We predict which Ballarat Football League clubs will play finals in 2022

There’s four games left in the Ballarat Football League season and we’ve tried to predict which clubs will make the top six and play finals.

The Ballarat Football League enters the home stretch.

With four games remaining in the home-and-away season the race for the top six and double chance is red hot.

Three teams are battling for fifth and sixth and as we know three into two does not go.

There’s also a three-way battle for a top-two spot with East Point, Ballarat and North Ballarat fighting to avoid a sudden-death elimination final.

We’ve dusted off he crystal ball and attempted to predict where every club will finish.

No doubt it will be provide some message board motivation for all teams and fans.

Melton’s Braedan Kight has a shot on goal. Picture: Andy Brownbill

MELTON (12-0-1, 199.71)

Last Six: Bye, Sunbury (A), East Point (A), Lake Wendouree (H)

The Bloods responded emphatically to their first loss of the season against North Ballarat, inflicting a 148-point loss on cross-town rival Melton South. Melton now heads into a bye with the chance to freshen up before big games against Sunbury and a top-of-the-table blockbuster against East Point. Depending on results, the Round 17 clash could be a preview of the qualifying final a fortnight later

Prediction: -WLW – 1st

EAST POINT (9-0-4, 117.97%)

Last Six: Darley (A), Lake Wendouree (A), Melton (H), Bye

A surprise loss to Sebastopol a fortnight ago has made East Point’s double chance vulnerable but the Kangaroos responded well on Saturday to claim a critical 11-point win over flag rival North Ballarat. Now they will have to be wary of a Darley team smarting from a shock loss of their own at home against Redan but we’re tipping East to make the trip east and return with four points. The Round 17 clash against Melton could provide a grand final preview and it will be the perfect chance for East Point to test itself. A final round bye could be a positive before a possible qualifying final rematch against the Bloods.

Prediction: WWW- – 2nd

BALLARAT (9-0-4, 103.52%)

Last Six: North Ballarat (H), Bye, Sunbury (H), Sebastopol (A)

Escape with a six-point win at Lake Wendouree on Saturday and will need to improve greatly if it is to beat North Ballarat this weekend. The Swans are still very much in the mix for a top-two finish but face a tricky run home starting with the Roosters and finishing with Sebastopol on the road.

Prediction: L-WL – 4th

NORTH BALLARAT (7-0-5, 126.23%)

Last Six: Ballarat (A), Sebastopol (H), Melton South (H), Darley (A)

Halved its two games against leaders Melton and East Point, which will give the Roosters confidence heading into finals. North could storm home in the final four rounds to seal not only a finals spot but make a run at a top-two finish. Matches against Ballarat and Sebastopol will be critical.

Prediction: WWWL – 3rd

SEBASTOPOL (8-0-5, 112.56%)

Last Six: Bye, North Ballarat (A), Lake Wendouree (H), Ballarat (H)

A terrific fortnight to leave our predictions looking silly. The Burras knocked off reigning premier East Point and then pipped top-six rival Bacchus Marsh by two points on the road. The results put Sebas firmly in the box seat to secure a finals birth with a bye and Lake Wendouree in the final four rounds. As one rival coach said, no one will want to be playing the a fully-fit and confident Sebastopol come finals time.

Prediction: -LWW – 5th

DARLEY (7-0-6, 107.94%)

Last Six: East Point (H), Bacchus Marsh (A), Bye, North Ballarat (H)

The Devils shot themselves in the foot with a shock home loss to Redan on Saturday and it puts them on the back foot in the finals race. Can they bounce back and knock off East Point? That would be handy as Bacchus Marsh on the road and North Ballarat in the final round could mean an early finish to the season. That would be a devastating result after such as positive season that’s seen them bounce back up the ladder after a winless 2021 campaign.

Prediction: LL-W – 7th

BACCHUS MARSH (7-0-6, 93.40%)

Last Six: Bye, Darley (H), Redan (H), Sunbury (A)

A two-point home loss to Sebastopol couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Cobras. It basically leaves them and Darley fighting for the sixth and final finals place. The race will likely be decided in a fortnight when the pair meet at Maddingly Reserve. Surely the club couldn’t be left heart-broken two seasons in a row after the disappointment of last season when it dropped out of the top six for the first time all year in what proved the final match of the season.

Prediction: -WWL – 5th

REDAN (5-0-8, 89.20%)

Last Six: Lake Wendouree (H), Bye, Bacchus Marsh (A), Melton South (H)

Secured a marvellous win over Darley on Saturday to keep itself in the finals frame. However, the Lions will need a lot to go right from there. Redan should beat Lake Wendouree and Melton South but will need to beat Bacchus Marsh on the road to have any hope.

Prediction: W-LW – 8th

Melton South’s Mitch Fino gets a kick. Picture: Andy Brownbill

MELTON SOUTH (3-0-10, 58.16%)

Last Six: Sunbury (H), Bye, North Ballarat (A), Redan (A)

The Panthers have shown some improvement this season, knocking off eastern-bloc rivals Sunbury and Bacchus Marsh earlier in the season. South will look to complete the season sweep over the Lions this weekend to lock in ninth place and one more win than last season before a pair of tough away games to round out the campaign.

Prediction: L-LL – 10th

SUNBURY (2-0-10, 89.379%)

Last Six: Melton South (A), Melton (H), Ballarat (A), Bacchus Marsh (H)

The Lions return from the bye with a trip to Melton South in a game that will decide who finishes ninth and 10th. It's hard to see Sunbury upsetting Melton or Ballarat but we are tipping them against old foes Bacchus Marsh in the season finale.

Prediction: WLLW – 9th

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LAKE WENDOUREE (1-0-11, 59.83%)

Last Six: Redan (A), East Point (H), Sebastopol (A), Melton (A)

Gave Ballarat a major scare on Saturday, coming within six points of an almighty upset. It was a bright spot in a tough season for the Lakers. A win on paper looks to be unlikely in the final few rounds but after the weekend’s show who knows.

Prediction: LLLL – 11th