Round 20

"We haven't dwelt on injuries, teams are going to get injuries... Just because we've had a worse run than most, there's no reason to sook about it"

A stoic Wodonga coach Jack O'Sullivan

The Headline

Unbelievably, Wodonga have found themselves back in the 5.

After their R1 loss to the reigning premiers, the Doggies put six straight on the board, stunning Wang, Albury & the Rovers in the process.
Then, cruelled by seemingly weekly season-ending injuries (6 by R10), their fate appeared written when dropping the next 5.

To respond under siege for their second win against the Tigers this year is beyond impressive.

If they manage to retain 5th, no one would've earned it more.

Around the Grounds

The Rovers ran rampant in the second half with 7 unanswered, mid-season recruit Ed Dayman suring them up structurally & allowing Al Marklew to get off the chain.

With 2 games to play v Yarra & Wodonga, the Hoppers look likely to forfeit the second chance.

An inaccurate Wang made life difficult for themselves, but managed steady with sheer weight of numbers (+8 scoring shots) to shut the door on Lavi's finals prospects.

With the extra game up their sleeve - including the Roos & Raiders - the Pies look likely to clinch 3rd spot from North.

With the game in the bag at the final break - 17 goals to 1 - Stevie J had the Pigeons take the foot off the pedal, allowing the Raiders to make the most of some junk time scoring.

With the minor premiership all but secured, who'd want to risk further injury? Particularly after Leigh Masters blew his ACL in the opening minutes.

Goalkickers

🏉 Saint Lachy Dale returned from a 7 week lay-off to bag 8 majors against Corowa, but Roo Sam Dunstan went blow for blow, also with 8

🏉 Rover Al Marklew found a bit of space with another big man taking some attention away, jagging 6

🏉 Pigeon Leigh Williams kicked a handful, narrowing the gap to 13 in his chase of Hopper Josh Minogue for the Doug Strang

Match of the Round

(1) Yarra v Albury (6)

Form never matters when the two powerhouses of the league meet, evidenced by the Tiges dealing the Pigeons their only loss in 26 matches.

With it all on the line now for the yellow & black to keep alive hope of a 15 year finals streak, plus Morris Medallist Masters (ACL) & Did Simpson Medallist Mick Gibbons (calf) out for a fortnight for Yarra, it'll be on for young & old.

Form: Yarra (5-0) - Albury (3-2)

Last time: R7 - Tiges by 1 point

Tip: Pigeons by 11 points

"CDHBU has definitely improved as the season has progressed. We allowed them to do exactly what they wanted to do. They played well and we couldn't stop them"

A humbled Jindera coach, Joel Mackie

The Headline

Are the Power legit?

They clearly match up well against the Brookers, they were unfortunate to get the Dees on their home deck & were all over the Giants for 3 quarters before letting it slip (as young sides will do), but the 10 goal drubbing of the Doggies last weekend was a mature performance to capitalise on a fellow contender.

We're no closer to an answer, but they're looking good at the right end of the season.

Around the Grounds

Lockhart were at their unforgiving best, posting the highest score/win of the season with 54 shots on against a hapless Murray.

The worm tells a sorry story for the Pies, who managed just 5 shots themselves, never standing a chance with the Dees in the mood they were in.

The Giants bounced back with a comfortable win over Henty.

They might have found their answer up forward too, Mitch Thomas providing the focal point & grabbing another bag of 5.

The Giants have lost just 1 of 6 matches (v Osborne) with the 190cm target in the side.

Holbrook found the ascendancy over Howlong after an evenly poised opener, restricting the Spiders to just one major in the 2nd & 3rd quarters combined to run away with the points.

Goalkickers

🏉 The Power's Ryan Beveridge had a real coming of age, bagging 8 against solid opposition, climbing to equal second of the goalkickers - 8 behind Holbrook's Luke Gestier

🏉 Osborne's Hugh Schmetzer continued his form as the Tiges makeshift go-to with 7

🏉 Dee Jordy Harrington just keeps dominating, picking up 6

Match of the Round

(1) Osborne v Holbrook (2)

Holbrook had more than double the scoring shots last time around, and could have/should have done more damage in dealing the Tiges their only loss to date.

But the Tiges are ever formidable, no one getting remotely close to them since that point, and now have a score to settle.

The Brookers will surely be keen to repeat the effort after another unexpected loss of recent, if not to repair their flag credentials, then to at least keep the chasing Dees away from their double chance.

Form: Osborne (5-0) - Holbrook (4-1)

Last time: R5 - Brookers by 9 points

Tip: Osborne by 19 points

"Going forward I feel we still have a lot of improvement in our list"

Only a premiership will satisfy Roos co-coach Justin Maybury

The Headline

Yack have all but tied down the minor premiership, taking care of Chiltern by 6 goals.

The Roos have rolled the rest of the top 5 in the last 5 weeks - KSC (23 points), Beechworth (38 points), Thurgoona (78 points) & the Swans, and could not be better placed for their first silverware since 2000.

Around the Grounds

Thurgoona enjoyed themselves a tune up with a 103 point win over Mitta.

The game was well and truely done by the half with the Doggies up by 10 goals by that point.

Beechworth blew the game open in the 2nd, kicking 6 goals to zip against Rutherglen.

Surprisingly, the Bushies were kept to the 2 minor scores themselves in the 3rd, but the 42 point margin at the half was always going to be too big for the Cats to reel in.

KSC also proved far too strong for Barny, the Hawks just ticking the quarter by quarter over whilst the Tiges struggled to impact the scoreboard at any point.

Goalkickers

🏉 The weekend belonged to Hoppers Kaine Parsons & Jimmy Breen who combined for 27 goals - Breen's 16 shooting him back to the top of the table with a 4 goal lead

🏉 Beechy's Connor Stone & Wodonga's Dylan Nowak bagged 7 apiece

🏉 Dog Luke Gerecke, Hawk Connor Newnham & Saint Jay Winnell helped themselves to a handful each

Match of the Round

(4) KSC v Beechworth (2)

The Bushies sit 2 games & 20% clear atop the equal 3rd placed Swans & Hawks.
The Swans have 13.5% on the Hawks, but also a substantially easier run home.

For the Bushies, they just need one win from the next fortnight to formalise their top 3 finish. Easier said than done with the ever dangerous Hawks & the emerging, hungry Doggies.

For the Hawks, they need to win if they're any hope of stealing a second chance from Chiltern... or surely not the Bushies?

Form: KSC (3-2) - Beechworth (4-1)

Last time: R5 - Bushies by 25 points

Tip: Bushies by 20 points

"They were lucky to get away with the win that day... It’s a game we should’ve won"

Hawks coach Steve Manning reflects on the one that got away v Bright

The Headline

For the first time in 7 years, Goorambat have notched a win against Milawa.

With a 1 point lead at the half, the Bats would refuse to die wondering, taking control in the second half by kicking 9 of the next 15 goals (with +9 shots on).

The win surely secures a finals berth, and gives them the belief they can cause some damage in the post season.

Around the Grounds

Whorouly looked set to run straight over the top of Moyhu after the Hoppers jumped out to an early 17 point quarter time lead.

Restricting the green & gold to 1.6 over the next 2 quarters with immense pressure, the Lions claimed ascendancy & a narrow 5 point lead at the last change. And with 1 left on the bench after concussions to Noah Campbell & Harrison Bell, plus Jodie Hansted pinging a hammy, Moyhu looked down & out.

But the young Hoppers rose to the occasion, slamming on 5 unanswered goals to steal the chocolates.

Benalla proved hard to shake for North Wang, sticking within arms reach at the final break. But the class of a finals contender proved just that bit too much to overcome for the All Blacks, going down by 4 goals.

They're not too far off breaking their 29 game winless streak though, their best opportunity coming this weekend against Tarra.

Greta were at their devastating best, decimating the Dogs by 40+ goals.

Proving their attack the League's most potent, the Blues have now scored 400 points more than the next best, boasting a formidable percentage of over 360.

Goalkickers

🏉 Blues Cody Crawford (13), Frazer Judd & Brenton Newbold (both 6) were unstoppable

🏉 Beau Wheeler did his best to keep the Roos in it with 4

🏉 Bats Charlie Hunter, Lachie Boyle & Duane Haebich spread the love with 3 each in their triumph over the Dees

Match of the Round

(3) Bright v North Wang (7)

Bright coach Paul Harrison will be acutely aware this is a danger game for the Mountain Men. He's been critical of his chargers ability to perform off the bye - case in point, last they met the Hawks, Bright barely scraped the points.

For North Wang, they're still seething they couldn't get it done. It's not just about redemption, but they'd sneak into the 6 with a win.

The Hawks would still need to roll the Roos next week, but there would be no better way to wrap up the home & away with 3 wins on the trot, including victory over one of the top 3.

Form: Bright (4-1) - North Wang (2-3)

Last time: R8 - Bright by 1 point

Tip: Bright by 27 points