by Rob Popplestone
Hill End face a mammoth task against premiership favourite Newborough in round 17 of Mid Gippsland footy on Saturday.
Newborough v Hill End
The thought of what Newborough might do to a winless Hill End side is actually quite concerning.
The Bulldogs bordered on ruthless as they steamrolled Boolarra by 25 goals last week, and one wouldn't expect this weekend to be too much different.
"We welcome Magic Mike's Hill End next week and, unfortunately, it will be our last home game, so we're looking forward to seeing what they bring to the kennel," Newborough coach Craig Skinner said.
Hill End coach Mike Santo will need to be a magician to grab a win this week.
Santo has already confirmed he will leave his coaching role with the Rovers at season's end. As a talented competitor in his own right, he has managed to maintain his positivity when many others would have lost their mind after such a trying season.
"Unfortunately, we aren't working hard enough for each other," Santo reflected. "A very disappointing result before the bye for us. Great to have the week off."
Hill End announced 2021 league best and fairest winner Ambu Uliando as the 2024 senior coach this week.
If nothing else, Uliando will be casting an eye over what is required to be a contender in the years ahead.
Boolarra v Tarwin
With a bye in the last round, this game is the last chance for the Demons to farewell coach Tony Giardina in the fashion he deserves.
Giardina announced his inevitable retirement at season's end, just a few weeks ago.
Their opponents are a Tarwin team with a finals dream still alive - albeit faint, who will view anything less than victory as a failure.
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming was devastated with his Sharks' performance prior to last week's bye, losing a game he believed they should have won against Foster.
"We should have won the game, then the bye," Hemming said. "Now we have Boolarra at Boolarra for their last game of the year, and it will be tough."
Both sides are short of the confidence required to win games they probably should. The clash points to a victory for the team that takes the initiative and arrives and plays like they believe they should.
"Last week we didn't turn up to play against a very polished side who made us pay every time we turned it over," Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said. "This week, our last game against Tarwin, hopefully we turn up to play and finish the season off on a winning note."
Both sides have not reached the heights planned prior to this most competitive MGFNL season. But, this weekend provides a small opportunity to take something from a disappointing year.
Mirboo North v Fish Creek
For a moment or two last week, it appeared Mirboo North might pull off one of the upsets of the season when leading premiership contender MDU at half-time.
But, as they say, a week is a long time in football - and so is just a half of footy. That's all it took for the Tigers to lose grip on a game they had a chance of winning.
Mirboo North coach Peter Mongta said this week would be another tough contest against another top three side in Fish Creek at home.
"They jumped us in the first half in the last encounter, and we managed to level the score after half-time," Mongta said. "So it is another great challenge."
The Kangaroos' performance in a finals-like environment last week was first class. Apart from wayward kicking for goal, it appears Fish Creek are about where they would like to be. However, there remains one more item to cross off their bucket list.
"Heading out to Mirboo this week, a ground we haven't had a win at since joining the league," Fish Creek coach Jarred Walker said. "So looking for a strong performance and the chance to lock away second position."
That second position is the perfect springboard into finals, giving them a coveted second chance. There is every indication they may not need it.
Stony Creek v Morwell East
The math is simple, Morwell East must win this weekend or they are likely to inadvertently give up their finals chances.
The Hawks have done, as have most, the calculations for what is required. One of the non-negotiables is this weekend's result.
Sure, there are other connotations that could provide an alternative route, but most are unlikely.
"Last week, we delivered an impressive four-quarter effort," Morwell East coach Paul Henry said. "But, this week we travel to Stoney Creek, which we know will be a huge contest."
The Lions are more deserving than the results they have. Even though too late in the season, the signs are positive for the future. Last week's efforts against the in-form Thorpdale testimony to that.
"We came home strong with some really good ball movement," Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon said. "We took the game on and it was pleasing to see we didn't just let them run away with an easy win."
"It's disappointing that we couldn't get the win, but we are building and our boys did a great job to stick with a side that should do some damage come finals time," he said.
"Our last home game this week against Morwell East, which will be another tight contest."
This match is a 50-50 game, and it's only the Hawks' need to win that might have you lean their way. With no finals possibilities to think of, the Lions can cause chaos with a freedom that their opponents do not have.
Yinnar v Foster
A few weeks ago, Yinnar looked to be in a position to defend their title of reigning premiers as the finals started to close in.
However, in the space of a month and with a side missing too many of their first-choice players, the Magpies are well and truly under pressure.
"We had the bye last week, before our last two matches of the season against Foster and then Fish Creek," Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said. "We need to win one of these games to fall into the finals, so it's a big few weeks ahead."
It's hard to see which - if any - the Magpies can win, given their opponents both look to be playing the type of football that is going to be hard to stop.
Foster coach Sam Davies said he was proud of his team after facing plenty of adversity.
"This week, we face Yinnar off a bye," Davies said. "Their injuries rival ours, so it might be survival of the fittest."
There is nothing more challenging than "limping" into a finals campaign. But that is what confronts both of these two teams, no matter the weekend result.
Bye: MDU, Thorpdale and Toora.