol are flying and have played the least number of players (33) of any club this season, which is a testament to their health, preparation and token ounce of luck.

Team balance is an enviable force at the Burra with seemingly the right mix of talls, smalls, bigger bodies, experience, youth and talent to beat any side on their day.

While it comes as no surprise I’m leaning firmly with the Burra camp involving anything around a tip, but you can take it to the bank rival clubs will be hoping Redan can find a way causing one of the upsets of the season.

Scoop’s tip: Sebastopol

The Lakers play host to Ballarat under newly appointed interim coach Jake Lohmann.

The former Werribee VFL listed talent and Lakers junior would take the 19 shots on goal they had at their first meet in a heartbeat but given the exponential growth of the Swans, a repeat scenario appears unlikely.

Ash Baker’s bevy are rebounding off a 31-point loss to Sebastopol and will look to work on a few things reserved for the inner sanctum.

Unfortunately for Lohmann, his debut at the helm is leaning every bit toward a baptism of fire over a celebration in song despite little or no expectations.

Mini wins will be the order of the day for Lohmann, a fresh voice to varying degrees on a group that’s been bereft of any continuity having as many as 43 players used in the first 12 rounds.

Expect the Swans to bounce, the tall timber, especially on a predicted fine day, that should play into their hands as the hosts struggle for any bona fide (aerial) match ups.

With fine weather predicted I fear for the Lakers inabilities to trouble the Swans who boast an ominous spread, as good as any in the competition.

Of those mini wins suggested for Lohmann, keeping the Swans Biggie Nyuon under eight goals would just about warrant a tick given the Lakers have lost their last 30 games on the trot.

For the record, Biggie is Europe bound in the coming days for a whirlwind holiday that will see the current Tony Lockett Medal leader miss up to three matches in the run home to finals.

Scoop’s tip: Ballarat