A top five position on the premiership ladder will be the reward awaiting Penshurst, Glenthompson-Dunkeld or Hawkesdale-Macarthur should these teams prevail in round eight of the Mininera and District Football League today.

Penshurst and Hawkesdale-Macarthur will meet at Penshurst Recreation Reserve with both teams entering the game in winning form after posting victories last weekend.

The Eagles make the road trip to Penshurst with victories in their last two games and have the Bombers firmly in their sights to make it three in a row.

With Penshurst only winning once at home to date this season (against Ararat in round one), Hawkesdale-Macarthur must be confident of defeating the Bombers on its home patch.

Henry Bensch has only enhanced his reputation this season for Penshurst, regularly named in the best players along with Jack Kruger and Jacob Mibus.

The visitors need James North, Ollie Wortley and Lachlan Glare to continue riding their form wave in this match for the side to claim the points and a top five ladder spot.

Other games

GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD must halt its run of losses today against SMW Rovers at Dunkeld Recreation Reserve if it wants to feature in finals action.

The Rams have dropped their last three games after opening their campaign with four victories, and as a result have fallen out of the top five.

Currently the Rams are seventh, but have the worst percentage of the top eight teams in the league.

Rovers have won only once this campaign, but they battled hard against Ararat at home last round and are not far away from that second win.

FOURTH-PLACED Ararat Eagles host second placed Wickliffe-Lake Bolac at Alexandra Oval with the visitors, along with Tatyoon, being the form side of the competition.

The Magpies lost to the Eagles by three points in their only loss for the season, while the Lions fell to Tatyoon and Penshurst in the same period, and despite playing at home, the Eagles will have to be at the top of its game to take the points.

GREAT WESTERN and Woorndoo-Mortlake meet at Great Western Recreation Reserve with the hosts coming off a poor performance against Hawkesdale-Macarthur, while the visitors thrashed Moyston-Willaura, as Jesse Horan had a day out, kicking 18 goals.

The Tigers are expected to win which will open the door for lower-placed teams to grab a top five spot, as the Lions drop out.

LISMORE-DERRINALLUM is expected to post win number three for the season against cellar dwellers Caramut at Derrinallum Recreation Reserve, as the Swans are yet to taste victory, while undefeated ladder leader, Tatyoon, should easily account for Moyston-Willaura at Willaura Recreation Reserve.

PENSHURST must defeat Hawkesdale-Macarthur today at Penshurst Recreation Reserve if it wants to bridge the gap with its visitors on the Mininera and District Netball Association A grade premiership ladder.

In the last three rounds, the Bombers has a record of win-bye-win record, while the Eagles have recorded a loss-win-win in the same period with the victories being substantial.

The loss the Eagles suffered was at the hands of the undefeated Tatyoon, but even then, they managed to score 30 goals which is far more than other teams have managed against the Hawks.

Lydia Ewing was on fire for Penshurst last round against Caramut, dominating in the goal circle and in the midcourt, and the Eagles must nullify her impact on the game if they are to be a chance of winning.

The visitors will want Josephine Barker and Laura Addinsall to carry their own form into the game too, as the Eagles seek to extend the gap between the sides on the ladder.

Other games

WITH a major individual milestone being celebrated by the Glenthompson-Dunkeld team today, Dunkeld Recreation Reserve may well witness the Rams maiden victory for the season as SMW Rovers come visiting.

No doubt the aim will be to help Naomie Phillips celebrate game 250 with a win, but the home side needs to put a mark in the win column to boost morale.

Rovers will look to GA, Lauren Williams, to continue her good form from last round even though the Bulldogs lost.

LISMORE-DERRINALLUM occupies the second rung of the ladder, having only lost a game by a goal against Ararat, and will host Caramut at Derrinallum Recreation Reserve today.

The Swans are a better side than their seventh placing suggests, and will pose a huge threat to the Demons this afternoon, with Olivia Meade set to be critical to the result.

 GREAT WESTERN must defeat Woorndoo-Mortlake today at Great Western Recreation Reserve if it wants to have any chance of playing finals.

With only a single victory to date, the Lions must reverse their form and take the game to the Tigers with precision passing and tight defence, otherwise the Tigers will trounce the home side.

TATYOON travels to Willaura Recreation Reserve this afternoon to tackle lowly Moyston-Willaura in a game where the undefeated Hawks are expected to boost their already considerable percentage.

The Pumas are aware nobody except their most ardent supporters believe they can win, but underdogs have a way of proving pundits wrong, and it will take a combined effort and belief from the entire A grade squad to knock off the flag favourites.