Round 19

"I saw Oscar Willding struggling earlier in the year and I didn't want to get to that stage"

Bulldog Mitch Dinneen on his decision to sit out the remainder of the season

The Headline

Wodonga have been dealt another season-ending injury blow - Mitch Dinneen deciding it's in his best interest not to compete again this year after suffering concussions against the Roos in R4 & again in R10 against the Pigeons.

He joins co-coach little Jack O'Sullivan (shoulder), forwards Noah Spiteri (knee) & Ethan Redcliffe (back), plus big Jack O'Sullivan (ankle) as things just keep getting tougher for the Doggies.

Around the Grounds

North have dropped their 2nd match this season with a shot after the siren, defender Jack King's long range shot to tie the Hall of Fame Showdown falling short.

Having taken out the 2nd & 3rd placed Hoppers & Rovers in consecutive weeks, Lavi might be left to wonder what could have been - losses in R1 to the Raiders (1 goal) & R5 to the Rovers (3 points), plus giving up the final 7 goals against the Saints in R13 to lose by 7 points all likely to haunt the Panthers.

Match of the Round

There's too many gems pick just the one this week, with implications for 2nd to 7th.

Rovers host North in a top 3 clash, the looser facing the very real prospect of failing in their bid for the double chance.

Wang head to Lavi in an effort to both end the Panthers season once & for all, all the while chasing their own ambitions of a top 3 finish with the Roos & Raiders in their sights.

Wodonga cross the border to resume hostilities with old foes Albury in another fight for survival, the looser likely to find it very difficult to sneak back into finals contention.

Form:

Rovers (3-2) - North (3-2)

Lavi (2-3) - Wang (3-2)

Albury (4-1) - Wodonga (2-3)

Last Time:

Rovers beat North by 40 points

Pies beat Lavi by 62 points

Dogs beat Albury by 11 points

Tips:

Rovers, Wang & Albury

"Suddenly, the match at Lockhart is going to have huge ramifications for both sides"

Co-coach Andrew Mackinlay as the Brookers top 2 hopes enter questionable territory

The Headline

Murray's Spencer Jones has been rubbed out for the remainder of the season, more than a week on from the actual incident against RWW.

The Giants asked the question of the Match Review Panel, the footage of a crude bump on Giant Fraser Elliott nasty enough not to offer a sanction & referred straight to the tribunal.

Elliott has entered concussion protocols, missing against last week against Lockhart & this v Henty.

Around the Grounds

It looked like another Power fadeout against a top 6 opponent, held goalless by Holbrook in the second term at Coreen.

But in storming home with 8 of the last 12 - including 5.4 to 1 straight in the final term, the Power announced to the league it was no fluke the first time around, and that they're not to be taken lightly.

Further bad news for the Brookers as well, jet Brad Carman doing a hammy that might see him miss the remainder of the home & away.

Lockhart flew out of the gates, never really giving the Giants any hope.

The only question mark for the Dees was accuracy, but the sheer weight of numbers never caused genuine concern, with more than double (+18) the looks at goal.

Billabong produced a riveting 5 goal to 1 second quarter to take control, having been jumped by Murray.

The Crows took complete control from that point, but were another team to fail to capitalise when they had all the play.

Goalkickers

🏉 Murray's NT recruit Mick Mummery was the only Pie to look likely, bagging 6 of his side's 8

🏉 Spider Connor Clarke & Crow Cooper Vickery picked themselves a handful in their respective wins

🏉 The Dees had 5 multiple goalkickers as their fortress held strong, headed by James McDermott & Jordy Harrington with 3 each

Match of the Round

(4) CDHBU v Jindera (5)

Whilst the Power & Dogs are simply jostling for position with the Dees & Giants for the final make-up of the 6, this one's significant for both.

Although both impressive, The Power's only 2 wins against top 6 teams have been over Holbrook. They must prove they're capable of taking out another finals contender.

Meanwhile, the Doggies have faltered of late after a strong start, largely owing to injury. They have to sort their form out in the run to finals.

Form: CDHBU (4-1) - Jindera (2-3)

Last Time: R4 - Doggies by 19 points

Tip: Power by 10 points

"We rate our depth as the best in the competition"

Chiltern co-captain Jayden Vandermeer on covering some big outs

The Headline

If Hopper James Breen is to take back top of the goalkickers from Barny's Jack Chesser, then this week is the time.

Chesser stole the lead with a massive bag of 18 against the Bombers, but 11 goals for Breen against the similarly vulnerable Wahgunyah seems very doable.

Around the Grounds

The Bombers haven't had a great deal to celebrate this season, but getting a win on the board is certainly one, dismantling the Lions by near 20 goals.

Thurgoona have been dealt a reality check a week after taking out the reigning premiers - thumped to the tune of 78 points by the Roos,  who look increasingly destined to take that mantle.

KSC have kept their faint top 3 hopes alive, accounting for the Mountain Men at Eskdale.

A few things still need to go their way though, a Chiltern loss this week, and a Hawks win over the Bushies next would be handy, but the return of Josh Hicks was no doubt a welcome sight for the brown & gold.

Goalkickers

🏉 Mick Collins had a day out, heading the Bombers 6 goalkickers with 6 himself

🏉 Beechworth's Connor Stone backed up his last effort against the Saints, bagging another 6

🏉 Nick Donaghey was again the focal point for the Roos, snagging a handful

Match of the Round

(1) Yack v Chiltern (3)

Yack have been simply devastating, near untouchable since dropping their first 2 games to the Hawks & Bushies. They've had their revenge over both in the past month, and if they take this week's points over the reigning premier, then flag favouritism is well & truely theirs.

The Swans though, will be desperate to sow up a top 3 finish, & more importantly, get their own revenge for their earlier embarrassment at home to the Roos. The already tough ask is made all the more, with guns Kyle Cooper & Mark Doolan ruled out.

Form: Yack (5-0) v Chiltern (3-2)

Last time: R6 - Roos by 50 points

Tip: Roos by 30 points

"We want everyone to stick by and stick together because it’s what local footy clubs are all about"

Tarra co-coach Justin Hoggan reflects on reward for effort

The Headline

Tarrawingee have pulled off their finest win of the season, holding a 2 point lead at every change until breaking Moyhu's back in the final to record a 9 point win.

Looking more like a thirds outfit - 11 of their team aged 18 or under on the weekend - the Doggies showed maturity beyond their years to finish off strong when the game was up for grabs.

Around the Grounds

North Wang fell victim to Bonnie Doon, but will surely be greatful for the Bombers inaccuracy.

For the Hawks to manage just 12 scoring shots to 27 & only go down by 35 points, well, that's near on a win for their finals hopes.

Not so for King Valley, handed a 70 point lesson by Greta.

Already struggling on the percentage front, facing up to the reigning premiers this week is unlikely to do the Roos any favours.

A competitive opening term quickly gave way to a Whorouly rout.

Scoreless in the second & only a point in the 3rd, the Lions were powerless to stop Bright, who slammed on 9.9 in that same time & another 9 goals in the final term.

Goalkickers

🏉 Cody Crawford was the main target up forward for the Blues with 8

🏉 Milawa's Jared Lea & Bright's Cooper Thomason both headed their respective goalkickers, bagging 6

🏉 Doon's Matt Hedin & Bright's Declan Bren were next best with 5

Match of the Round

(6) Goorambat v Milawa (4)

The bye came at the right time for Goorambat, having let one slip away at Whitfield that many thought might have been in the books for the Bats.

Hopefully the week's rest has done some good, because they come up against a team just starting to show a bit of the danger they promised at the start of the season in Milawa.

Form: Goorambat (2-3) - Milawa (4-1)

Last time: R10 - Dees by 31 points

Tip: Dees by 40 points

"I feel Tumbarumba aren't that much better than us"

Corryong coach Dan McCarthy ahead of their first final

The Wrap

Well, everyone's played each other 4 times around, and no one is really any closer to the flag.

Corryong had the toughest season of all, managing just the one win.

Tumba's highlight came with former Hawthorn superstar Matt suckling appearing for a one off R8 upset of Bullioh.

Bullioh have narrowed the gap on the reigning premiers, and although not yet getting the job done, they've set the stage for a big time upset.

Cudgewa have gone through a second consecutive season undefeated on their path to back to back champion seasons.

Goalkickers

🏉 Guy Telford - Cudgewa - 71

🏉 Ash Murray - Bullioh - 39

🏉 Ben Hall - Cudgewa - 30

1st Semi

(3) Tumba v Corryong (4)

The Dees got their only win of the season against the Roos a month ago, but were absolutely destroyed a fortnight later at Tumbarumba.

Dees coach Dan McCarthy might be kidding himself, but, you've got to be in it to win it.

Form: Tumba (2-3) - Corryong (1-4)

Last time: R11 - Roos by 118 points

Tip: Roos by 40 points