Finals start in Wimmera, Sunraysia and Murray leagues next weekend
Here’s everything you need to know about the big country footy leagues with finals about to start.
Finals will start next weekend in the Murray, Wimmera and Sunraysia leagues following the completion of the home and away rounds.
There is one round to play in the Ballarat, Bendigo, Central Murray, Geelong, Gippsland, Goulburn Valley, Hampden and Ovens and Murray, Sunraysia leagues.
BALLARAT
Reigning premier Melton should hold top spot with one round to play after losing for a second time to its biggest danger Darley on Saturday.
Darley’s latest 21-point win was even bigger than its come from behind victory in early June.
Melton’s only two losses this season have been to Darley, which will face Sebastopol in the qualifying final.
Fifth spot is still up for grabs between Sunbury and Redan, but both teams have tough final round assignments against Darley and Sebastopol.
Brett Bewley dominated on his return to Darley last season and is doing so again with 12 mentions in the best players from 14 games he’s played.
FLAG TIP: Darley
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 23 at Mars Stadium, North Ballarat
BENDIGO
Sandhurst must win its final round match against Eaglehawk on Saturday to guarantee the minor premiership.
The Dragons hold a two-point buffer over Golden Square, which plays out of contention Kangaroo Flat.
Sandhurst comes up against the team it played a mid season draw against, Eaglehawk, which only lost to Golden Square on Saturday by four points.
But if the Borough loses, Strathfieldsaye will pounce.
It walloped Maryborough by 216 points on Saturday and plays Kyneton in the last round.
Triple premiership coach Daryl Wilson is stepping down as Strathfieldsaye coach and would love nothing more than to make a run deep into September again.
FLAG TIP: Golden Square
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 23 at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo
CENTRAL MURRAY
Reigning premier Kerang survived its biggest test of the season on Saturday when it scraped home by eight points against Balranald.
Balranald has soared up the ladder under first-time coach Jydon Neagle, but suffered an unexpected loss to fourth-placed Lake Boga the previous week.
Kerang and Balranald will both be strengthened in coming weeks after Nathan Ablett missed again for Balranald and Kerang was without Michael Dalrymple, Lachlan Ross and Brad Pay from its best team.
Woorinen jumped ahead of Balranald into second spot and the two will meet in the qualifying final.
FLAG TIP: Kerang
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 23 at Swan Hill Recreation Reserve
GEELONG
St Mary’s suffered a surprise late season loss to fourth-placed South Barwon on Saturday, but should still retain top spot with one round to play.
South Barwon takes on second-placed Colac in the last round with the Tigers climbing to second spot on the ladder under co-coaches Darcy Lang and Rowan McSparron.
Newtown & Chilwell only needs to beat Leopold in the last round to guarantee the double chance.
Leopold, coached by Garry Hocking, should hang onto fifth spot with sixth-placed St Josephs leaving their run too late.
FLAG TOP: Colac
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 23 at Leopold
GIPPSLAND
Gippsland is heading for a thrilling finale with three genuine flag chances: Wonthaggi, Moe and reigning premier Leongatha.
Wonthaggi is destined to finish minor premiers after thumping fourth-placed Traralgon by 64 points on Saturday.
Moe and Leongatha are also locks for the double chance.
Wonthaggi plays Morwell in the last round and Moe will be too strong for Drouin.
Leongatha rounds out its season against Maffra before fronting up to Moe in the qualifying final.
Last year’s runner-up Sale has recovered from a slow to start to be favourites to beat an out of sorts Traralgon in the sudden-death elimination final.
FLAG TIP: Wonthaggi
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 23 at Morwell
GOULBURN VALLEY
Top six has been set for some time and reigning premier Echuca has only had one slip up to Seymour.
Echuca returns to the scene of its only loss last year, Mooroopna, in the final round with Mooroopna not expected to improve on its present fifth place.
Seymour regained star player Michael Hartley last round and Kyabram can’t be discounted with an impressive record against other top-six teams including a 54-point win against Euroa on Saturday.
FLAG TIP: Seymour
GRAND FINAL: Sunday, September 24 at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton
HAMPDEN
The final five is also set, but the same can’t be said for the finishing order behind South Warrnambool.
South remains favourite, but did lose to second-placed North Warrnambool in round 16.
North plays Koroit in a final round blockbuster that Koroit must win to retain the double chance.
It lost to Terang-Mortlake by nine points on Saturday after they played a midseason thriller.
FLAG TIP: South Warrnambool
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 23 at Reid Oval, Warrnambool
MURRAY
Mulwala has claimed the minor premiership and is well positioned for a shot at back-to-back flags after a breakthrough premiership win last year.
Congupna nailed down second spot after sitting outside the top six a month ago.
Numurkah, which had the bye in Saturday’s last round, finished third level on 52 points with Nathalia.
Moama and Finley make up the top six with Tom Lang booting 11 goals for Finley in last round.
Numurkah plays Finley and Nathalia meets Moama in the two elimination finals next weekend with Mulwala and Congupna to meet in the qualifying final a week later.
FLAG TIP: Mulwala
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 16 at Moama Recreation Reserve
OVENS AND MURRAY
Low-key finish with the top five set and Yarrawonga, Albury and Wangaratta all guaranteed the double chance.
The minor premiership has come down to the last round with Yarrawonga and Albury both with 13-2 win-loss records and less than 5 per cent separating them.
On Saturday, Yarrawonga plays Wodonga, which will end a 13-year finals drought this season, and Albury meets out of contention Lavington.
Wangaratta Rovers will also play finals, but haven’t been able to match the top teams in the second half of the season.
Yarrawonga has regained Mick Gibbons, Leigh Masters and Lach Howe late and hasn’t given up on Harry Wheeler returning for finals.
Wangaratta is dealing with a stack of late season injuries to key players including coach Ben Reid.
FLAG TIP: Yarrawonga
GRAND FINAL: Sunday, September 24 at Lavington Sportsground
SUNRAYSIA
Robinvale-Euston finished minor premiers and enjoyed a final round bye.
Second-placed Mildura and third-placed Irymple tuned up for the qualifying final with last victories over Wentworth and Merbein respectively.
The winner plays Robinvale-Euston in the second semi-final with the Eagles yet to win a flag since merging in 2015 and Robinvale winning the premiership as a standalone club in 2010.
Livewire Isaiah Johnson has been a revelation for Robinvale-Euston with 86 goals for the season and Red Cliffs’ Jake Reed booted 10 on Saturday.
The elimination final will be between Wentworth and Red Cliffs, who recently upset Mildura.
FLAG TIP: Robinvale-Euston
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 9 at Mildura Sporting Precinct
WIMMERA
Ararat finished minor premiers for the second year in a row with an ominous 84-point win over fifth-placed Dimboola on Saturday.
The Rats stumbled in last year’s grand final to Minyip-Murtoa, but is stronger 12 months later with the addition of former Carlton player Tom Williamson and mid-season pick up Jarrod Korewha.
Korewha kicked five goals against Dimboola.
Second-placed Horsham Saints beat Nhill in the last round against Nhill and third-placed Southern Mallee Giants bounced back strongly from the shock loss to Warrack Eagles the previous week.
Giants coach Kieran Delahunty played his first game since injuring his wrist in late June in their 115-point demolition of Horsham Demons.
FLAG TIP: Ararat
GRAND FINAL: Saturday, September 16 at Dimboola
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