With the elimination final only 14 days away, the race is on to see who will contest the knock out round. Four sides remain in contention following TTU conceding the one game buffer they had over Churchill who sit poised on the premiership rung below the Bombers.

Just as close Heyfield and Yarram appear poised to seal their eleventh win ahead of round 18, the concluding round which will decided just exactly who makes finals with four of the top six sides going into battle.

But before then an attractive contest awaits with last season’s giant killers to meet their match in Saturday’s standout contest.

A solid final term by CHURHILL handed the Cougars a much needed victory against fancied opposition as the reigning premiers looked to firm their hold on a finals berth.

Breaking the shackles to jump the Demons in the early stages of the final term, the Cougars will need to draw on that same intensity when they play host to ladder leaders ROSEDALE.

The Blues come into the contest on the back of a comfortable victory and will be confident of their chances against the Cougars given the result in their earlier encounter. On that occasion the Blues held the Cougars to their lowest score of the season, 33 points, on the way to romping home comfortable 88 point victors.

Renowned for their hard physical contests the stage is set for yet another epic encounter. Fresh off the back of a 29 goal thumping of Glengarry, the Blues have hummed along in the second half of the season bouncing back from their loss to Sale City to extend their winning streak to six on the way to knocking the Dogs from the top post.

On the other hand the Cougars for the second time this season accounted for the Demons holding them at bay, claiming a narrow 10 point victory. The win the sides fifth of the second half of the fixture.

Like their counterparts the Blues run and drive off half back is second to none with their ability to score on the rebound impressive. The two sides boast hard at it fleet footed midfield brigades which will ensure an enticing contest from the opening bounce. The ruck stocks at both clubs command respect, while the forward line structures will see the back six of either side stretched if they allow too much room.

Sitting level with the Bombers on points the match is not only a must win for Churchill, with the stakes just as high for the ladder leaders who boast a mere two point buffer over Sale City in second position. With a finals berth on the line for the home side and a week’s break along with the title of minor premiers within the reach of Rosedale, there is little doubt that the one sided result of round eight will not be repeated second time around.

Starting strongly with a blistering five goal straight opening term COWWARR faded away against Gormandale. It will be something that the Saints will look to avoid against YARRAM who punished the opposition for their lack of intensity after quarter time in their previous meeting.

On that day little separated the sides, the margin four points at the first change, before the Demons staked their claim booting 1.4 (10) to 10.9 (69) on their way to registering their fourth straight victory at home.

Plenty has changed since round eight, the Demons sat comfortably in second position at the conclusion of the round, in contrast seven weeks on the side finds themselves relegated outside the five equal on points with Heyfield. Finals remain very much in the equation for the Demons and when you consider the evenness of the competition and log jam as clubs jostle for positions third through to six, Saturday is a must win for Yarram ahead of a final round show down against Sale City.

HEYFIELD flexed their muscle last Saturday as the Kangaroos moved back into the top five on the back of a healthy percentage boosting victory. With their positon in the five not yet confirmed the Kangaroos must win this week to ensure that they remain in the hunt in what will be a defining concluding round of the home and away fixture.

Feeling the effects of the competition front runners GLENGARRY coach Robbie Cahill will need to rally and refocus the young Magpies at the nest with the side aiming for a competitive showing.

Like many sides the Magpies have felt the effects of injury and player availability which has caused Cahill to continue to make an inordinate amount of changes at the selection table each week a similar position that many of the competitions main men find themselves in.

It will be a tough task for the visitors, the Magpies cavalry will be stretched, the side’s midfield and defence will be tested, while they will need to boot a winning score to snatch what may be an impossible victory against a quality opponent.

Boasting a stronger more experienced list with a hard working backline, tall timber forward structure and a damaging engine room the Kangaroos will have too many winners around the ground and should have no trouble securing the points.

Pushed by third placed Bombers last week, SALE CITY will be mindful of the challenge that
GORMANDALE pose with the lesser ranked Tigers claiming bragging rights when the Dogs travelled over the hills.

Both sides come into the contest on the back of victory, the Tigers superb after a goalless opening stanza. Having demonstrated that they can match it with the competition front runners, while also reducing their losing margin to under five goals, the Tigers remain a work in progress having performed strongly against opposition sides in patches. But it is the side’s inability to string a solid four quarter effort together that has hindered the Tigers roar and seen them concede what should have been more wins against their season ledger.

Troubling Churchill a fortnight ago, the Tigers are in a purple patch and know that the Dogs have plenty on the line. With top of the table Rosedale set to do battle with Churchill, the opening is there for City to again make a move into first position on the premiership ladder standings. But before then they will need to account for the Tigers.

WOODSIDE will play out their final home game of the season, and for the second week running host a top five opponent.

Boasting a healthy percentage, TTU will be confident that they can snatch a top five berth and indeed a prized double chance leading into the first week of finals. It is a must win clash for the Bombers, and indeed a season defining one if they are to remain in the hunt.

The quartet of Brian Graham, Stephen Hawkins, Chase Saunders and Leigh White made the forward line their own back when the sides met in May. Lighting up the crowd as they took strong marks, booted goals from impossible angles and showed off their soccer skills, booting 19 of the sides 27.19(181) to 8.11 (59) score line.

If the Wildcats defence allows the small danger forwards the same amount of room a similar result is likely.

By Lauren Carey