Omnia   

nthgiplogoLast Saturday’s defining clashes between the competitions top six sides not only provided spectators with an early taste of finals action, but again reshaped the makeup of the five with the finals picture continuing to intrigue.

As the competition rounds the final corner on the race to finals, jostling continues to take place between the competitions heavy weights as the front runners strategically move pieces on the chess board as they aim to secure a finals berth.

The makeup of the five and finals ambitions for some will again be under the microscope when they meet premiership contenders.

Billed with match of the round status, there will be no bigger clash then that bubbling between rivals
HEYFIELD and ROSEDALE.

Both sides come into the contest having accounted for Sale City and Yarram respectively, with the Kangaroos win against the former ladder leaders telling.

Hosting the red hot Blues who have strung together a four game winning streak over the past month. Heyfield for the third week in a row will meet a fellow final contender with the Kangaroos under no illusion as to just where their season is at.

Elevated back into the top five, the Kangaroos sit precariously in fourth position, equal on points with Yarram and Churchill who occupy the premiership ladder standings fifth through to sixth. A mere 0.94 percent separating Heyfield from Yarram, with Churchill a further 9.75 percentage points in arears.

Little can be gleaned from the sides earlier meeting which saw the honours go the way of the Blues. A
number of telling factors influenced the outcome of the contest among them the inclusion of three former AFL players to Rosedale’s line-up. The Kangaroos defence under siege, with Max Bailey’s 206cm frame causing headaches as the Blues used the height of the former Hawthorn premiership ruckman to their advantage.

Trailing by 39 points at the first change, a rattled Heyfield rallied to draw the margin back as they threatened to overrun the Blues. A precession of unanswered majors to Heyfield challenged however it wasn’t enough with Rosedale humming along to a four goal victory.

Since that day in May the Kangaroos have dropped three clashes with losses to TTU, Churchill and Yarram sides who all remain in contention for a finals berth. Heading into last round with their backs up against the wall, Heyfield responded in the fashion they only know. The Kangaroos shook things up against Sale City, as they reminded the competition of the might of last year’s runners-up.

Accounting for the competitions front runner, Heyfield will be confident that they can again match it with the number one ranked side in what is proving to be an eight point contest.

But it will be far from one way traffic with Rosedale’s depth and versatile line-up to test the home sides resolve. Little has separated the sides at the final siren, with this week’s meeting expected to be no different.

After copping an 85 point hiding from Gormandale last week, there’s no respite GLENGARRY.

Yet to win a game after 14 rounds, the Magpies must now confront a rebounding Demons outfit who were dealt their own medicine against flag favourites Rosedale.

The Magpies have lost their past three games by double-figure margins, and another tough day looms.

Delivered a body blow on their top five ambitions, YARRAM slid down the premiership ladder rungs to be teetering on the edge of the five. With Churchill waiting in the wings next week before Sale City in the final match of the season the Demons will be confident of a return to the winners list.

Locked in a three-way battle for the final two top five berths, Yarram will need to hold the Magpies at bay if they are to make their finals debut in their second season in the league.

For perennial finalists CHURCHILL their chances of playing finals come seasons end are slowly slipping from within their grasp. Relegated outside the five by percentage, the Cougars may rue the ones that got away throughout the season.

Complimenting his side’s first term efforts against the Bombers, Cougars coach Allan Chandler described his chargers intensity at the quarter time huddle as “sensational”. Going on to note that the “physicality” and the way they played the opening term was something that they needed to continue for the full four quarters.

Chandler will be looking for a return to their first term efforts from last Saturday ahead of this round when the Cougars host fellow big cats the GORMANDALE Tigers whose win loss ledger at Gaskin Park is less than complimentary.

Coming into the contest on the back of their third win of the season the enormity of this week’s contest won’t be lost on the Tigers. In a David and Goliath contest, Gormandale will be pitted against a hungry Churchill outfit who will be stinging from an opportunity lost. With a tough fortnight ahead, the Cougars fate and tilt at back to back titles will be decided with a loss to Gormandale not in the equation.

Plenty has changed since COWWARR and TTU last met. The clash proving to be a season defining one for the Bombers who went into the contest poised to loose contention with the competition front runners.

Hit hard by injury and sitting in fifth position, the Bombers now find themselves embedded in the top three a game clear from the trio of Heyfield, Yarram and Churchill with their season continuing to gain momentum.

Coming into the contest on the back of a confidence boosting 51 point victory over the reigning premiers, the Bombers can’t get too ahead of themselves. Cowwarr weren’t far off the mark last time they met, 25 points in fact. Having claimed a solid win against the Wildcats while drawing level with Sale City a fortnight ago this game could easily be a danger one for the Bombers.

The Bombers have a number of tough encounters in the closing weeks of the season against Sale City and Heyfield, with the match against a barnstorming Saints outfit ideal preparation if they are to firm their premiership credentials.

Expect the Saints to test the TTU’s resolve in a classic arm wrestle.

SALE CITY come into the contest on the back of their fourth loss of the season and their second at the hands of Heyfield.

Playing their second last home game of the season a large crowd is expected to be on hand when the Dogs host WOODSIDE. The class and depth of the Dogs proving telling in the sides earlier encounter which saw Sale City rebound from their first loss with a 59 point victory over the Wildcats.

It will be a tough assignment for the Wildcats who are yet to claim the scalp of a top five side, while the Dogs will be disappointed with their lapses in concentration that proved a telling factor in the side’s narrow 15 point loss to Heyfield and will be eager to return to the winners list in emphatic style.

By Lauren Carey