IT is a silverware weekend in the Mid Gippsland Football League with at least three trophies up for grabs in round six.
Yarragon and Trafalgar will vie for the Waterloo Trophy, Newborough and Hill End play off for the Bryne/Fanning Trophy and Thorpdale and Mirboo North clash for the Bright/St Ellen Trophy.
Played: 83 (Trafalgar 71, Yarragon 12)
Last time: Trafalgar 14.15 (99) d Yarragon 5.5 (35)
The stage is set for the 84th Waterloo Trophy match between Yarragon and Trafalgar.
The intense rivalry between these two sides stretches back more than 120 years in different leagues and associations.
Ladder positions do not matter when these two teams meet and a good competitive match is assured.
Yarragon currently has three wins and is doing nicely at this stage of the season.
After a horror start the Bloods are beginning to get players back and their drawn match last week was full of merit after being down by 30 points during the course of the match.
Trafalgar currently holds the trophy but the Panthers are a great chance of grabbing it back.
Played: 110 (Newborough 82, Hill End 27, Drawn 1)
Last Time: Newborough 18.18 (126) d Hill End 5.4 (34)
Newborough currently has the Byrne/Fanning Trophy and on form should continue to hold it high.
The Bulldogs’ form has been excellent and they are holding down third place with a lesser percentage than the top two – Mirboo North and Yinnar.
This is a game where they could increase their percentage against Hill End, which fell to bottom after last round.
The Hillmen are capable, but can’t stop opposition sides getting away from them early.
They are competitive in some quarters but overall are losing by big margins which must be a worry for the coaching squad.
Newborough has the potential to inflict great pain on the Hillmen.
Played: 139 (YYN 105, Boolarra 33, Drawn 2)
Last Time: YYN 18.12 (120) d Boolarra 6.2 (38)
YALLOURN-Yallourn North is high in spirits after its long awaited victory over Yinnar at the weekend.
It has been a while since the Bombers had beaten the Pies and their victory was sweeter knowing they were the first to do it this season.
The Bombers are expecting a tough match after Boolarra put in a good effort against Newborough.
The Demons should continue to impress but it will be a big task to upend the Bombers, who are going along in a solid manner.
Played: 101 (Mirboo North 62, Thorpdale 38, Drawn 1)
Last time: Thorpdale 7.12 (54) d Mirboo North 7.8 (50)
Another trophy is up for grabs with the first leg of the Bright/St Ellen Trophy to be played between Mirboo North and Thorpdale.
The Tigers showed plenty of class last week against Hill End and look to have found a replacement for Tim Traill at full-forward in Jesse Giardina.
The former Boolarra forward crossed back to Mirboo North this year and has found his niche in the pivotal position.
Giardina has bagged 19 goals so far to co-lead the goal kicking list.
Thorpdale, with two wins from five, was expected to be higher-placed at this part of the season but poor performances in some games have been their downfall.
On current form Mirboo North should hold onto top position but can expect Thorpdale to be competitive.
Played: 92 (Yinnar 49, Morwell East 43)
Last time: Yinnar 13.9 (87) Morwell East 10.9 (69)
MORWELL East’s early season form suggests the Hawks have been the big improvers; they sit in fourth ahead of YYN by two points.
A win last week against Trafalgar would have caused a four-way log jam at the top of the table, but it was not to be as Trafalgar came home to force a draw.
Yinnar has the uncanny knack of finding great talent coming up through the ranks; the future of the club.
For Morwell East it might be a bit of a chase but it will at least be competitive.
