Finals beckon in season’s shadow
With only two games of regular season left in Mininera and District Football League, finals are still open for any of the top seven teams.
What’s more, the final five positions are more than likely going to be determined by percentage.
Tatyoon lost its second game in a row at the weekend, to WoorndooMortlake and slipped to fourth on the ladder.
Wind played an enormous role in Tatyoon’s clash with the Tigers. The Hawks came out and took a com- manding 44-point, quarter-time lead. But the Tigers clawed their way back in the second term to face an 11-point deficit at half time.
The Hawks still led going into the final change but a 0.1 to 5.4 last quarter saw the game slip away from them.
Adrian Pilgrim managed three goals while Matthew Smith, Joe Thomson and Benjamin Uwland were best players on the day.
Tatyoon’s recent slump has resulted in them dropping from second to fourth in two weeks and if it doesn’t turn its form around this week against Glenthompson-dunkeld the Hawks might drop even further. Glenthompson-dunkeld, which has won its past two matches, is showing plenty of form at the right end of the season. Its most recent win was by 44 points over Great Western.
The Rams led all the way, with Nathan and Bevan Mcintosh managing three goals in the win.
A tussle between SMW Rovers and Lismore-derrinallum for fifth spot will continue when they play each other on Saturday.
The Rovers are only one game and 0.1 percent behind Lismore-derrinallum and a win would see them trade places in the top five. Rovers were handed the task of trying to beat the undefeated Magpies last week, with Wickliffe-lake Bolac winning by 61 points.
Although the Bulldogs managed to outscore the Magpies in the last quarter, the damage was already done.
Ben Nankervis and James Costigan were the only multiple goal-scorers for Rovers, while backmen Dan Curran, Alex Mccarthy and Tom Mcwilliam were the best players.
The Demons had a close game against Penshurst, going down by 10 points after even scores at half time.
Austin Corliss kicked three goals for Lismore-derrinallum, while Tim Glasson, having a good season, was again named best.
With a tough last round, a win here for the reigning premiers is vital for them to keep their finals hopes alive.
In other games, Great Western plays Ararat Eagles in a local derby, Penshurst takes on Hawkesdale-macarthur, Woorndoo-mortlake hosts Wickliffe-lake Bolac and Caramut, coming off its first win for the season, travels to play Moyston-willaura. The Pumas are still a mathematical chance to slip into the finals from seventh.