MAFFRA’S BIG WIN OMINOUS SIGN

Leongatha and Maffra will fight out top spot; Traralgon probably will keep third; Moe will play finals but its loss to Sale on Saturday could cost it a top three finish and a double chance, while Morwell (fifth) has a six-point buffer over Wonthaggi and Warragul.

Defending premier Maffra was ominous pushing aside one of its main challengers Traralgon by 59 points, 17-12 to 8-7.

The Eagles set the tone with a 6-5 to 1-1 first quarter.

A stark difference was that Maffra’s goals were spread among 10 players.

Traralgon had four goalkickers.

Top spot is a battle between Maffra and Leongatha, only both on 52 premiership points, and the coveted spot and week’s rest to start the finals series, will probably be decided when they meet at Leongatha in the final round.

Moe had a chance to grab third, temporarily at least, but dropped it when it became the latest victim of the improved Sale that has strung together four wins on end and continued the Lions’ “hoodoo” when it travels to Sale.

Moe has not won there since 2002.

Two of Sale’s string of wins have been against top five sides Morwell and Moe and another against a contender for 5th place, Warragul.

Warragul stayed in contention with one of its best performances to overrun Wonthaggi Power by 42 points on Saturday.

Power has dropped back to join Warragul, one-and-a-half games adrift of Morwell that came through a danger game at Bairnsdale with an 11-8 to 6-11 victory.

But the Tigers can’t count on finals yet.

They have a tough run home but Warragul and Wonthaggi also have some games against teams above them in the last three rounds.

NEXT WEEK At grounds of first named clubs.

Saturday – Traralgon v. Bairnsdale. Leongatha v. Sale. Moe v. Maffra. Morwell v. Wonthaggi Power.

Sunday – Drouin v. Warragul.