The fight for the double chance has intensified in the Kingprint Lexton Plains Football League with wins to Rokewood-Corindhap and Navarre and a loss for Lexton on Saturday.
Each of those teams is now on 10 wins with crucial games over the last two rounds.
Navarre (fourth) is less likely to finish top three than the others, but it could come down to a game it will not be involved in with Rokewood-Corindhap taking on Lexton in the final round.
Navarre however won impressively at Linton over fifth placed Carngham-Linton.
The Saints led Navarre by four goals during the second term, before two late majors gave the Grasshoppers impetus going into the second half.
They piled on six third term goals to swing the advantage their way.
The Grasshoppers had no less than seven teenagers in their side, as they scored a morale boosting 13.11 (89) to 10.11 (71) win.
Wayne Driscoll kicked four Navarre goals, while Damon Aspland booted three for Carngham-Linton.
Navarre 13.11 (89) def Carngham Linton 10.11 (71)
GOALS, Navarre
Wayne Driscoll 4, Josh Rathgeber 3, Glenn Campbell 2, Josh Driscoll 1, Louis Hannett 1, Ben Martin 1, Daniel Parkin 1
Carngham Linton
Damon Aspland 3, Clint Ladiges 2, Justin O'Brien 2, Jeffrey Rosolin 1, Tom Magee 1, Jake Haeusler 1
BEST, Navarre
Ben Martin, Daniel Parkin, Chris Neilson, Lewis Baker, Josh Rathgeber, Bryce Tickner
Carngham Linton
James Rayner, Simon Jamieson, James Templeton, Brodie Doolan, Damon Aspland, Tom Magee
Rokewood-Corindhap had an even bigger struggle, with Natte-Bealiba once again taking the game right up to its more fancied opponent at Natte Yallock.
The Swans did everything but win, as they leveled up the scores at three quarter time after trailing at half time.
Grasshopper coach Tom Mullane-Grant (four goals) booted two in the final term as his team finished too strong for a plucky Natte-Bealiba, 14.6 (90) to 10.4 (64)
Stephen Ross and Jamie Andrews were in the best for the home team.
Rokewood Corindhap 14.6 (90) def Natte Bealiba 10.4 (64)
GOALS, Rokewood Corindhap
Tom Mullane-Grant 4, Xavier Ryan 3, Carl Matheson 2, Matt Chapman 2, Jason Hutchins 2, Cam Griffith 1
Natte Bealiba
Karl Morley 3, Jamie Andrews 2, Brent Mortlock 1, Brandon Mason 1, Jack Adams 1, Jamie Evans 1, Shane Mortlock 1
BEST, Rokewood Corindhap
Callan Anderson, Jason Hutchins, Stuart Matheson, Carl Matheson, Jesse Wellington, Ryan Raglus
Natte Bealiba
Stephen Ross, Brent Mortlock, Jamie Andrews, Jordan Liddle, Nathan Ross, Evan Weir
Illabarook registered its fourth win for the year, defeating an improving Ararat Eagles, 16.11 (107) to 10.9 (69).
The Eagles trailed by just 14 points at half-time but a six goal to one third term by Illabarook sealed the Eagles fate.
Coach Brett Sladdin has been reasonably happy with the Eagles over the past month, and once again would have been proud of his men, though they could not get a win.
Marcus Matthews and Brett McArthur each kicked three goals for Ararat.
Illabarook has not had an easy year with the loss of many senior experienced juniors pre-season, but it has battled on regardless.
Coach Brian Lovison had his biggest return in front of goal this year with four, as the same players led the way.
Sean Webster and Shannon Berriman were in the best once again.
Illabarook 16.11 (107) def Ararat Eagles 10.9 (69)
GOALS, Illabarook
Brian Lovison 4, Sean Webster 2, Shannon Berriman 2, Daniel Gamble 2, Brad Schiltz 2, Collin Hocking-Turnbull 1, Brendan Williams 1, Ash Webster 1, Jake Cahill 1
Ararat Eagles
Marcus Matthews 3, Brett McArthur 3, Richard O'Connell 1, Brent Bulger 1, Mark Coole 1, Luke Foster 1
BEST, Illabarook
Sean Webster, Shannon Berriman, Jake Cahill, Brendan Williams, Brad Schiltz, Daniel Gamble
Ararat Eagles
Richard O'Connell, Craig Cooper, Jack Marney, Daniel Foster, Dan O'Connell, Marcus Matthews
Skipton has survived its third big challenge in three weeks, this time overpowering Lexton at Skipton, and wrapping up the minor premiership for the league.
The Emus didn't have things all their own way as the second placed Tigers defended well to be within a goal at half time.
Lexton scored the first third term goal too to hit the front, but from that point on it was all Skipton.
Five unanswered goals had Skipton 31 points up at the last break.
The Emus cruised in from there to win by 40 points, 14.10 (94) to 7.12 (54).
Tim Beacham retains his lead on top of the goal kicking table with four goals Saturday to take his tally to 62, four goals up on Rokewood-Corindhap's Tom Mullane-Grant.
Joel Riske however upstaged Beacham with five majors.
Lexton's Tim Oliver was the only Tiger to kick more than one goal.
He finished with two.
The loss puts pressure on Lexton now to stay in the top three, but one more win should be enough for the Tigers to move into the qualifying final in week one of finals in two weeks.
Skipton 14.10 (94) def Lexton 7.12 (54)
GOALS, Skipton
Joel Riske 5, Tim Beacham 4, Matthew Hind 2, Tim Mc Kay 1, Nick Watson 1, Adam Slater 1
Lexton
Tim Oliver 2, Eamon Johnson 1, Nick Locandro 1, Cohan Poulton 1, Rob Mosby 1, Michael Smith 1
BEST, Skipton
Brendan Partridge, Cam Postlethwaite, Joel Riske, Lachlan Wilkie, Heath Anderson, Nick Watson
Lexton
Mark Shaw, Michael Smith, Brett Pryor, Lloyd Bennett, Rob Mosby, Hugh Briody
Next weeks games:
Saturday
Navarre v Skipton
Natte-Bealiba v Illabarook
Rokewood-Corindhap v Carngham-Linton
Ararat Eagles v Lexton
By Rhys Brehaut
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