It appears that the top six spots of the MGFNL season for 2024 are pretty much set, and that all we need to start to focus on is just how that six might start to settle as we head into the handful of games of the home and away season.
However, there remains just a couple of possibilities that in the space of one saturday afternoon can have you starting to reassess, this saturday may well be one of those.
Thorpdale v MDU
Thorpdale, seventh on the ladder host the sixth placed MDU, in one such clash in which just percentage separates the two teams.
The Blues have had a "spluttering" type of season, in which injuries, weddings, work commitments and anything else might think of have affected Thorpdale being able to have their best side on the park, up against a Demons side, whose major opponent seems to just be consistency of performance, all that said, now of that now is relevant as winning with you have is now paramount.
Nathan Allen, MDU coach “this week we travel to Thorpdale for a huge game. Both level on points and fighting for the same spot so it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The fun is likely to come with a win, but there is privelage in being part of pressure and there is certain to plenty of that from a an honest and aggressive Thorpdale side keen to perform in front of a home crowd and lock up a spot in the top six.
Jason Winderlich, Thorpdale coach “Big challenge this week against the Sheen Machine and an MDU side that we are trying to pinch their spot in the top 6. We are hoping we can challenge them again and keep our season on track.”
A win won't guarantee a finals spot but it will have the victor well positioned as the race for the real stuff starts to really heat up.
Mirboo North v Boolarra
Unlikely to have an impact on finals, but no less important is a victory for what is both destined and planned to be a big day for the home team Tigers, who will host a huge celebration for past players and premierships, complemented by the presences of perhaps of the games greatest ever in Gary Ablett Junior who will also be on the sidelines throwing his support behind Mirboo, who are looking for a better performance than their efforts of last week
Damian Turner, Mirboo North coach “We move on quickly from last week, continue to work hard, and have a huge weekend Vs boolarra. This will be our past player and premiership reunions. Big crowd expected, against respected rivals! Can’t wait for the next challenge!”
The challenges don't stop for any side in the competition, let alone those that hover at the wrong end of the MGFNL ladder., The Tigers would pencil this one as a fifty fifty chance and those odds are better than most weeks for the home side, but the task remains a sizeable one against an opponent that is substantially better than their ladder position suggests..
Brendan Mason, Boolarra coach "it is a big rivalry between the two clubs and both of us have struggled this year and they are a different team at home so it will no doubt be another tough and important contest for both teams"
The Demons will start favourites but the conditions of winter, the nuances of the Tigers home ground and past players day all lean towards an even contest.
Morwell East v Foster
It was one of the great escapes for Morwell East just seven days ago, falling over the line by just six points over Boolarra, a n opposition that is a little short of the quality they can expect to face this weekend against Foster.
The Tigers were ruthless in their demolition of Hill End, a one hundred point plus victory highlighted by the fifteen goal performance of forward Jake Best.
Best, however, is but one of many that the home side will need to cover and stop, whilst also creating a game style that gives them the opportunity to win.
Paul Henry, Morwell East coach "This week we start the double up games (those teams we have already played) and it doesn't get any tougher than playing Foster at home.
The Hawks did a number on the Tigers in their first encounter of the year, winning by close enough to ten goals, but there has been a lot of water gone under the bridge since that clash and you can bet, Foster will arrive with a statement to be made.
Sam Davies, Foster coach "Big game against Morwell East next week, they beat us by 11 goals in round one so hopefully we can get closer than that.
It looms as not only the match of the round but also a likely precursor to the type of football we will see come finals time, that is high intensity, heavy contact, relentless pressure and all watched by a large and enthusiastic crowd.
Newborough v Fish Creek
Coming off a welcome bye, an opportunity to freshen, re-assess and ultimately plan for one of the toughest assignments in football is where Newborough find themselves in round fourteen
The Bulldogs have yet to hit the heady heights of seasons 2022 or 2023, but they are positioned well enough to cause some damage in 2024, and this game will give a strong indication of whether they are in fact close to where they need to be.
Craig Skinner, Newborough coach “we were relieved to get to our Bye last week to reset before we play the three top teams on the other side. Fish Creek, Yinnar a bye then Morwell East”
The picture after that block of football will make it crystal clear just where the Bulldogs sit, the first of those challenges perhaps the toughest, the Kangaroos.
Jarrod Walker, Fish Creek coach "Another big test with Newborough at there ground, with a really tight top six every game is crucial and can’t afford to be slightly off.
The Bulldogs at the Kennel is about as tough as it might get for an opposition side, but at the end of the day, the home side will need contributions from every player within the framework spelt out by coach Skinner and even then, that will only give an opportunity for success and not guarantee it, such is the strength of the visiting Kangaroos.
Toora v Yinnar
Toora will welcome former Carlton star Dylan Buckley to the Magpies team this weekend, in what is part of a huge promotion for the club, that takes on fellow Magpies, Yinnar this weekend.
The home team Maggies, have been one of the performing teams of those outside of the top six, and will see this weekend as one in which they could cause some problems for one of the leagues contenders in Yinnar.
Jack Weston, Toora coach “A big weekend for the club against Yinnar this weekend. We are extremely grateful for the great opportunity The Carlton Draft presents us. But we’ve got a job to do and that is to perform on perhaps the biggest stage available outside of a final, against a strong Yinnar side who can get you in many ways.”
Yinnar have been at the top of a peak and the base of a trough over the past fortnight and will be keen to settle back into the game style that for the most part of the season has stood up to nearly every side in the competition.
Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach "We held strong and finished well with a good win in the mud. Our attention turns to the home stretch, starting with the Carlton Draught game at Toora this weekend.”
The Toora Magpies have set themselves up for a good performance this weekend from a long way out, and it will no doubt take one of their best to rugffle the feathers of the visiting Yinnar side, stranger things have happened this year, I'm sure, but I can't think of one just at the moment.
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