THE 12 teams that make up the Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) senior grade have completed the first half of the 2024 season and now they turn for home as teams jostle for finals places with eight games remaining.

Currently there are eight teams that have a mathematical chance of playing in the finals, with the bottom four teams already looking at planning for next season.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur and Ararat Eagles sit third and fourth respectively and appear set to play finals unless a huge form slump hits either team.

That leaves Lismore-Derrinallum (seventh), Tatyoon (sixth), and Woorndoo-Mortlake (fifth) remaining to battle for a spot in the top five.

Ararat Eagles v Penshurst

THIS is the match of the round with the fourth-placed Eagles hosting the first-placed Bombers at Alexandra Oval today.

The result is more important for the home team than it is for the visitors as Ararat Eagles is equal on points with Hawkesdale-Macarthur and only one win in front of both Woorndoo-Mortlake and Tatyoon which both have very winnable games.

Penshurst is winning across the ground with no weak links in the squad as can be seen with its reserves also undefeated after eight games giving the club great depth in all positions.

A third quarter scoring flurry gave the Eagles victory against lowly Caramut last week in a game that Ararat Eagles would’ve expected to win easily.

 Thomas Cousins, Ryan Weppner, Brady Miller, Aaron Watts, Naish McRoberts, and Jordan Taylor must carry their form from that game to this clash and get even more support from the rest of the team if they are to cause an upset.

Lismore-Derrinallum v Hawkesdale-Macarthur

THIS home game for the Demons at Lismore Recreation Reserve is crucial to their hopes of playing finals as Hawkesdale-Macarthur is in form and is favourite for the clash.

The game is the first of three big clashes today that will have a great bearing on ladder positions as six teams in the top eight meet.

The Eagles have only been defeated by the top two teams and are currently riding a four-game winning form wave, with playing coach Xavier McCartney instilling a game plan that is perfect for his squad.

The Eagles have the grunt in the midfield to battle for the hard ball and the speed on the outside to get the ball to the forwards with precision, while the backs are repelling the opposition forward thrusts.

Sam Hodgins, Brady Purcell, Xavier McCartney, James North, Patrick Sinnott, and Aaron Seabrook were again in the best players last week, and these players along with the rest of the visitor’s lineup must be contained.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Tatyoon

GLENTHOMPSON Recreation Reserve hosts its first game of the season as the Rams move to their other home ground for the second half of the season as reigning premiers Tatyoon come calling.

Both teams will see the result of this game as being vital to their finals chances, but the Rams are desperate to take the points to ease the pressure of playing in the postseason.

The Hawks sit two wins clear of their hosts and can afford to drop a game, but now that they have posted victory in their last three games, they will want to carry that winning form into this one.

The hosts have suffered from unavailability and injury that has stunted the progression of the side, but those players are expected back soon, and they are desperately needed.

The Rams haven’t been far off the pace despite missing so many players, and last round they matched ladder leaders Penshurst for the first two terms only to run out of legs in the second half.

The Hawks battled to defeat Lismore-Derrinallum by 10 points which was the toughest game of the last three they have played.

Other games

THE closest contest of the remaining three games appears to be Great Western (10th) hosting SMW Rovers (ninth) at North Park, Stawell where the result has no bearing on the ladder, but it will buoy the victor moving forward.

UNDEFEATED Wickliffe-Lake Bolac hosts Caramut at Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve in what appears to be a lopsided game where the home side should win comfortably in preparation for next weekend when they travel to Penshurst for the clash of the season.

THE final game has Woorndoo-Mortlake hosting Moyston-Willaura at Woorndoo Recreation Reserve, and it will be a case of how much for the Tigers despite the best efforts of the Pumas.