Stakes high in clash between 5th and 6th
Next Saturday’s Warragul versus Traralgon clash at Traralgon could go a long way to deciding which of those sides make the “five”.
Both have seven wins with Traralgon holding 5th place with an important percentage break of 18 points.
With a harder draw to come over the last five rounds Warragul is in a “must win” situation on Saturday.
The Gulls next four games are against Traralgon (5th), Leongatha (2nd), Maffra (1st) and Sale (3rd) before facing Bairnsdale at home in the final round.
The match of the round next weekend will be Leongatha versus Moe.
Defending premier Leongatha will certainly play finals and Moe should.
A win against a side above it such as Leongatha would cement the Lions’ place and with a one game break ahead of Traralgon and Warragul – and with non top five contenders Morwell and Wonthaggi still ahead of them – are well placed to finish 4th or 5th.
In other games next Saturday Sale will be looking to further strengthen its hold on a top three finish when it travels to Drouin.
The Magpies are looking the most likely challenger to Maffra and Leongatha and only has one other side in the “five” ahead of it in the next five rounds.
Even at home Morwell, especially after a non-competitive showing against Sale at the weekend doesn’t look a match for Maffra that has lost only twice.
Bairnsdale makes its longest trip for the year, to Wonthaggi, in a match that pits two non finals contenders against each other.
Games on Saturday at grounds of first named clubs are:Traralgon v. Warragul. Drouin v. Sale. Wonthaggi v. Bairnsdale. Morwell v. Maffra. Leongatha v. Moe.