by Nicholas Duck

It's round eleven of the West Gippsland Football Competition and the race for finals is tightening up. Some sides are in desperate need of a win to stay in touch with the top six, while the teams already in those spots are looking to keep the would-be challengers at bay. Here's how this week's matches are looking.
All matches to be played Saturday June 18 at 2pm.
Bunyip vs Dalyston
Location: Bunyip Recreation Reserve
Bunyip find themselves in a bit of a rut, having lost their last three games, including a shock 32-point defeat to Kilcunda Bass. It means their run home to finals, while still filled with plenty of hope, will require them to make very few mistakes from here on out.
The Bulldogs are capable of some very solid football when at their best, but in recent weeks their scoring potency has appeared blunted. They managed just a single goal last week against Phillip Island, though admittedly 12 behinds certainly didn't help their case either.
But if scoring issues have been a problem for Bunyip, they've truly been an Achilles' Heel for their opponents this week.
The Magpies are still on the comedown of last week's win over Garfield, a game that saw the town and the club revitalised by a star performance from ex-AFL champion Shaun Burgoyne.
'Silk' seemed to lift the Magpies with his trademark class and exquisite skill, but the team is going to have to readjust to life without him this week. Given that in four of the six weeks prior to that game Dalyston had kicked two goals or fewer, it's going to need to be a quick adjustment.
Given that the two teams directly above them face off this week, Bunyip has a real opportunity to strike and put themselves back into the finals equation with a win, though they should be wary of a team that is up and about and looking to build on the energy they produced last week.
Still, given the importance of this one, Bunyip should come out on top.
Cora Lynn vs Warragul Industrials
Location: Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve
It's fifth vs sixth as the race for the top six heats up with Cora Lynn playing host to the Warragul Industrials.
The Cobras have well and truly bounced back from an indifferent start to the season to win their past five games, and all of a sudden look like the fearsome side that have been a constant in finals for years.
It means that remarkably should their good form continue, after starting the season 0-5, they now seem to be in the box seat to claim another finals appearance.
Star forward Nathan Gardiner has shaken off the injury concerns he had early in the season and has now booted 29 goals in his last five games. It means that since being held to one goal against Nar Nar Goon in round five the Cobras have been held to under 15 goals just once, that being last week's 10 goal effort against Koo wee rup.
This of course all spells some trouble for the Warragul Industrials, who last week were found wanting against Inverloch-Kongwak.
In what was hardly the most attractive game of football, the Dusties were held to just five goals, four of which came in the final term. No Warragul player could manage more than one goal, such was the dominant effort of the Inverloch-Kongwak backline.
It was a disappointing effort from a side that had found some excellent form in recent weeks, though a win in this would see them two games clear in fifth and certainly put them in a strong position.
Still, with a home ground advantage and their recent form it is rather hard to go past Cora Lynn for this match.
Garfield vs Kilcunda Bass
Location: Garfield Recreation Reserve
Few clubs could consider themselves more unlucky than Garfield this year.
Already dealing with the growing pains of a new-look squad and failing to win a match in their first nine attempts, on paper last week's trip to Dalyston would have beckoned as a golden opportunity to claim a desperately needed first win.
Instead, the Stars had to deal with the full power and experience of four-time AFL premiership winner Shaun Burgoyne, and came away with another loss.
This week they meet another side who just a few weeks ago would have presented yet another serious chance of a win.
Once again though it's a case of terrible timing for Garfield, as they play a Kilcunda Bass team full of confidence after winning their last two games.
The Panthers carried on with the form they found in their upset win over Bunyip two weeks ago to defeat Korumburra-Bena, though not as easily as they might have liked.
Despite building an early lead, the Panthers did let the Giants back into the contest somewhat, but did enough to take the win.
With a forward line suddenly firing thanks to Marcus Baxter and Taylor Gibson, Kilcunda Bass are now eyeing off their third win in a row after managing just one from their first eight games.
The Stars would give anything to get their own forward line firing, and though they'll certainly be entering this match hopeful of finally tasting victory, Kilcunda Bass should prove too strong.
Inverloch-Kongwak vs Nar Nar Goon
Location: Inverloch Recreation Reserve
This one looms as the match of the round as third meets fourth in a game that will certainly tell us a lot about both teams and their prospects moving forward.
Both Inverloch-Kongwak and Nar Nar Goon enter this match sitting on eight wins and two losses, with both teams having fallen to Tooradin-Dalmore and Phillip Island respectively.
Those results point to both of these sides being strong but just not quite strong enough to truly challenge the elite tier of the league.
For Inverloch-Kongwak thumping the sides below them has become a real habit, as their 24-point win over the Dusties last week was their smallest victory thus far in 2022.
The Sea Eagles have depth all around the field, and with a forward line including the likes of Tristan Van Driel and Toby Mahoney kicking goals every week it means that restricting them to a small total is a difficult prospect.
However, the forward line has also been a great strength of Nar Nar Goon's who certainly have their own firepower to match.
Boasting a number of players all capable of multiple goals, including league leading goalkicker Dermott Yawney, the Goon will be liking their chances if this one turns into a shootout.
It should be noted though that the Goon's forwards did struggle to find space last week against Tooradin-Dalmore, where they collectively kicked just seven goals for the day in what was by far their lowest total for the season.
It means that whichever team's defence can stay switched on for longer will likely be the deciding factor in who takes home the four points here.
This is a tough one to tip, but at their home fortress Inverloch-Kongwak will be entering this one as favourites.
Phillip Island vs Korumburra-Bena
Location: Cowes Recreation Reserve
Having thoroughly bounced back last week from their first loss in three years Phillip Island will be looking to claim another victim this week against Korumburra-Bena.
The Bulldogs were clearly unhappy with how things had gone against Tooradin-Dalmore and took out their frustration on Bunyip, who they managed to restrict to just one goal for the day.
It was exactly what the doctor ordered for Phillip Island, who now sit a game clear in second.
Korumburra-Bena, meanwhile, are well and truly battling this season. They've won just one game thus far, and though they will take some confidence out of a competitive showing last week against Kilcunda Bass, just haven't been able to get the talent on the field to match it with most clubs.
Not only that, but after they play Phillip Island, they immediately get to look forward to a match against the top team in Tooradin-Dalmore the following week.
The Giants have unfortunately been completely thrashed by multiple teams this season, and it will be a tough assignment to avoid that same fate as they travel to Cowes, a place that has seen many teams thoroughly crushed over the years.
Phillip Island to win, and likely win big.
Tooradin-Dalmore vs Koo wee rup
Location: Tooradin Recreation Reserve
Two straight losses have seriously dented Koo wee rup's finals hopes, and things won't be getting any easier this week against Tooradin-Dalmore.
The fact that those losses were against Cora Lynn and Warragul Industrials, two of the Demons' main competitors for spots in the lower part of the top six, certainly didn't help their case.
It means that Koo wee rup at the present time are a game and significant percentage behind sixth, and need some wins quickly.
The young Demons have been extremely competitive against the teams around them on the ladder, but just haven't been able to match the level of some of the top sides, hence their relatively poor percentage.
And when it comes to the top sides, they don't come much better than Tooradin-Dalmore.
The Seagulls are the only undefeated team left in the league, and don't look like losing a game anytime soon.
Boasting a powerful midfield, an incredible backline that has conceded no more than eight goals in a match and a forward line capable of devastating even the most stingy defence, Tooradin-Dalmore are the clear frontrunner for this year's premiership.
None of this, of course, bodes well for Koo wee rup, who may be in need of a win but are unlikely to find it here.
At home Tooradin-Dalmore will be looking for a big win here to improve their already impeccable percentage and keep the rest of the league at bay.
The Seagulls should enjoy a sizeable win here.