FIVE teams will exit the season after Saturday’s final round of Mid Gippsland football matches.
For these five it has been hard graft all year and they should now look to building more competitive units for next season.
Newborough v Boolarra
SECOND plays fifth in the match of the round which will provide an insight into finals expectations.
Newborough won the first encounter this year by more than 30 points and will be looking to emulate that feat.
Boolarra has just scraped through in some games and last week’s loss to Thorpdale was a real downer for the Demons.
The Bulldogs are playing at their best and will not give Boolarra an easy ride.
Mirboo North’s percentage lead makes chasing a huge score almost meaningless, and the Dogs will finish second unless Yarragon upsets the Tigers.
Boolarra will live to fight another week but will be sorely tested in the finals.
Trafalgar v Hill End
LAST time these two met Trafalgar had an easy win but the Hillmen have put in some strong finishes in recent weeks.
Hill End has finished the season best of the top five having improved in the latter half of the year to be competitive against the stronger teams. Trafalgar will finish fourth and faces a hard road to reach another grand final.
Hill End will fight every inch of the way and should give Trafalgar an ideal finals warm up.
Thorpdale v Yallourn Yallourn North
TWO teams out of the finals race, Thorpdale and Yallourn Yallourn North, will finish the season fighting for points.
Thorpdale was a surprise winner last week and could end the season the way it started with back to back wins.
Neither club has enjoyed a great season; Thorpdale will finish about seventh while YYN languishes at the bottom.
The Blues had the potential at the start of the season to be a final five side but injuries and poor form let them down in crucial games.
YYN has just one win for 2013, but pushed Thorpdale last time around.
Mirboo North v Yarragon
TOP of the table Mirboo North is home to Yarragon (ninth) with the league leader confident of finishing the regular season on a high note with a big winning margin.
The Tigers lead the ladder on percentage and, unless they lose the plot against Yarragon, will take out the minor premiership.
Yarragon will bring back some experienced players to give their younger brigade a chance to recoup for junior finals.
A point of interest will be Tim Traill’s quest for goal 100.
The gun forward needs 13 more to reach the ton for the home and away season.
Last time around it was a 208-point win to Mirboo North.
Yinnar v Morwell East
YINNAR will not fear Morwell East and should finish third barring an unlikely defeat.
The Magpies increased their lead over Trafalgar by 15 per cent which should be enough to stay ahead.
Morwell East is going through a painful patch and its scoring ability has reached rock bottom in the past few games.
Yinnar won the corresponding match earlier in the season by 50 points and on form could double that margin this week.
Morwell East will bow out after this round and will be eager to finish the year in style.
