by Nicholas Duck
It's finals time in the West Gippsland Football Netball Competition, and first up we have two rippers as third meets sixth and fourth plays fifth. Six will be narrowed down to four after this week, so these two sides will be playing with all their heart as they look to stay in contention. Here's how this week's games are looking.
Inverloch-Kongwak vs Warragul Industrials
Saturday August 20, elimination final one
Location: Bass Recreation Reserve
The Warragul Industrials will be looking to make it count as they play in their first finals series since joining the WGNFC.
The Dusties have earned their position, no doubt, but face a stiff challenge in their week one elimination final against Inverloch-Kongwak.
The two sides have met on two occasions this year, with the Sea Eagles having the better of their encounters, including a relatively straightforward 35-point win just two weeks ago.
It means the third-placed Sea Eagles will be coming into this one as warm, if not strong, favourites as they look to progress to the second week of the finals series.
Inverloch-Kongwak has spent the vast majority of the year in third position, having been unable to overcome the likes of Tooradin-Dalmore and Phillip Island throughout the year.
A final round loss to Nar Nar Goon certainly was not the ideal preparation for the Sea Eagles, but they will remain confident their best is good enough to beat most sides.
The Dusties, meanwhile, are also coming off the back of their own defeat to a fellow finalist in Cora Lynn. After falling behind early, the Dusties worked their way into the contest but were just unable to get the job done when it mattered.
The Warragul Industrials' best has been on display at various times this season, including an inspirational victory over the indominable Phillip Island, but inconsistency has reared its head and ultimately led them to their sixth-place finish.
Expect both teams to come out firing, especially since it's the end of the road for the loser.
The Dusties have enjoyed their best season in the WGFNC, but will have to show every bit of their best footy if they want to progress another week.
Nar Nar Goon vs Cora Lynn
Sunday August 22, elimination final two
Location: Garfield Recreation Reserve
Nar Nar Goon are full of confidence and raring to go after finally succeeding at knocking off a team above them on the table on the eve of finals.
The Goon, who have struggled to match the sides above them at various times this year, were able to claim the scalp of Inverloch-Kongwak thanks to a rousing and, in the end, rather dominant 41-point win over the Sea Eagles. It's left them primed to believe that despite finishing in the lower half of the top six, that they might yet have a significant part to play in this finals series.
The only downside to last week's win was the fact that after leading the league's goalkicking for so much of the season, spearhead Dermott Yawney was denied the prize thanks to a final round bag to one of his closest rivals. That rival? Cora Lynn's own Nathan Gardiner.
Gardiner has been a talisman for the Cobras' year, having had to work his way back from a pre-season injury early, before building momentum and eventually exploding to win his third straight goalkicking award. It's hard to ignore how this has mirrored his side's season, where Cora Lynn began their campaign with five straight losses, before winning 12 of their next 13 games to charge into finals.
It leaves the Cobras as a serious dark horse in this year's race, with their on-form paper rivalling that of the top two sides who have earned a break this week. It should be noted, however, that in that final 13-game stretch Cora Lynn faced just one side in the top four. That game was an away trip to Phillip Island, where the Cobras were thoroughly smacked off the park.
All of this makes this a difficult game to get a read on, and though Nar Nar Goon will likely start as favourites, if Cora Lynn has proven anything as the season has gone on its that underestimating them would be a grave mistake indeed.