The next month of North Gippsland Football may determine the fate of five clubs end of season ambitions, as sides fight to stay in contention with the top four sides.As the season embarks on the second round of the fixture, there have been a number of highlights that has shaped the opening rounds.
The emergence of the leagues newest club Woodside, the addition of a number of former Australian Rules Footballers and the evenness of the competition would feature on the highlights reel.
Ladder leaders Heyfield will enjoy the weeks break before the top of the table show down against Woodside, which may see the Kangaroos unleash their star recruit.
Woodside have surpassed many critics’ expectations of the side’s abilities in their second season.
While a number of sides outside the five continue to provide surprise performances week in week out in one of the most even seasons.
Remarkably four points separates fifth placed Gormandale from Cowwarr in ninth.
Reigning premiers Churchill have dropped away over the past two weeks and will be eager to get their season back on track against last years grand finalists.
Boisdale continue to win away from home but struggle on their small paddock.
Rosedale and Sale City have enjoyed mixed results, likewise TTU who caused one of the early upsets accounting for Churchill.
Stratford and Cowwarr have accounted for classy opposition in past weeks, and have proven that they are not too far off the mark.
A mounting injury toll didn’t hamper GLENGARRY who took the match up to premiership favorite Woodside last Saturday.
Set to cause one of the biggest upsets of the season the Magpies have been the hard luck story of 2009.
The side hasn’t recorded a victory since round three, and in the past two weeks has watched matches slip from their grasp by a total of 12 points.
Saturday will see the Magpies host the in form COWWARR.
The Saints have remarkably turned their season around, Cowwarr one of the competitions in form sides.
The Saints secured their third victory on the run with a dominating performance against Sale City, the win elevating Cowwarr to eighth position.
Cowwarr sit one win from a berth in the five, quiet remarkable when five weeks ago they had yet to open their season account and look destined for the wooden spoon honors.
The Magpies now occupy bottom place the side cursed with injury after injury, with the squad adapting well to cover the depth which has been lost.
A win isn’t too far off for the Magpies, but the question that remains is will they have the depth to match the young Saints who are marching towards victory?
GORMANDALE will host CHURCHILL a large crowd expected for the Tigers Centenary Premiership celebrations along with the 1989 senior premiership reunion.
The current day Tiger players will be playing for a tilt at premiership glory with the side needing to add another finalist’s scalp to their tally.
Gormandale has only defeated Boisdale who sit inside the five. With the side suffering heavy defeats to Churchill and Heyfield, while the margin was seven points against the Wildcats in round three.
A win against Churchill will demonstrate the Tigers are a true finals contender and will continue to maintain some breathing space between the four sides below them outside the five.
The Cougars have dropped their past two matches which is somewhat of a rare occurrence that has been rarely seen in past seasons from the perennial finalists.
Churchill will have to dig deep, with the grand final replay set to be a spirited contest with the Cougars to break their loosing streak.
SALE CITY’s final ambitions suffered a massive blow with the Dogs convincingly downed by Cowwarr last Saturday.
Set to meet TTU who sit equal on the ladder with the Dogs, Sale will be looking to repeat their early season victory over the Bombers in a return to the winners list.
A win is essential in ensuring both sides remain in contention with the middle of the ladder pack.
The Dogs got off to a rampaging start to the season which saw the side occupy top place for a number of weeks, but the side has come up against some stiff opposition over the past six weeks which sees the side’s ledger sit at two wins to four.
City appears to be carrying more momentum into the match then the opposition and should benefit from the home ground advantage.
Enduring an inconsistent season ROSEDALE will meet third placed BOISDALE.
The Bombers strengthened their standing as the next-best contender to the premiership race dominated by Heyfield and the emerging Woodside with a solid win last round.
Boisdale have taken all before them in the first half of the season accounting for Churchill, Heyfield and Woodside the only side to have beaten all three.
This weeks clash will challenge the visitors who narrowly fell to the Blues in round one.
However considering the Bombers current form, Rosedale will need to pull together one of their best performances of the season to steal the points.
The eight remaining members of WOODSIDES 1949 premiership side will watch the Wildcats eagerly from the boundary when they host the Swans.
The new breed of Wildcat will be out to impress the club stalwarts as the side works towards creating their own premiership glory.
Woodside has won seven of their nine clashes to date, with a finals berth perhaps confirmed with a potential minor premiership title to be seized.
STRATFORD will make what is now becoming the toughest trip on the fixture when they travel down the South Gippsland Highway to tackle the Wildcats.
Surprising all the week prior to the bye with their two point win against Churchill, the Swans will again go into the match with the underdog status but will be sure to pressure the home side.
Showing continued improvement Stratford put the competition on notice after their win against Churchill.
Woodside will be aware the threat the Swans pose and will be wary of them come Saturday.
HEYFIELD has the BYE
By Lauren Carey
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