As the season draws to an end six of the leagues clubs will bid farewell to their season 2010 aspirations.
While for the top five ranked sides the season is well and truly alive, this week's hit outs allowing coaches to fine tune their game plan and squad as they look towards the Holy Grail.
Set to partake in finals for the first time since their grand final appearance in 2006, ROSEDALE will be eager to rebound from last Saturday's loss to Churchill ahead of the two clubs elimination final.
The Blues won't be taking STRATFORD lightly after the Swans hit the lead by 11 points midway through the second term in the sides round nine meeting before the Blues bolted away.
The Swans have had little chance of singing renditions of the clubs theme song this season and it will be tough ask for the side to sing it again before seasons end given the Blues form over the past two months.
The Blues have been in stellar form throughout the second half of the season and would be ruing from lost opportunities in the opening rounds which may have seen the side finish higher then fifth.
Slipping up last week against the Cougars, the Blues have accounted for Heyfield and Gormandale in past weeks and will be confident of taking the points against the Swans.
Rosedale dominated the round nine meeting winning by 110 points, the Blues had all the answers as they maintained their pressure for the full four quarters of the match in a well executed performance, which saw the side respond well to the Swans second term challenge.
The Blues defenders were solid; the engine room benefited from ruckman John Cantwells taps while the side's forward line led by Andrew Flanagan and Brad Caldwell stood up and took charge.
Stratford was well served by Beau Mynard and Glenn VanRuiswyk while Sam Breakspear was the pick of the goal kickers with two.
With further development in the off season, Stratford should improve on their win lose ledger in 2011.
TTU will host the Tigers in their final match of the season.
GORMANDALE ensured that their end of season ambitions are fulfilled, the Tigers mauling the opposition throughout the season to firm their hold on second position.
But the Tigers can't get too far ahead of themselves with the Bombers proving to be one side that has consistently proved to be a stubborn opponent when they meet Gormandale.
The Bombers showed plenty of spirit in their earlier encounter, the final term an arm wrestle as both sides went goal for goal, the Tigers coming from behind to clinch a one goal victory.
On that occasion Gormandale's charge was led on the scoreboard by Paul Richards who booted a haul of seven, Lee Stockdale was a solid contributor around the packs in a best on ground performance while Steve Hore was damaging in the backline.
For the Bombers Adam Brady was instrumental in the midfield with Justin Palmer and Michael Taplin standouts.
It won't be all one way traffic, the Bombers last week tested Heyfield and given their previous showing against Gormandale a win against the Tigers is not out of the question.
With plenty on the line, Gormandale know how important the points are in carrying momentum into the qualifying final.
GLENGARRY will be look to mark Anthony McMahons 200th senior match with victory when the Magpies host WOODSIDE who are expected to provide spirited opposition.
The Wildcats will need to refocus and regroup after last week's heavy defeat to Sale City as they look to finish the season off on the winners list.
It will require a strong team effort from the Wildcats to tame the Magpies who have become lion killers in past weeks accounting for Churchill and were 165 point winners over Stratford.
With a strong game structure and team dynamic there are very few chinks in the armor of Glengarry.
Woodside will need to counteract the Magpies many avenues to goal. Break down their defence which is one of the best in the competition while also halting the flow of the sides damaging running midfield brigade, a tough task for any side.
It has been 10 weeks since rivals COWWARR and HEYFIELD did battle, with the Kangaroos claiming the honors in their first meeting.
The sides sit side by side on the premiership ladder standings with the premiers in sixth and Cowwarr in seventh with their end of season ambitions done and dusted.
While neither side will partake in finals, both sides come off the back of comfortable wins last weekend with Saturdays match primed as one of the games of the round and should not disappoint.
The game was blown apart early with the Saints allowing Heyfield to break away, before Cowwarr put in a solid effort in the second half to match their opponent.
In that meeting Jesse Bedggood booted six for the Kangaroos with Josh Neille making the most of his opportunities in front of goal to finish with three.
Veteran Brett Szabo was named best on ground, with coach Stuart Anderson and Jordon McDonald standouts.
Cowwarr won't provide Heyfield with the same luxury second time round, and may go close to leveling the ledger at one a piece.
Minor premiers SALE CITY will host BOISDALE ahead of watching from the sidelines during the first week of finals.
Riding high off the back of their 19 goal defeat of Woodside, the Dogs go into the clash with plenty of momentum and confidence but can't afford to be complacent.
Sale City dominated the sides round nine meeting by 174 points, Jake Schuback kicked eight goals with Jake Milham and Matt Lutze scoring five a piece.
The Dogs were predictably in charge from the outset and always had the Bombers measure, City booting away to an 11 goal lead at half time, before adding 17 goals to one in the second half in what could only be described as a whitewash.
Boisdale's performance in 2010 has been indifferent the Bombers have been up and down with the side reliant on a handful of players standing tall and bearing the load all season but there have been too few others on board.
Following the sides loss to Cowwarr it is hard to see the Bombers achieving the impossible and holding the competitions number one ranked forward line at bay.
Expect the premiership favorites to coast home comfortable victors.
CHURCHILL has the BYE
WEEK ONE FINALS:
QUALIFYING FINAL - Second v Third, Saturday 21st August at Rosedale
ELIMINATION FINAL - Fourth v Fifth, Sunday 22nd August at Glengarry
By Lauren Carey
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