The Courier |
LEARMONTH and Waubra will host matches during the opening weekend of the Central Highlands Football League finals series.
The league's board has set down the two venues for Sunday's encounters (August 25), but not declared which will host the second elimination and qualifying finals.
A decision on which grounds will hold Saturday's (August 24) games is likely to be made across the weekend and largely hinge on the weather and conditions of playing surfaces following the last home and away round of the season.
Tomorrow's round will determine the finals fate of Creswick and Learmonth and also sort out the top four and which teams will secure prized double chances.
The Wickers have destiny in their own hands and can clinch back-to-back finals appearances with victory over Newlyn.
Creswick coach Len Watson has already described the fixture as his team's "grand final", while Newlyn joint-coach Adam Sewell has admitted many at the Cattery would love to derail their rivals' finals dream.
Anxiously awaiting the result will be Learmonth, which must beat Skipton and hope for a Creswick defeat to lock in its first finals berth since 2009.
The other significant battle is for the top four.
Bungaree (197.42 per cent) and Hepburn (134.40) occupy third and fourth spots on the ladder, sitting four points clear of Daylesford (191.36) and Springbank (137.49) in fifth and sixth.
Both the Demons and the Burras are safe with victory against respective opponents Beaufort and Dunnstown, but could leave themselves open should they suffer a surprise defeat.
LADDER
Buninyong 64 points, 325.20 per cent
Waubra 60, 215.64
Bungaree 48, 197.42
Hepburn 48, 134.40
Daylesford 44, 191.36
Springbank 44, 137.49
Gordon 40, 139.02
Creswick 32, 123.17
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Learmonth 32, 95.55
Skipton 28, 83.90
Newlyn 26, 92.76
Ballan 24, 86.90
Clunes 24, 81.81
Carngham Linton 22, 81.95
Beaufort 20, 73.19
Dunnstown 16, 60.97
Rokewood-Corindhap 4, 34.02
Illabarook 0, 17.89
