THE Mininera and District Football League home and away season inches closer to the end, with today’s round 15 games being the penultimate games for seven of the clubs.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur v Penshurst

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR will get a gauge of just where it sits among the best teams when it hosts Penshurst at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve today.

The Bombers are sitting pretty in second spot and will post a big threat to the home side, but the Xavier McCartney-coached side will embrace the challenge.

Penshurst is focused on building form on the field in the lead-up to finals, while Hawkesdale-Macarthur hasn’t given up on leapfrogging Lismore-Derrinallum into third position before finals.

The visitors have damaging players across the ground, and the side will go into the round 15 clash as favourites.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Ararat Eagles

THE Rams will host Ararat Eagles at Glenthompson Recreation Reserve and will be out to cost the Ararat Eagles a finals spot when they meet this afternoon.

The Eagles must win one of their two remaining games to ensure they finish in the top five, with Tatyoon just six points behind on the ladder.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld has struggled for consistency, and will be hoping for a four-quarter effort at home to get the win.

Other games

IT will be a top three battle when the Demons host the Magpies at Lismore Recreation Reserve.

Both sides will be desperate to win, with the visitors only a game clear on top, while a Lismore-Derrinallum loss would add pressure on the side to beat Hawkesdale-Macarthur next week to claim the double chance.

Wickliffe-Lake Bolac will be hoping to build winning form with finals just a fortnight away.

SMW Rovers will be favourites to knock off Caramut when they meet at Mininera Recreation Reserve.

The Swans have battled all season, playing 14 games without a win, and the home side will be eyeing today’s game off as a chance to grab a rare win, with the Bulldogs in 10th position with three wins.

Great Western will face a tough test when the Lions host Woorndoo-Mortlake.

Both teams are out of finals contention, but the home side will be desperate to notch up a fourth win of the season against the seventh-placed Tigers.

Tatyoon and Moyston-Willaura will finish the round, with the Hawks needing to win to keep their slim finals hopes alive.

The Pumas have struggled this year and the Hawks will be favourites to sing their song after the game in the home team’s changeroom.

Netball

Finalists will be hoping to get through round 15 unscathed, with the top four teams all playing lower ranked teams today.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur v Penshurst

PENSHURST must travel to Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve and upset the Eagles if the Bombers are to remain in finals contention.

The Bombers sit two games behind Glenthompson-Dunkeld, with a slight percentage deficit as well, and will be hoping for a strong performance, otherwise the team will be relying on the Rams slipping up in the final two rounds.

Olivia Twaddle is the main threat in the goal circle for the home side, and Leah Rentsch is likely to get the match-up, with the experienced Bomber and playing-coach backing herself to lead the team to an upset victory.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Ararat Eagles

THE Rams will face the toughest team in the competition, as Ararat Eagles travels to Glenthompson in a bid to remain undefeated.

Jane Robertson has been anchoring the Rams’ scoring efforts from week to week, and will need another big performance if the home side is to upset the ladder leaders.

Ararat could be tempted to throw the magnets around a bit in the lead up to finals, as the side searches for different combinations which could be needed in finals.

Other games

SMW Rovers and Caramut will face off at Mininera Recreation Reserve with the Swans eyeing off a third win of the season.

The home side sits in seventh position, while the Swans are in 10th, with a combined seven wins for the season.

Whoever wins the clash will celebrate a rare win in the penultimate game of the season.

Tatyoon will go in as raging favourite against Moyston-Willaura when the Hawks host the Pumas this afternoon.

The home side sits in second position, with just one loss for the season, and will be a tough challenge for the 11th-placed visitors, who have won just one game to date in 2024.

Woorndoo-Mortlake will travel to take on Great Western in a clash the Tigers should win.

The Lions have shown glimpses, but the Tigers are a strong club and are looking ahead to yet another finals campaign in a few weeks.

Lismore-Derrinallum and Wickliffe-Lake Bolac will concluded the round at Lismore Recreation Reserve in a eighth against 11th clash.

The Demons have five wins to their name and the Magpies will need to play well to avoid giving the home side a sixth victory of the season.