BRANXHOLME-WALLACEDALE has reached its last hope of playing finals in the South West District Football Netball League (SWDFNL) 2022 season as it hosts Dartmoor at Branxholme Recreation Reserve today.

Currently the Saints are two games out of the top five after they lost last week to ladder-leader Coleraine and with only five games left for the season, the Saints cannot afford to lose again if they want to play past the end of July.

Coming into round nine, the Saints were three games adrift of Heywood (who occupy fifth place) but victories in rounds nine and ten saw the Saints close the gap to only one game and it appeared they were on a roll.

However, the loss to Coleraine and a win for Heywood last weekend has the team needing to win every game from here on if it wants to play finals.

Branxholme-Wallacedale is seen as the best side outside the top five and they will have to play against the Giants, Dartmoor is one of the teams that is favoured to go all the way and win the flag.

After posting 32 goals last round, the Giants are building towards another finals campaign, and they will be looking to continue their momentum against the Saints.

Tyrendarra v Coleraine

TYRENDARRA reached its nadir last weekend against Cavendish when, the then third-placed Darras could manage only one goal for the match as the injury ravaged team battled against the Bloods.

The task doesn’t get any easier this week as it hosts Coleraine in what is arguably the toughest ask of the competition.

After their shock loss to Cavendish in round 10, Coleraine returned to form last week against Branxholme-Wallacedale by posting its tenth win of the season and possibly ending the Saints’ finals aspirations in the process.

The Darras performance against Cavendish was totally unexpected, but it was understandable due to the number of injuries that ruled many players out of the game, and it was the midfield that suffered most as the Darras struggled to win the ball.

Coleraine is likely to be without Sam Youngman, Zac Soawyer and Sam McIntosh for the game, but that only gives players from the reserves the chance to shine on the big stage.

Heywood v Cavendish

HEYWOOD enters its match against an in-form Cavendish at Heywood Recreation Reserve tomorrow knowing that it has to keep building form before finals arrive.

The Lions enter the match in a winning mindset after a strong performance against Westerns last round that halted a run of losses.

The only downside to the performance was the kicking for goal, where the side slotted 27 behinds which should have been no more than 12.

Cavendish thrashed Tyrendarra last week to claim the third rung on the premiership ladder and with the forecast for a cold fine day, the Bloods will be looking to take this form into the match.

“Generally, the Heywood boys have some bigger bodies that play a very strong game over the ball,” Cavendish coach, Clinton Thomas said.

“We’ve earmarked a few lads that we’ll be monitoring on the day but expecting to see some good match ups and a good contest on the inside.

“It’s been very pleasing the way the boys have been building throughout the season, but that said, we still feel there is a lot of room for improvement, so each week it’s about taking our footy up to that next level.

“We’re a lot more settled within our playing ranks but we’re expecting to make only a couple of minor changes this week.”

Heathmere v Westerns

HEATHMERE and Westerns meet at Heathmere in the “Battle for the Wooden Spoon” tomorrow and of course this is one “trophy” that no side wants to win.

The Meres are looking for revenge in this match after being jumped by Westerns back in round five when the two sides met at Alexandra Park in a match they were expected to win.

“We are definitely after revenge but more for self-growth than anything,” Heathmere coach, Adrian Hann said.

Heathmere is yet to win a match this season and this is its last realistic chance to break its duck due to the club having a number of serious injuries to the senior players.

“We have a lot of senior injuries at the moment but in saying that, if all 21 players can play their roles, then I’m confident we will get the four points,” Hann said.

The last time these two teams met, Westerns were able to field six players on permit due to byes in other leagues, but it remains unclear if it will happen this week.

Like most clubs, Westerns is struggling for numbers on the paddock each week and the club has had to forfeit reserves in six of the eleven rounds so far, but after the club fielded a reserves team last weekend, it’s hoped they can do so again this week.

“This game is our Grand Final (as) the loser will most likely finish with the wooden spoon, so both teams will be doing everything in their power to win,” Westerns coach, Nick Alexandrou said.

“For us to win there is not a single player on the field who we don’t need to have an impact.

“The game won’t be won on the backs of a few players but a full-team cohesive effort with the midfield battle being one to watch.”