BFNL Review Round 15

The Swans have done it again!

A clutch goal from captain Sammy James after the final siren put the Swans in front and miraculously into second spot on the McDonald’s Ballarat Senior Men’s ladder, a game clear of East Point. After trailing at halftime for the ninth time in 14 games, Joe Carmody's never-say-die Swans led by captain James and defenders Nick Swain and Nick Weightman, were able to overcome one of the genuine flag fancies buoyed by the returns of Footscray VFL affiliate Josh Chatfield and midfielder Riley Polkinghorne (named best). Swans big man and Footscray affiliate Bailey Van de Heuvel was a late withdrawal swaying the pendulum of favouritism slightly with the visitors.

In a low-scoring affair, North Ballarat kicked with the breeze in the opening term to establish a 13-point lead at the first change. Regardless of the conditions, both sides have proven difficult to score against for most this year, so it wasn't the time for the Swans to be complacent. Ironically, dangerous Swans forward Andrew Hooper (one goal) missed a shot on the halftime siren to put the home side in front. So, at the main break, as if it were Groundhog Day, the Swans would need to manufacture their sixth win of the season after trailing at the half to get the job done.

Sure, in this case the deficit on the scoreboard was minimal (three points), but for one club to do it for the sixth time takes some serious mental strength. The nature of the Swans' run is not too dissimilar to Collingwood in the AFL. Outside of their 91-point win over Melton South in Round 2, the Swans remaining nine wins have come by 18 points or less, including North Ballarat twice (5 & 15 points), the Lakers twice (6 & 13 points), Redan twice (16 & 6 points), Sunbury (1 point), Sebastopol (1 point) and Darley (18 points). Swans’ fans will be happy to rest their heart rates this week with the bye in Round 16 before it all gets very real enroute to the business end.

Brendan McCartney's North Ballarat have done a lot right since their return off the bye in Round 12, having led league heavyweights Melton, East Point and Ballarat at halftime. Strangely, their only success amid a tough three-week block was against the Bloods. As a result, North Ballarat (7 wins) are now sixth but have a game in hand on Darley (5th - 8 wins), East Point (3rd - 9 wins) and Ballarat (2nd - 10 wins).

North Ballarat quintet Jack Riding (two goals), Harry and Fletcher Loader, Isaac Lovison and Tim Speirs were acknowledged for their contribution behind Polkinghorne in a losing side. They came so close to an eighth win and fourth position on the ladder with three rounds to play.

What the coaches said:

Carmody (Ballarat): North were too good around the contest in the first half. We were able to get better ball movement in the second half. Sam James was sensational around the ball and kicked the winner on the siren.

McCartney (North Ballarat): Tough and hard game. (The result) came down to the last two seconds. We are on the right track and a great win is very close.

The Devils secured an all-important home win over flag fancies East Point to move into fifth place on the BFNL table. The nature of the win has officially risen the bar of expectation on Dan Jordan's young group who withstood all of the Kangas' physicality and pressure to win by 30 points.

The Devils' midfield response led by Luther Baker (named best), Brett Bewley (40 disposals) and Dylan Landt (36 disposals) was emphatic. Reversing the tables on their Round 9 clash when the Kangas crew Matty Johnston (32 disposals), Mickitja Rotumah-Onus (18 disposals) and Jordy Taylor (22 disposals) took the honours. In fairness, the Kangas were without Jackson Merrett (hamstring) and Joe Dodd (knee soreness) from their previous meet but that can be squared away with the Devils' absentees - Shane Page (overseas), Leigh Spiteri (hamstring), Brady Wright (GWV Rebels) and Will Johnson (knee) - all of whom are hopeful of a return. For the record, the Devils are 5-1 from Dylan Landt's six games in black and white.

There were warning signs early for the Devils coughing up the opening two goals of the game on the back of defensive turnovers similar to their disappointing 14-point loss to Redan a week earlier. But the Devils' buy-in was palpable. Their maturity, led by their more experienced leaders was a shining light in clearly their best team win of the season. Devils forward Nick Rodda (4 goals) won the battle of the 'keys' on the goal front as Kangas star Jordy Johnston (1.4) was well held by rising star Mace Cousins.

The 21-year-old continued with his consistent season and was part of a winning back six buoyed by the recent returns of Matty Brett, Darren Leonard and Duncan Cadman. Devils wingman Bailey Young (34 disposals) and Joel Cadman were the next best for the Devils who struggled to find a player with little or no influence. For the Kangas, Jacob Brown and Cam Lovig had plenty of the ball but unfortunately for the reigning dual Premiers, it was shared all in their back half. Despite evidence of further progress in Kangas’ youngsters Liam Canny and Jack Jeffrey (two goals each), Jake Bridges’ boys were humbled to their second-lowest score of the season.  

What the coaches said:

Jordan (Darley): Good to win against a quality opposition. (I) thought our boys executed the game plan well and brought intensity and pressure for four quarters.

Bridges (East Point): Today was much more than a game. Our trainer Mark Scully is battling cancer and was there again to support the group. Whether we win, lose or draw - we draw tremendous inspiration from him.

Sunbury put Melton South to the sword early, setting up a match-winning 37-point lead at quarter time before going to record a morale-boosting third win of the season. The Panthers did show some fight in front of their home fans in the third term to reduce the deficit to 25 at the final change, but that was 'all she wrote' as Travis Hodgson's Lions hit the afterburners to run away with a third win of the season. It still surprises many that the Lions are 3-10, and out of finals contention this far out given they rank seventh in offence and sixth in defence. Yet they languish in ninth place on the ladder with a relatively healthy percentage of 96%.

Forwards Jake Sutton (6 goals) and Leigh Brennan (4 goals) were the leading contributors on the scoreboard among ten different Lions players to post majors while the Panthers could manage just ten goals across the board stretching their unenviable home record to 0-8 for the season.

The Lions' top-end talent had their way against a youthful Panthers outfit. Port Melbourne VFL affiliate Mitch Lewis was named Best on Ground for the Lions along with defenders Tyson Lever and Pat Scanlon. Captain Daniel Toman and Harrison Minton-Connell provided plenty of drive, aiding Lewis' influence as the Lions marched on, equaling North Ballarat with their third score of 100+ for the season. Only Melton (8) and East Point (5) have done it more.

For Heath Pritchard's Panthers, Billy Lloyd and big man Brodie Collins and club-leading goalkicker Will Thornton-Gielen (two goals) led a handful of contributors ahead of Cody Chapman and Mitch Fino in a losing side. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers finish off the season post their Round 16 bye with road trips to North Ballarat and Redan. If it's any consolation, the club's horror run on the road in Ballarat over recent times is over, having already beaten the Lakers in Round 9. Let's see what they conjure after they freshen up and add extra fuel to the tank. Sunbury have the chance to test their improvement in front of a home crowd this week against Melton. Good luck! 

What the coaches said:

Pritchard (Melton South): We started poorly and let Sunbury get the jump. Our second quarter was good, but we didn't get any scoreboard pressure. Our third quarter was excellent, but we let Sunbury get the last two goals of the quarter which gave them the momentum going into the last. The final quarter was all Sunbury - deserved winners.

Hodgson (Sunbury): (We) were good early with and without the footy. (Melton) South came hard in the third and we lost too much 50/50 ball, so it was game on at 3/4 time. (We) responded well in the last (quarter) with our contest work and our forwards started winning one on ones. Overall, it was a pleasing result.

The Lions were made to work hard for just their second home win of the season against a spirited Lakers on the weekend. The visitors put a scare through the Lions camp in the opening half to lead by nine points as an upset loomed on the cards. But with seven goals to two the second half would restore the Lions on their way to a comfortable (in the end) 32-point advantage and sixth win of their season. Unfortunately for Jarrett Giampaolo's Lions, their finals chances are over despite the win. The Lions should have momentum post their bye - this week should not be ignored. Wins this year over top six opposition North Ballarat, Sebastopol and Darley suggest the young Lions are tracking in the right direction.

The Atchison brothers continued with their run of good form off half-back for the Lions while Lincoln Barnes in his 10th game at his new club was considered the best on ground by the coaching staff. Again, consistent duo Izaac Grant (two goals) and Lachie George were never far away from the action. Grant's 34-goal haul, has seen him featured in Redan's best in nine of his 14 games this season while George's 23-goal return from predominantly midfield, has been influential - including nine times named in the Lions' best from his 13 games.

For the Lakers, it's pleasing to see they haven't thrown the towel in despite their one-win season leading both Ballarat and Redan at halftime in the last two weeks. Lakers captain Joel O'Connell has led his young crew from the front once again to be named best for the losing side. Youngsters Bailey Ryan and Cooper James continue to make long strides into their new footy life at senior level while Jacob Coxall (two goals) and Nathan Pring (two goals) have been shining lights in a tough debut season for coach Jack Fitzpatrick. Three games remain in 2022 for the Lakers - East Point (home) on the back of a loss to Darley, Sebastopol (away) and Melton (away), all currently 3rd, 4th and 1st respectively on the ladder.

Tough ask.

What the coaches said:

Giampaolo (Redan): After a poor first half, the boys were able to lift around the contest and get the game back on our terms. (We) played a great second half to give ourselves plenty of opportunities in the forward half. A pleasing response and win.

Fitzpatrick (Lake Wendouree): (I) can't fault the boy’s application. It was a game of two halves. We dominated around the contest early and had the game on our terms, but once Redan were able to match us on the inside after half time, they were able to play their game.