by Rob Popplestone
This weekend marks a third of the MGFNL season being played.
It's reasonable for 12 of the 13 clubs to believe they can secure a seat at the finals table in just three more months.
Newborough v Thorpdale
After an indifferent start to the season, the Bulldogs may be back.
Currently sixth, a win is absolutely crucial for the home side to stay in touch with those half dozen sides that currently stand in front of them.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner said past premiership players would be on the sidelines for the big game against Thorpdale, who are showing improvement on last year.
"We will also be wearing our breast cancer awareness jumpers and Shave for a Cure Day," Skinner said. "It will present like a final and we will treat it that way."
Newborough prepare themselves exceptionally well for these occasion clashes. In some ways, it does present like somewhat of a final, meaning it will be tight and tough and, no doubt, physical.
Thorpdale coach Ray Pickering has the utmost respect for what the Bulldogs are capable of at any ground, let alone on their home deck in front of past premiership players.
"We have a few big weeks coming up for the club, starting with league yardstick in Newborough this week," Pickering said.
Thorpdale may not yet be at their best, but they will need to find close to it if they are to topple a talented Newborough side.
Boolarra v Foster
The Demons, with the benefit of a weekend off to freshen themselves up, will be tested to their very core in this clash.
Foster has been in sensational form since a round one loss to Morwell East, which history has shown is nothing to be ashamed of.
The Tigers got the points against MDU in round five, but there still remains plenty of work to do.
Foster coach Sam Davies said "plenty of learnings to come out of the MDU match".
Davies added Boolarra after a bye "will be tough".
It's a match which Foster is likely to start warm favourites, even away from home. But, the clash is one in which the Demons are hopeful of bouncing back.
"We had a much needed rest last week, given we have had so many injuries," Boolarra coach Brendan Mason said. "But, I'm looking forward to getting some of our cavalry back after the bye and hopefully also getting our season back on track."
The Demons, like a handful of others, are just a win or two - against the odds - from climbing very quickly up the MGFNL ladder. That said, they are also a loss or two away from seeing their season slip away. What happens is entirely within their hands.
Yinnar v Morwell East
The top of the table Hawks - coming off a three-point loss to reigning premiers Fish Creek - will venture to Magpie territory to clash with the in-form and second placed Yinnar.
"Excited to come up on our home ground against the top of the ladder Morwell East," Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said. "Will be another great challenge and guide to see where we sit against a team who have shown they're going to be at the top end of the ladder."
Not only is top spot up for grabs but also confidence and distance on the ladder. Confidence is an intangible asset for any club and certainly the round six winner will be feeling pretty good about themselves.
Reflecting on their last game, Morwell East coach Paul Henry said his team had the opportunity to snatch the win late in the last quarter but couldn't get it done.
"Time to bounce back this week against the second placed Yinnar," Henry declared.
The Hawks will again be relying on the likes of Rob Michaelides, talented big man Isaac Abas, Jarrod Lont and Michael Diaz to lead the way up against some really good Magpie talent in Luke and Ben Cheffers, Josh Bugeja, Clancy Mills and William Robertson.
Yinnar on their home deck are a tough team to beat, but Morwell East themselves are a tough team.
MDU v Stony Creek
There is a looming "fork in the road" for quite a few clubs as the halfway mark of the season closes in. Two in this position are this week's opponents MDU and Stony Creek.
The Lions kicked themselves out of the game in front of goals last week and understand they cannot, under any circumstances, make the same mistake two weeks in a row.
Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon said it was always a tough contest against MDU.
"Both teams will be looking to bounce back," Verboon said.
MDU have a game in hand and a game break on the Lions. A win this week will give them some breathing space, albeit just for another week.
MDU coach Nathan Allen said it was a big game at home.
"Against Stony with past players day, which was a great day last year," Allen said. "Hopefully we can put together four quarters of footy."
There have been some outstanding players that have come out of the Demons in recent years. Many of them will be on hand this weekend to witness the next wave of talented MDU stars.
Fish Creek v Mirboo North
This weekend looms a nightmare for Mirboo North, having to take a less than full strength team and travel to the home ground of the reigning premiers.
Fish Creek is a side in sensational form and tasted success against the previously undefeated Morwell East last week.
"It doesn't get any easier for us," Mirboo North coach Damian Turner said. "We have taken a hit on the injury front, but will reload, keep getting games into the young talent and look to build off the good signs we showed in patches against Newborough."
The Kangaroos might be hot favourites, but don't expect them to cruise into the weekend and go through the motions. The Kangaroos will need to toil with some issues of their own.
"Another test for us against Mirboo, who match up really well against us," Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said. "With our injury list starting to mount up, it'll be a test of our depth. However, I believe we are still more than capable of a good performance."
Fish Creek may need to call on several reserves players but, even so, should be too strong for the visiting Tigers. Especially given that another win will see them jump up into a top two spot on the MGFNL ladder.
Tarwin v Toora
The Sharks have bounced back to something like their best form. In doing so, they showed they are capable of taking the scalp of many in the competition.
This weekend they find themselves against a visiting Toora side who are under real pressure of staying in touch with those teams at the business end of the ladder.
"Last week it was a solid, hard fought away win against Stony Creek," Tarwin coach Jason Kennedy said. "I'm really happy with the way our boys bounced back after their round four loss. We are now looking forward to building on the win, with another at home in round six against Toora."
The Magpies have shown they can mix it with some of the better teams. However, they must now concentrate on the effort they have shown in patches, for an entirety of a game.
If they do, they can win against the odds against a side sitting just one game ahead.
"We disappointingly fell away last weekend and Thorpdale kicked away," Toora coach Jack Weston said. "We need to get better for longer if we want to be in the fight against the strongest."
Deserving of a big crowd, this match-up will really give coach Weston an indication of just how much his team has improved. If somehow they can manage a win against the odds, who knows what might lay ahead.
Bye: Hill End