by Davyd Reid
ELLINBANK will be looking for a response when they host Yarragon in round 10 of Ellinbank District football on Saturday.
The Eagles missed an opportunity in a low scoring affair at Lang Lang last week and were visibly frustrated with letting one slip against a lower ranked opponent.
Don't expect them to let another opportunity slip to move clear in the top three.
The Eagles currently join Trafalgar on six wins but the Bloods have the bye.
Yarragon enter the contest off just a half of football last week, their match cut short by an unfortunate injury to one of their younger players.
The Panthers will need to go to work quelling the influence of Ellinbank's forwards, led by the dynamic Shaun Phelan, after finding the Cats a difficult proposition last week.
NEERIM-NEERIM SOUTH could move as high as second with victory over Nilma-Darnum.
The Cats currently sit on five wins, but that could be six with last week's game against Yarragon still entered as pending. Usual practice is the result stands if the match reaches half-time.
Already boasting the healthiest percentage in the league, it could be boosted further against the winless Bombers.
Nilma-Darnum have shown patches of competitiveness and will aim to build more of this across the four quarters as they look to improve across the season.
POOWONG will look to maintain its two-game buffer inside the top five, but will need to work for the result against an improved Catani.
A run of seven consecutive goals helped Catani to victory over Nyora last week; the Blues bolstered by the inclusion of Matt Souter-Smith from Springvale.
Expect a competitive contest if the Blues can bring more of that form.
The Magpies looked like a top five side last week, showing positive run, carry and skill, and should hold the edge at home.
BULN BULN will aim to keep its unbeaten record intact when they travel to Nyora.
Entering the contest fresh off the bye, the Lyrebirds have comfortably disposed all before them so far this season.
The Saints have been a different prospect at home this season, scoring two of its three wins and pushing Longwarry to within a goal.
Nyora will hope for a competitive effort to further demonstrate they are on the up, but expect the Lyrebirds to get over the line.
LANG LANG will aim to continue the momentum when they travel to Longwarry.
The Tigers caused an upset over Ellinbank last week and will hope that is the tonic to get their season going under new coach Daniel Fry.
With the Crows enduring a difficult start to the season, an opportunity presents for the Tigers to escape the mid-pack logjam and further bridge the gap to the top five.