By Peter Wilkie

 

The round up is back. Apologies to any regular readers for not providing an update last week.

 

With just two home and away rounds remaining, the battle for position in the Bendigo Bank Central Highlands FL final five just gets hotter.

 

There is a very likely possibility that the Final Five spots will not be decided until the final siren blows on Saturday the 18th, as all possible finalists have games against other finalists in the last 2 weeks.

 

Here’s a list of the remaining possibilities.

 

DAYLESFORD (1st) Games to come: Newlyn, Dunnstown

Likely finish: Will finish on top, at least one game clear.

 

WAUBRA (2nd) Games to come: Dunnstown, Bungaree

Likely finish: 2nd although could drop to 3rd if they lose both.

 

HEPBURN (3rd) Games to come: Learmonth, Springbank

Likely finish: 3rd although could drop to 4th if they lose 1, and Dunnstown win both, or second if Waubra drop both.

 

DUNNSTOWN (4th) Games to come: Waubra, Daylesford

Likely finish: 4th With the toughest draw, the Towners could drop right out of the five, but will likely hang on to a finals spot if Waubra can beat Bungaree in the last round.

 

LEARMONTH (5TH) Games to come: Hepburn, Buninyong

Likely finish 6th The Lakies could finish as high as 4th, but will have to beat Hepburn, and then thrash Buninyong.

 

BUNGAREE (6th) Games to come: Buninyong, Waubra

Likely finish 5th the team in the hottest form until the narrow loss to Hepburn, Bungaree could leapfrog Learmonth (again) back into 5th this week.

 

This weekend’s blockbusters include Learmonth vs Hepburn, at a venue to be confirmed due to the disappointing condition of the Learmonth ground, Dunnstown vs Waubra and Bungaree vs Buninyong.

 

The goal kickers table has been turned on its head in the past couple of rounds, as Bungaree’s Bryce Nicholson has rocketed to the lead, on the back of 32 goals in the past 3 weeks.

 

Waubra’s Lee Brown has dropped to 3rd after missing the game against Buninyong.

 

Leading Goalkickers (after Round 15)

B. Nicholson (Bung) 84 (3 this week)

L. Cox (Hep) 79 (1)

L. Brown (Wau) 78 (DNP)

A. Tranquilli (Spring) 55 (0)

A. McKay (Hep) 49 (2)

 

---

 

In other CHFL news, Clunes and Beaufort both notched up their 3rd wins for the year, over Gordon and Springbank respectively.

 

Ballan was thrashed by the rampaging Daylesford, with some observers concerned about the way the game was played.

 

Some problems seem to be developing down Ballan way. Coach Malcolm Scott was nowhere to be seen for 2 rounds, match winner Hayden Cartledge hasn’t played for the past 2 weeks, and stories abound of some nasty behaviour in the Daylesford game.

 

Let’s hope the Blues can put it back on track for the last couple of games, and then look forward to a better year with luck and injuries in 2008.