THERE are three Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) clubs that have five games to determine not only their own fates but also those of the others, as Glenthompson-Dunkeld, Penshurst and Hawkesdale-Macarthur battle for a finals place in 2023.
After 12 rounds, Glenthompson-Dunkeld and Penshurst are locked together on 28 premiership points along with Ararat, while Hawkesdale-Macarthur is two games in arrears of these three teams.
Only the top three teams on the ladder, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac, Tatyoon and Woorndoo-Mortlake have booked a spot in the finals with five games of the home and away season to come, and with only two other spots available the four teams vying for them must continue to win.
Being two games shy of the other three, the Eagles are most in danger of missing the chance to play finals, as a loss in any of the five rounds will see it drop from contention.
They have the toughest ask of all those in contention as they host ladder-leaders Wickliffe-Lake Bolac today at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve, and they simply must win to stay alive.
The Eagles had a very good victory in the wet and cold last Saturday when they hosted SMW Rovers to post a stunning 12-goal to nil second half and run away with a 90-point win.
Of course, the new top dogs will be a whole different story today, and the Eagles will have to play to the highest standard if they are to post a victory.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Caramut
THE Rams will be looking to post a percentage-boosting victory against the out-of-form Caramut at Glenthompson Recreation Reserve today.
The home side was well served by DJ Woods, Sam McConachy, Tyler Fehsler, Ben Cole, Tim Kealy and Nathan Fall as Tom Waters slotted five goals against Great Western last Saturday to hang onto fifth spot.
The less said about the Swans performance last round the better, except to say that the side has hopefully reached its nadir for 2023 and the rebuilding begins this afternoon.
Great Western v Penshurst
THE Lions host this game at Great Western Recreation Reserve knowing that the Bombers are riding a form wave that has seen the visitors topple the once undefeated Tatyoon and Moyston-Willaura in its last rounds.
To defeat the Hawks is a huge boost to the Bombers, they cannot afford to drop this game as Glenthompson-Dunkeld should claim the points from its game.
Aaron Glare, Edward Rentsch, Jayden Watson, Sam Weston, Sam Wilson, Henry Bensch and the rest of the Penshurst side are in great form, and they need to display it again this afternoon.
Woorndoo-Mortlake v SMW Rovers
WOORNDOO Recreation Reserve will host both teams and the Tigers will take the points, thereby cementing third spot even further than it already has.
The Bulldogs put up a strong showing in the first half against Hawkesdale-Macarthur last Saturday but fell away badly in the second half as they failed to kick a major in the last two terms.
Tatyoon v Ararat
TATYOON lost its place atop the ladder despite winning by 106 points as Wickliffe-Lake Bolac took full advantage of a percentage-boosting win over Caramut to assume the ladder lead from the Hawks.
Today, Tatyoon hosts Ararat at Tatyoon Recreation Reserve and no doubt it wants to occupy the top rung again and will be looking to dislodge the Tigers by defeating the Eagles by a substantial margin.
Moyston-Willaura v Lismore-Derrinallum
BACK in round one when all teams were fresh and had high hopes for the 2023 season, Lismore-Derrinallum thrashed the Pumas by 166 points to start its season with a bang.
Move forward 10 rounds and the Demons have posted only one more win while the Pumas have also added a tick in the win column.
The Demons will add to their tally today at Moyston Recreation Reserve while the home side looks towards 2024 and a full rebuild of the club.
