The Cobras will sweat on the availability of four crucial players if there to be a chance toppling a revived Sunbury at Clarke Oval on Saturday.

Captain Jack Parente (foot) is a 50/50 chance while Josh Huxtable, Zach Dalli and James McDaid await VFL and Coates League call ups.

Sunbury are in a similar boat with the potential inclusion of VFL talent Harry Minton-Connell back from a hamstring strain and the highly anticipated return of cornerstone mid Jake Egan (arm).

Despite the likely boost for the hosts, forward VFL listed pair Jake Sutton and Daniel Johnston will be unavailable. However, Joel Muir and Nathan Wood look set for a return from muscle soreness after missing the Lions’ nine-point win over Melton last week.

There’s plenty at stake in the BFNL’s Match of the Round in the ‘East’ given the sixth placed Lions sit just one game and 14% ahead of the Cobras in seventh.

When you compare the run home of the two sides a lot will be riding on Saturday’s result.

There’s no let up for Matty White’s Pride with Bacchus Marsh (H), Sebastopol (A), North Ballarat (H), East Point (A) and Ballarat (H) to negotiate before any theorising of the ‘f’ word.

White would love a two game and percentage buffer over the Cobras given their run home looks considerably easier on paper with meetings against Sunbury (A), Redan (A), East Point (H), Sebastopol (H) and Lake Wendouree (A).

Let’s not discount Melton either and their vulnerabilities in fifth, level on six wins with Sunbury. The undermanned Bloods won’t be taking anything for granted either with the toughest run home of any with Ballarat (A), North Ballarat (H), Darley (A), Redan (H) and Sebastopol (A) still to come.

Sunbury will be hard to beat at Clarke Oval as per the norm but the Cobras, despite the absence of Jake Owen and Wil Lalor (season), should be strengthened on the back of a tough six week period that has included match ups against the current top five teams in the BFNL.

Dennis Armfield’s quiver should hold no fears for the Lions given the success at their last meet that included the likes of Sutton, Egan and Johnston.

And strangely, I think the bigger ground at Clarke Oval will suit the Cobras’ game style better than Maddingley Park.

The Cobras should thrive in the wide-open spaces at Sunbury with enough leg speed on the outside to match the Lions run and carry between the arcs.

The obvious concern for the Cobras is their connection forward, and finding their way around inform intercept defender Tyson Lever.

A defensive, forward match up to minimise the rebound of the Lions’ captain would not be the dumbest idea for the Armfield camp to consider given their vulnerabilities without Owen and mounting evidence of wasted entries and opportunities over recent weeks.

We will know a lot more about these two sides come 5pm Saturday and what it means to be in the mix for a finals berth.

Let’s hope the match is not decided on (missing) personnel alone and both clubs get their way at selection.

Weighing up a tip at the time of preview, there were too many unknown variables at the Cobras to be opting against the Lions at home.

Scoop’s tip: Sunbury

The Swans (2nd - 10-3) enter the home straight towards finals one game shy of ladder leaders Sebastopol when they host Melton (5th - 6-7) at Alfredton Oval.

Despite a flawless run for Ash Baker’s bevy (8-0) against teams outside the top four, Melton have proven more than capable on their day.

In fact, the 2024 premiers under Troy Scoble will welcome the absence of Biggie Nyuon (overseas), Luke Dunstan (hamstring), Andrew Hooper (calf), Lewis Rinaldi (general soreness), Tristan Maple (Footscray VFL) and Thomas Simpson (Werribee VFL - rested despite having the bye). Meanwhile, Riley Constable, Wyatt Squires and Rhys Perry are on track for a return over the coming weeks.

Fortunately for the Swans sake at least they’re blessed with enviable depth that will see the return of Alex Keath, Bailey Fraser, Sam Batistella, Tyson Richard and Tom Mooney to fill the void.

Given the notable outs at the Swans, you would think the pendulum would swing some degrees towards the Bloods camp, but they can’t take a trick themselves.

Core premiership names Harry Handley, Adrian Monitto, Ryan Carter, Jordy Kight, Max Scoble, Oscar Greenshields, Billy Crofts (Footscray VFL) are all sidelined, while Lachie Watkins is done for the year, reducing the likelihood of success on the road this week to very slim.

Highway trips on the whole haven’t been kind to the Bloods’ campaign in 2026 with losses to North Ballarat, Redan and East Point with just the one success in the ‘west’ (Lake Wendouree) to speak of in the Bloods four visits to date.

A couple of positives Scoble can take into Saturday is knowing the Swans have named arguably their most depleted line up of the season and the fact the Bloods are the number one ranked team in the competition for first quarters (9-3-1) and may surprise the Swans (7-6) who remain a work in progress in the starting space, ranked fifth.

Don’t get too excited Bloods fans, thereafter, is when the bevy really hit their straps, ranked second for second (Melton #3) and fourth quarters (Melton #5) and lead the competition (10-3) on percentage in the third (Melton #6).

Count on a genuine challenge from the Bloods in the opening half before the Swans (weather permitting) get their chance to exploit on the outside - it’s what they do so well compliant to their trusted system under Ash Baker.

Sure, there’s no Biggie among a host of the missing bevy, but their depth and team ethos alone, suggests the collective will pick up the slack, enough to record an all-important 11th win of the season.

Ballarat’s home record is compelling with five wins from six games by an average winning margin of 49 points.

Scoop’s tip: Ballarat

The Roosters look to extend their winning run at home to six when they host the improving Lions at Mars Stadium.

Coach Clint Proctor would be extremely proud of where his Roosters are at (4th - 10-3) having endured a difficult run on the injury and availability front.

Wins over Darley and Sebastopol with their backs to the wall have been season defining, keeping the door ajar for an all-important top three finish.

The Roosters’ run home is challenging with three trips to the ‘East’ despite only one meeting with top four opposition (Darley).

Redan (H), Melton (A), Sunbury (A), Lake Wendouree (H), Darley (A) is a solid build to finals for Proctor’s progressive group.

The former Box Hill mentor in his second year at the helm will welcome a rare, quiet night at the selection table this week with Rebels talent Michael Hughes (rested) the only likely change.

Oliver Potter is one player knocking on the door as a potential replacement with his recent bout of form.

Redan lose experienced pair Jordy Grant (broken leg) and Nic Barker (leg) for the clash just as the Lions were beginning to resemble the best version of their 22 under Marc Greig.

It’s not easy to put a finger on where Redan are at given their four-win season and encouraging recent efforts to be within a goal of Darley and eight points of Sebastopol.

They’re either one or two A-graders shy or another 12 months of development away taking the next step. To be safe, I’ll lean to a combination of the two.

Expect the Lions to be competitive again, that’s what they do, but doing enough to close out a game against top four opposition remains their greatest challenge.

The dangerous thing about the Roosters, home record aside, is they can play below their best and still find a way to win.

I guess that’s what the really good sides can do.

Redan could be missing up to five players from last week’s loss to Sebastopol come the start of play will be hopeful the Roosters are ‘off their tucker’.

Unfortunately for Greigy’s Pride, the Roosters form suggests that will be unlikely with five wins from their last six games and last five at Mars Stadium dating back to their season opener against Ballarat.

For the record Redan’s run home reads North Ballarat (A), Bacchus Matsh (H), Ballarat (A), Melton (A), East Point (H).

Scoop’s tip: North Ballarat

Ladder leaders Sebastopol will start warm favourites to end Darley’s unbeaten run of 17 wins at home dating back to the 2024 semi finals.

A healthier list for starters is one major factor and the Burra’s superior 5-1 record against top five opposition (Darley 1-3) is another, to swing the weight of expectation in favour of the visitors.

Experienced leader Tony Lockyer returns for the Burra, while leading forward Joel Edwards (managed), in-form veteran Luke Kiel (managed), Jack Buckley (managed) and key defender Luke Phillips will miss.

Unfortunately, the Devils remain ‘grounded’ in the absence of Brett Bewley, Billy Myers, Joel Cadman, Adam Azzopardi and four-time premiership small forward Harley Inglis.

Try telling that to Devil’s coach Dan Jordan! The two-time premiership mentor will have wasted little or no time validating any external noise, rather hatching a plan with his ‘what haves’ to win surely his most satisfying of the season so far.

While the result is not the be all and all for the Devils, any thoughts of a top spot finish, in the event of loss, will be written off.

Given the four game and percentage advantage over Melton (fifth), the top four, which is as good as locked in, are jostling for an all-important top three finish.

Sebastopol, Ballarat and North Ballarat have already played each other twice adding pressure on the Devils to maintain their recent winning form with arguably the toughest run home - Sebastopol (H), Lake Wendouree (A), Melton (H), Ballarat (A) and North Ballarat (H)

Expect the old cliche, “one week at a time” to be rolled out for the conclusion of the home and away season by all teams as they fight to achieve their own goals.

Burra’s coach Tony Lockyer will be chomping at the bit ahead of Saturday and not taking anything for granted.

The x-factor utility has openly been on the record recognising the dangers of the Devils and will have done his due diligence ahead of one of the toughest trips on the BFNL calendar.

Devils’ stand-in captain Luther Baker, Nick Hind, Will Johnson, Matty Brett and Lachie George will lead the charge for home fans ensuring Lockyer’s 11-2 record is challenged, setting the scene for a potential upset.

However, I expect the weight of experience and proven depth at the Burra to be enough on this occasion to worry an undermanned version of the Devils out of it in a tight one.

Scoop’s tip: Sebastopol

The Lakers timing to catch East Point on the hop couldn’t be worse given the midweek departure of Kangas’ coach Joe Carmody (personal reasons).

Expect the troop to deliver their former mentor a win worthy of elevation into the ‘comfortable’ basket in front of home fans at Eastern Oval.

As recent as last week we witnessed first-hand what impact the exit of a popular figure, namely Rohan Brown (Lakers) can have on a group.

Interim coach Jake Lohmann took over the reins from Brown, extracting as much character and effort he could muster against flag contenders Ballarat and held their own with dignity despite a 31st consecutive loss.

Guarantee in the Kangas case this week, led by a loyal band of assistant coaches for the interim, the playing group’s intent, effort and want to exceed internal KPIs will see a spike, validated by the numbers in the aftermath.

Kangas’ leaders Liam Canny, Jacob Brown, Mickitja Rotumah-Onus and Joe Dodd will ensure the slack is taken up and embraced by the next gen talent who have progressed under the tutelage of Carmody.

Jack Jeffrey, Liam Howard, Joe Fraser and Jessie Cairns have also stood the task at the Kangas, through the highs of recent finals series to the realities of a three win rebuild.

While the Kangas were always heavily favoured to end their five-game run of outs on Saturday, look for a four-quarter buy-in against a vulnerable Lakers outfit second up off an emotional investment of their own.

Should be an entertaining clash despite the forecast of a typical Winter’s day in Ballarat.

If difficult conditions happen to play a role minimising any predicted separation on the scoreboard, it will account for very little when you hear the jubilant Kangas celebrate in song.

Scoop’s tip: East Point