MININERA and District Football League followers will not know which team will grab the final spot in the race for the finals until the final round is run and won after round 15 of the home and away competition was completed on Saturday with three teams still in contention.

Penshurst (40 points), Glenthompson-Dunkeld (36) and Ararat (36) are all locked in battle for fourth and fifth place with Penshurst and Glenthompson-Dunkeld in prime position to advance, drawn to play Caramut and Moyston-Willaura respectively, while Ararat has to defeat Lismore-Derrinallum and hope that one of the other two loses.

ARARAT hosted Penshurst in a must win match to keep its finals hopes alive, and the home team produced a dominant performance with 30 shots on goal to only nine to win easily, 9.21 (75) – 4.5 (29).

Ararat took control of the ball and the game from the first ball-up, keeping Penshurst scoreless in the first term, but poor kicking for goal kept the margin to only 18 points at the first break.

The visitors came back in the second quarter to reduce the scoreboard gap to only eight points, but when the teams came back for the second half, the Eagles were determined to keep the Bombers from regaining a foothold in the game as they added a further seven goals to two.

Naish McRoberts, Jaydo Wright, Ben Robertson, Hayden Baldwinson, Luke Briggs and Adrian Reid were dominant for the Eagles, while Henry Bensch, Aaron Glare, Timothy Smith, Jock Nicholls, William Bester and Noah Cameron did their best for the visitors.

GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD travelled to Lismore Recreation Reserve knowing a loss would be costly leading into finals, but the Rams never allowed the Demons into the game, winning, 11.11 (77) - 4.5 (29).

Carl Joyce was named best on ground with a great performance at centre half-back, while Nathan Fall, Tyler Fehsler, Tyler Staude, Jezza Woods and Calvin Ross were also dominant in their respective roles.

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR saw its feint finals hopes extinguished by Woorndoo-Mortlake at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve, as the visitors dominated from the opening siren to come away with victory, 20.9 (129) – 7.3 (45).

The Eagles’s standouts included Hamish Gleeson, Lachlan Glare, Aaron Seabrook, Xavier McCartney, Luke Gow and Ollie Wortley.

SMW ROVERS and Great Western staged a shootout at Mininera Recreation Reserve, with the teams kicking 16 goals apiece, as the Bulldogs snuck home by two points, 16.11 (107) – 16.9 (105).

The game ebbed and flowed for each team through all four quarters, with the Bulldogs dominating the first half, while the Lions returned serve in the second only to fall just short.

WICKLIFFE-LAKE BOLAC lifted its percentage with the highest score and the highest winning margin of the season, easily accounting for Moyston-Willaura at Lake Bolac Recreation Reserve with a massive 60.30 (390) – 1.0 (6) victory.

In an incredible team performance, every player except one kicked at least one goal, as Liam Zavaglia bagged 11 majors to be named best-on-ground for the home side.

The win kept the Magpies chances of finishing second alive, as the top two teams play in the last round of home and away games and a loss for Woorndoo-Mortlake will see the Magpies leapfrog into second spot.

TATYOON had a training run against the Swans at Caramut Recreation Reserve, winning 37.24 (246) – 0.0 (0) to inflict more pain on the home side.