HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR will be out to leapfrog two teams and claim the Mininera and District Football League double chance when it hosts Lismore-Derrinallum at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve today.

Both teams go into the clash locked on 40 points, with the Demons holding a percentage buffer over both Ararat Eagles and Hawkesdale-Macarthur, but a healthy win for the home side could well see the side jump up into third place in the final week of the home and away season if Ararat loses, as expected.

With finals starting next week, today’s round 16 game will also give both sides a taste of finals football, with intensity to be heightened with so much at stake this afternoon.

Tatyoon v Glenthompson-Dunkeld

THE Rams will finish their season with a trek to Tatyoon Recreation Reserve to take on the Hawks.

Tatyoon has struggled this season and sit sixth and out of finals contention, while Glenthompson-Dunkeld sits in eighth and will fancy itself a chance of an upset win to finish its 2024 campaign.

Marcus Darmody is the main threat for Tatyoon up forward, kicking 76 goals from 11 games, and will need to be kept quiet if the Rams are to get the win against the Hawks.

Penshurst v Ararat Eagles

THE Bombers will be out to fine tune their performances ahead of finals when they host Ararat Eagles at Penshurst Recreation Reserve this afternoon.

Penshurst has just one loss to its name this season, and is well clear of third place, and with Ararat Eagles locked in to finals as well, it is all about experimenting and building form ahead of the finals series.

With Josh Rentsch leading the league goal tally, he and Ian Milera are vital to the Bombers’ scoring power, something Ararat is unlikely to be able to match.

Other games

CARAMUT will be out to spoil the Magpies’ party, with Wickliffe-Lake Bolac needing to win today to sew up the minor premiership.

The Swans will have home ground advantage but sits at the bottom of the ladder without a win, with the prospect of an upset victory unlikely, based on performances of both sides this season.

Moyston-Willaura and Woorndoo-Mortlake will face-off at Moyston Recreation Reserve in a clash the Tigers should win comfortably.

The Pumas have used 2024 as a development year with just the one win to date, as the seventh-placed visitors look to finish the season with a strong performance.

SMW Rovers will be at home against Great Western in finish the round, in a clash the home side will enter as favourite.

Great Western has had to move their home games this season, due to renovations at the Great Western Recreation Reserve and will once again be on the road, this time travelling to Mininera Recreation Reserve for the round 16 match-up.

Netball

HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR must win and rely on other results to progress to a Mininera and District Netball Association qualifying final next week.

The Eagles currently sit fourth and face seventh-placed Lismore-Derrinallum at Hawkesdale Recreation Reserve this afternoon in what will be the team’s last chance to tune-up for finals, which get underway next weekend.

Olivia Twaddle is closing in on 500 goals for the season and will likely pass that mark in the first week of finals and will draw plenty of attention from Demons defenders this afternoon.

Hawkesdale-Macarthur coach, Josie Barker, will be backing her side to play confident netball and put together a four-quarter effort, treating it like an early final.

Penshurst v Ararat Eagles

PENSHURST will finish its season with the unenviable task of hosting ladder leaders, Ararat Eagles.

The visitors go into the clash undefeated and raging flag favourites, and with finals out of reach for the Bombers, it will be all about pride for the home side this afternoon.

Penshurst has taken steps forward this year as a team, and went down, 25-61 in round nine, and will be hoping to close that margin today to go into the offseason with a positive mindset.

The Rentsch trio of Sophie, Katherine and playing-coach, Leah, have all shown they can play important roles, and the side will need to be at their best to be competitive against the ladder leaders.

Glenthompson-Dunkeld v Tatyoon

THE fifth-placed Rams will travel to Tatyoon to take on the second-placed Hawks in a clash which will put the visitors’ processes to the test.

Tatyoon is arguably the strongest netball club of the past decade, consistently pushing for premierships, and this year is no different.

With Maggie Astbury in goals once again, the Glenthompson-Dunkeld defenders will be kept busy, and turnovers will be critical in the midcourt to limit the Hawks’ scoreboard damage.

Jane Robertson will be a handful at the other end, with the Rams’ goalie putting up 389 goals to date in a remarkably consistent season.

Other games

CARAMUT will be eyeing off a rare win when the 10th-placed Swans host the 11th-placed Magpies.

Both teams have won just two games, with the Swans holding a percentage advantage on the ladder, and with both teams desperate for a win, it should be a good contest to watch from the sidelines.

SMW Rovers and Great Western will also be a clash to keep an eye on, with the eighth v ninth match-up also offering both sides a chance at victory.

The game will be played at Mininera Recreation Reserve, but the Lions should still be confident that their best is good enough to finish the season with a victory.

Woorndoo-Mortlake will fancy itself to get the points against wooden spooner, Moyston-Willaura, in the final game of the round.

The Pumas have only won once in 2024, while the Tigers sit third and are gearing up for a finals campaign they hope will culminate in a premiership.