And Leopold is following a similar path as it fights for its football life in the next fortnight.

After claiming the minor premiership and challenging for the flag last season, the Lions have found themselves clinging on to fifth place on the GFL ladder.

But the early-season premiership favourite is in serious danger of missing September.

And the heat is on.

With two matches to compete the home and away season, Leopold faces the real prospect of having to win both games to qualify for an elimination final.

Granted, the Lions will beat Geelong West-St Peter’s on Saturday, there’s simply too much at stake to drop that one.

Though, they might have to produce one of the upsets of the season in Round 18 against St Joseph’s to stay alive.

Bell Park proved Joeys are beatable — inflicting their first loss on Saturday — but the Dragons are peaking at the business end of the season. Leopold is limping to the line.

They were disappointing against the Tigers, albeit losing under duress with a host of stars battling a bout of the flu, but dropped a golden opportunity to remain in the hunt for a double chance.

Steve Clark’s men also left the door wide up for Newtown & Chilwell to grab the final spot in the five.

The Eagles will chalk up win No. 10 against wooden spooners Lara, placing them equal with Leopold on 44 premiership points heading into the last round.

Then it comes down Newtown’s clash with Colac at Elderslie Reserve.

Given the Eagles had the Tigers’ measure back in Round 5, and thrashed finals-bound Grovedale last week, it appears likely Newtown will triumph and leapfrog Leopold into fifth spot.

That all changes, of course, if the Lions can upstage St Joseph’s at Memorial Park.

Grovedale is not out of the woods, either.

Having put up an uncompetitive performance against Newtown, and falling out of the top three in the process, the boys from Burdoo also have some nervous moments in the next fortnight.

It seems likely they will go down to the Dragons this weekend, meaning they could be out of the top five come five o’clock on Saturday.

The Tigers’ saving grace could be a Round 18 clash with Lara, lifting them back into the fold provided results go their way.

Bell Park, seemingly struggling to be in the finals race mid year, could find itself in the top two.

The Dragons should beat Grovedale and St Albans, and with Colac likely to lose to St Joseph’s and Newtown & Chilwell, they would replace Paul Lynch’s men in second.

The final order appears academic, though, with Colac and Bell Park likely to play off in the qualifying final as St Joseph’s put the feet up.

It all shapes as a bumper lead-up to the finals, with St Albans still a mathematical chance of sneaking in.

David Wojcinski is desperate to prolong his coaching career by at least another week, while Clark is determined to avoid the embarrassment of crashing out of the race.

St Joseph’s will carry the weight of expectation after a dominant season and Colac will press for back-to-back flags.

Grovedale is determined to break a long premiership drought and Bell Park, a powerhouse of the modern era, wants more silverware.

And it will all be decided in two pulsating weeks of football.