There's just three rounds to go as the race for fifth position continues to heat up while a 2025 battler very nearly pulled off one of the upsets of the season.
Here's what you might have missed this week.
Sale vs Moe
How's that for a game of footy?
Fans of high scoring encounters had plenty to enjoy at Sale Oval on Saturday as Moe pulled off an escape Houdini would've been proud of, seeing off Sale by eight points.
The Lions were in all sorts early after conceding eight first quarter goals against the league's second bottom side.
After managing to even the score by half time they still had to work for it and even looked set to go home emptyhanded five points down late in the day.
As good sides do though Moe found the response they needed, eventually prevailing 18.12 (120) to 17.10 (112) thanks in part to another bag from Ben Crocker (seven goals).
Sale might be kicking themselves for letting a genuine upset slip through their fingers, though were brave after a series of injuries left them without a bench late, including to stars Shannen Lange and Will Leslie.
Defence appeared to be optional through the first half of the game as the teams took turns hammering the other.
The Magpies' early burst took plenty by surprise and had some Lions fans wondering if their diabolical record at Sale Oval was set to continue.
Even after conceding the lead, however, the Magpies refused to die wondering, taking the lead late in an extraordinary turn of events given how many men down they were.
For Moe it's a case of taking the four points and running. Top three and a double chance are now assured and it's time to tune up in preparation for a premiership tilt.
Games like this would have them thankful to have recruited Crocker in the off-season alongside Nathan Scagliarini and Alex Dijkstra, the trio playing a major role in their comeback and eventual win.
Nick Prowse, Brock Smith and Trent Baldi were the other Lions to impress.
In a tough loss for Sale it was Thomas Wrigglesworth, Jack McLaren, Cooper Whitehill, Harry Ronchi, Jordan Dessent and Thomas Campbell doing their damnedest to drag them over the line.
Bairnsdale vs Wonthaggi
Wonthaggi walked away from the longest trip in country footy with another vital four points, keeping them in the top five – for now.
The Power kept Bairnsdale to just four behinds past half time, piling on six goals in that time to run away comfortable winners 11.19 (85) to 5.8 (38).
There are non-negotiable games for every side as we approach finals and this was one of those for the Power, who got the job done despite some inaccuracy inside 50.
Given their run home, where they play each member of the top three, the Power will need to be at their best if they hope to feature past round 18.
They've looked a much better team thanks to the return of some injured stars but right now the bet would be it'll be a bridge too far.
Ryan Sparkes thrived for the visitors, along with Jai Williams, Jaxon Williams, Joshua Bates, Isaac Chugg and Kaj Patterson.
Bairnsdale have now slumped to four straight losses in an indifferent patch of form but will have a chance for some late-season joy when they travel to Sale this week.
Will Mitchell, Lachlan Cloak, Ricky Tatnell, Jamie Dore, Cooper Harvey and Tate Clay were their best.
Morwell vs Maffra
Morwell coach Boyd Bailey led from the front on Saturday in the Tigers' 73-point smashing of Maffra.
Seven goals from Bailey supercharged his side as they kicked 18 majors to six past quarter time to torch the Eagles 21.14 (140) to 10.7 (67).
It's a handy percentage booster for the sixth-placed Tigers, who remain a game behind Wonthaggi as we head into the final weeks of the season.
The result was a much more comfortable one than their three-point win at Maffra earlier this season, where the margin was a slim one despite statistical domination from the visitors.
This time around Morwell took control as the game wore on, turning a four-point deficit at quarter time into a 24-point lead at the half and never relenting from there.
With Wonthaggi about to enter a brutal run home Morwell will want to make every post a winner, and none would be better than a face-off with local rivals Moe this week.
Tom Caile, Aidan Quigley, Stephen Mills, Zachary Anderson and Burkeley Macfarlane were Morwell's other standouts.
Will Burgiel, Alex Carr, Noah Christy, Jett Killoran, Thomas Scott and James Read were Maffra's.