Round 21

"While I'm excited to be coaching next season, the immediate focus for everyone involved in the club is trying to go as far as possible in September"

Newly appointed Yarra coach Leigh Williams on pushing for flags

The Headline

Leigh Williams will replace Stevie J for 2025, signing on as Yarra coach on a 1 year deal.

Yet to fill his panel, he's keen to slot in Leigh Masters, who'll be watching on anyway with a cooked knee.

With a number of Pigeon stars already signed to longer term deals, it should be a pretty comfortable ride into his O&M coaching career.

Around the Grounds

Yarra smacked Albury, drilling 6 goals to 1 in both the 1st & 3rd quarters to stamp authority over their fierce rivals.

Missing Cal Moore & Mick Newton, the Pies squandered many an opportunity to put the Roos away - leading by just 10 points at the last change before converting a few in the last to run away.

The Rovers moved the ball with absolute ease against the Dogs, the most impressive part being the 7 unanswered in the final term to blow the margin out.

Goalkickers

🏉 Yarra's Matt Casey & Rover Al Marklew both bagged  a handful

🏉 Roo Sam Dunstan, Saint Brody Ricardi & Rover Ed Dayman were next best with 4 apiece

🏉 Hopper Josh Minogue remains 10 clear in the Doug Strang race with 2 rounds to play

Match of the Round

(4) Wang v Albury (6)

After starting the season 0-4, the Pies potentially pull off an unlikely top 3 berth with a win here, while the Tiges continue to hunt for survival.

So late in the season, and still everything to fight for!

Form: Wang (4-1) - Albury (2-3)

Last time: R8 - Pies by 36 points

Tip: Pies by 2 points

"The immediate focus is hoping the boys can get the job done against Lockhart"

Holbrook spearhead Luke Gestier on a match he'll be watching from the sidelines

The Headline

Star Brooker & league leading goalkicker Luke Gestier has ruled himself out for this week, having been stretchered off in a nail biting 2 point loss to Osborne.

Coming down with a sore shoulder & rattled cage, he's taken the cautious approach in the run up to finals.

The concussion test has been ticked off, but when you're describing "a constant headache" & "felt like I had been on a weekend bender (without a drink)", that decision sounds questionable to the layman.

Around the Grounds

Billabong have stunned the league again, exposing the Giants for second time this season.

RWW snatched the lead back midway through the last after a tense arm wrestle, but the Crows wouldn't be denied, hitting back shortly thereafter and holding on.

CDHBU have come from nowhere to best Howlong by the narrowest of margins.

The Power conceded 5 of the opening 6 goals, before turning the tables on the Spiders and delivering 5 of the last 6 themselves to sneak home by a point.

Murray & Culcairn played out another of the round's epics, the Pies relying on a final quarter burst of 4 goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat by 3 points.

Goalkickers

🏉 Doggies Archie Storer (11) & Will McGrath (6) made light work of the Saints defence

🏉 The Power’s Ryan Beveridge bagged 5 - now trailing Gestier by 6 & is every chance to claim the lead against Murray

🏉 Tiger Connor Galvin, Dees Hunter Lloyd & James McDermott & Henty’s Tom Newton all bobbed up with 4

Match of the Round

(3) Lockhart v Holbrook (2)

Locked on points, percentage the difference & very winnable final round matches for both, this game probably decides 2nd spot and the double chance.

Can the Brookers be the first to tame the beast at Lockhart, or will the Dees complete their rise from obscurity?

Form: Lockhart (5-0) - Holbrook (3-2)

Last time: R5 - Brookers by 34 points

Tip: Dees by 4 points

"It was probably the performance that we have been looking for, for a few weeks now"

Hawks coach Zach Fulford as the pieces fall into place

The Headline

KSC have given the remaining finals contenders plenty to think about, dismantling Beechworth by 74 points to keep their top 3 hopes alive.

Of course, the Hawks need the Dogs to take care the Bushies this week, & to smash the Hoppers themselves for that to happen, but surely the rest are looking over their shoulders at the brown & gold with some concern.

Around the Grounds

Chiltern likely boosted their percentage out of reach of the Hawks, touching up Tallangatta by near 20 goals.

With Mitta to round out the season, they should lock up their top 3 finish fairly comfortably.

Mitta & Wodonga were locked in a shootout in one of the highest scoring games of the season (that didn't result in a flogging).

The Mountain Men were just a bit more accurate, capitalising on near even scoring shots to snatch the W.

And rounding out with a couple of expected bloodbaths, Yack 165 point winners over DMB & Thurgoona topping Wahgunyah by 200+.

Goalkickers

🏉 Dogs Charlie Williams (10) & Jake Bruce (8) made the goal umpires work at Wahgunyah

🏉 Roo Bailey Glass also had a day out with 8 against the Bombers

🏉 Barny's Jack Chesser might have blown his opportunity to poach the goal kicking title, managing 2 against Rutherglen. Neither he, nor leader Hopper James Breen are likely to get much of a look in this week, facing Yack & KSC respectively, so this race looks done.

Match of the Round

(2) Beechworth v Thurgoona (5)

Beechworth can't afford a slip up at the final hurdle if they're to hold onto a second chance.

KSC are coming hard, & Thurgoona would love to set up an Elimination Final against a Bushies team they'd knocked off a week earlier.

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

Last time: R7 - Bushies by 23 points

Tip: Bushies by 5 points

"It’s been a tough year, but we’ve had a good core group who’s just stuck through it... I’m really proud of them”

Benalla Coach Heath Smith on the All Blacks drought breaking win

The Headline

Benalla have found themselves on the winners list for the first time in 30 matches, overrunning Tarra with a massive 6 goal 2nd term and never looking back.

It's genuine reward for effort for a side that's had little to celebrate, but one bets the rooms would have been pumping long into the night.

Around the Grounds

Milawa scored more than any other team has against Greta this season, but it counted for little.

The rampant Blues still had +10 in shots on as they continue to surge towards finals with a 55 point win.

7 goals unanswered in the 3rd unshackled the Mountain Men from a stubborn North Wang, Bright eventually charging away with a 10 goal victory.

Bonnie Doon held Whorouly goalless & had the game over by the half, as did Goorambat who held Moyhu scoreless until the 3rd.

Goalkickers

🏉 Bats Duane Haebich & Rhys Goodley got on the end of 7 apiece

🏉 Panther Mick Ryan pulled his weight with 6, while Bomber Al Bennett also did the same

🏉 Just 6 goals separate Bright's Cooper Thomason (76), Greta's Frazer Judd (74) & Goorambat's Duane Haebich (70), and all 3 are in a position to kick bags this weekend - the leading goalkicker will come down to the wire

Match of the Round

(7) North Wang v King Valley (6)

An Elimination Final come early - 4 points is all that matters.

For one, there's no next week.

Game on!

Form: North Wang (2-3) - King Valley (3-2)

Last time: R9 - Hawks by 53 points

Tip: Hawks by 14 points