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TOP teams will collide when Mid Gippsland league leaders Mirboo North take on second-place Newborough in round 12 on Saturday.
While the Tigers’ impressive percentage will ensure they remain league leaders even if Newborough wins, it would make the competition for the coveted top spot a lot more interesting.
Mirboo North has not dropped a game since its loss to Trafalgar in round four and Newborough’s winning streak began after its round three loss to Mirboo North.
For this reason both teams will go in confident and spectators should be in for a good match.
Mirboo North coach Troy Hamilton said matches against Newborough have always been big and their ladder positions this time meant they were “playing for a fair bit”.
Hill End v Thorpdale
ANY chance of Hill End and Thorpdale making a play for finals football will depend on who emerges as the victor of this encounter.
Despite being three wins and a significant percentage behind fifth-place Boolarra, Hill End coach Phil Town was not discounting his side’s chances of making finals, which he said would rely on the side winning the next six matches.
“It’s going to be tough, but we can do it,” Town said.
“The boys are playing well, we’re getting close to a full strength side.
“We need to win these next four games (against lower ranked teams) and Thorpdale is the start of that, so it’s a very important one for us at home.”
Blues coach Brett Sherriff said he was focusing on his team’s development and was hoping to have some more players available on game day. He said he hoped to see more at training.
“I think the guys that have been here working on the track each week have really improved a fair bit,” Sherriff said.
“A few of the guys that have just been in and out of training, you can sort of see that they probably haven’t come as far forward as the other boys.”
Morwell East v YYN
FOLLOWING its confidence-boosting win Yallourn-Yallourn North next faces Morwell East.
Bomber coach Rick Hearn said after tasting victory for the first time this season, they would work towards another win this weekend.
“Hopefully we keep building towards the end and we get a few more wins, and put pressure on the people up the ladder a bit,” Hearn said.
“There’s only one way for us to go, up the ladder, so we get a few more wins, just keep playing and hopefully improve for the rest of the year.”
Yarragon v Boolarra
Boolarra and Yarragon are coming off disappointing losses, which they will hope to bounce back from when they meet on Saturday.
Yarragon was beaten in a game that could have been its second win for the year, while Boolarra dropped off after the first quarter to go down to Trafalgar.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina has expressed his frustration with not having a full list available every week and being forced to make regular changes.
The Panthers have similar problems and have been undermanned for most of the year.
Trafalgar v Yinnar
Trafalgar and Yinnar have a lot to play for when they meet on Saturday.
Yinnar’s finals spot seems relatively secure, but it needs to beat a fellow finals contender for confidence.
Trafalgar has not been at its best in recent weeks and is looking to steady the ship with a solid four-quarter performance and a win, ahead of a big clash against Mirboo North at the Tigers’ home next round.
