by Rob Popplestone
This weekend marks the halfway mark of the Mid Gippsland football home and away season.
Whilst another month remains before each team has had a look at every other, you can really start to get a gauge at what teams are on track to lock away a top six spot and a finals campaign.
But, here's the thing. Outside of Fish Creek, Foster and Yinnar - who appear to be definite top three sides - another nine clubs still remain very much in contention for the remaining three positions for finals.
Tarwin v Hill End
Tarwin are just one of many battling as best they can to stay in touch with those valuable top six positions on the MGFNL ladder. Unbelievably, only one win separates fourth from 12th.
The Sharks will welcome a Rovers side yet to register a win, but certainly capable of upsetting Tarwin's season if the home side is not on song.
Tarwin coach Lachie Jones said he was wary of the Rovers who "have pushed sides and showed signs throughout the first part of the year" but pleased to get some senior players back after "some significant injuries so far".
"We will look to nullify what we need to and play our style," Jones said. "I'm very happy that we have landed back four-four and we have really worked to our strengths over the last month of footy."
The Hillsmen are commended by this writer and others for their resilience and continued fight without reward. But how long can they continue to give but not get?
"We should have, maybe could have, won a game or two really, we have had our chances," Hill End coach Adrian Burns said. "I don't really know what to say. It's a club rebuilding and it won't happen overnight, but we are learning each and every week."
As winter sets in, the challenges to train, perform and back the efforts up week to week become greater and greater.
Maybe this weekend is the one for the Rovers…maybe.
Yinnar v Thorpdale
Sometimes the week off comes at just the right time. Certainly the Magpies, after two losses in three weeks leading into the King's Birthday weekend, needed a chance to reset and refocus.
Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch confirmed it was a good opportunity to "freshen up and work on some areas we need to improve on".
"We will be ready for a tough encounter when we come up against Thorpdale on our home deck after the week off," McCulloch said.
Former Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor now finds himself in enemy territory with the Blues. Whilst respectful of his old Magpies mates, he has a job to find a way to beat them this weekend.
"We need to find a way to get ourselves going when the going gets tough," the Thorpdale coach said. "Our best has shown we can compete and our worst is nowhere near the level."
"Yinnar this week away is another big game," Taylor added. "They're always tough to beat at home and this will be no different. On a personal note, win lose or draw I'm looking forward to getting back out to the club and catching up with alot of great people. It'll be a good day."
The popular MGFNL figure will certainly be welcomed by the Yinnar community. However the welcome will be with more smiles if Thorpdale lose rather than if they win or draw.
Fish Creek v Newborough
Fish Creek have been brilliant. The premiers of 2023 and 2024 appear to be on track for yet another shot at the title; finding a way to win against all-comers.
The past fortnight, the Kangaroos inflicted Foster's first defeat of the season by a solitary point. MDU also went close last week, but fell short by just a goal, the champs always finding a way to be in front at the final siren.
This week it's the Bulldogs turn to have a shot at the title.
Newborough coach Pat Frendo is looking forward to another challenge against premier competition. "Hoping to get a few back from injury this week after having another two players unfortunately suffer season-ending injuries in round eight," Frendo said. "Fishy have been firing on all cylinders, so we will need to be on top of our game for four quarters."
The Bulldogs are very much in the conversation of finals. However, in the back half of the year, will want to have a little more good fortune with personnel.
Fish Creek are good but remain respectful and ready for all opposition, no matter their position on the MGFNL ladder.
Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker described last week as "a gutsy win for us" and knows Newborough at home "will prove another tough test".
"Looks like they've been a bit up and down this year," Walker said. "But with most of our recent results being very close, it's sure to be a tight contest."
The last fortnight has witnessed Fish Creek win by just a point one week and just a goal the next. They will be hoping for a more comfortable margin this weekend.
Foster v Toora
As tough as the trip to Foster is expected to be, Toora will approach the game as one in which they can achieve something special, especially given their surprising but impressive victory against MDU in round eight.
"We are really looking forward to the challenge of playing Foster who in recent times have really gotten a hold of us," Toora coach Jay Accardi said. "Playing them on their home deck is always a challenge, as it's quite unique. Hopefully we can bring the energy and enthusiasm required to disrupt their ability to control the ground."
One win can make a side but what the Magpies got from their latest victory will be put to the test against the Tigers.
Make no mistake, Foster are a very good side. Their latest - and only - loss of the season, a one-point defeat at the hands of Fish Creek, will serve as motivation as they prepare to bounce back to the winners' list.
Foster coach Sam Davies said it would be a really big game coinciding with the club's presidents' luncheon and guest speaker Justin Leppitsch, a former AFL coach and three-time Brisbane premiership player.
"Toora have made rapid improvements throughout the year, beating MDU and pushing other top teams for two to three quarters consistently," Davies said. "They still have the best player in the competition Jack Weston running around for them, so we need to be able to absorb and stop momentum and apply scoreboard pressure the other way."
"I don't think there are any easy games in the competition right now, and this will sure be a cracker that will be worth the entry fee," Davies added.
The match sets up as a must-watch. In many ways, it will also set up the trajectory of a Toora side that has proven they can trouble the best. The question remains, can they do it two weeks in a row?
MDU v Stony Creek
They say a week is a long time in football. But, a fortnight will have seemed like forever for MDU after suffering a shock defeat to Toora, followed by a one-goal loss to Fish Creek on the King's Birthday weekend.
The pressure has quickly built on the Demons, who must bounce back this week against the Lions.
"I was super proud of the guys and the effort they gave against Fish Creek, something we were well short of the week prior," MDU coach Rhett Kelly said. "We will look to adjust a few things and continue to keep putting in the hard work."
MDU looked to be a lock for a top four spot. But, successive losses see them now in a fight for a finals position, just like their Lions opponent.
"We have got our cross-town rival this week in Meenyian," Stony Creek coach Troy Shepherdson said. "We are looking to stay on (the) winners' list and take a big scalp."
"Rhett will have his team eager to keep their strong start to season going," Shepherdson added.
It is these exact games, against evenly matched teams, where a win or loss can send a club's trajectory either up or down the ladder.
Morwell East v Mirboo North
Most of the MGFNL community have been reluctant to write off Morwell East, However, this weekend is without question the Hawks' last opportunity to write the many wrongs of 2025.
They will host Mirboo North who have really pushed teams so far.
"Hopefully we can get the win to start off a better back half to the season," Morwell East coach Paul Henry said.
The Hawks, you can expect, will throw absolutely everything at the Tigers in a last ditch effort to start some winning momentum.
Always respected as a tough and honest team, coach Henry would not want that to be questioned this week.
After two weekends off, Mirboo North coach Damien Turner said they travel to Morwell East chasing a third win in a row.
"We expect a tough, physical encounter as we always do against a proud club," Turner said. "Every game is so crucial at the moment, so nothing changes here."
"Our challenge as a young group after some down time, is to hit the ground running and make sure we are ready to go from the first bounce," he added.
Every indication is that the Tigers are ready to go. However, what nobody knows is whether the Hawks are also ready to turn the corner.
Two hours this Saturday afternoon will leave no doubt, one way or the other.
Bye: Boolarra.