by Davyd Reid
A MATCH between two season 2024 finalists headlines round three of Ellinbank District football, with a late game at Lang Lang upholding recent tradition of paying tribute to the Anzacs in an enticing top of the table clash.
NEERIM-NEERIM SOUTH and Trafalgar enter their contest having squared the ledger at one win and one loss, with both looking to claim victory to push further into the top five.
Both sides bounced back last week after meeting impressive opponents in round one.
The Cats responded following a loss to the reigning premier, comfortably accounting for a Yarragon side looking to push up the ladder, despite still missing some key players.
While Trafalgar readily admitted Lang Lang were the better side in round one, they bounced back to grind away to a comfortable three quarter time lead before withstanding a final quarter surge over season 2023 finalist Poowong.
This contest is set to be a tight affair between two sides looking to take their involvement deep into this season.
If the Cats can get some of those key players back, led by prominent goal scorer Luke Kinder, it could go a long way to taking the points.
LANG LANG will look to keep its unbeaten run to begin the season alive when they host their annual Anzac clash under lights.
This time around Longwarry will be the opponent with the senior match to begin at 6pm.
The Tigers are set to be challenged by a vastly improved Longwarry side, the Crows also entering undefeated after comfortable victories over Catani and Nilma-Darnum to open the season.
The match looms as a test of how far the improvement of the Crows has come with the Tigers looking like an early contender.
NILMA-DARNUM will look to bounce back when they host Catani.
Fresh from breaking a 38-game losing streak in round one, the Bombers will be out to go back-to-back at home in 2024.
Catani enter the contest fresh off the bye.
Both sides enter the contest having gone down to Longwarry by similar margins in the opening rounds, setting up an enticing battle.
The slick skills shown by the Bombers in round one hold them in good stead, and will see them enter the contest with slight favouritism at home.
ELLINBANK will look to open its season 2024 account but meet a Yarragon side on the rebound.
The Eagles went down to Buln Buln to begin their season last week and will back themselves in as they look to return to finals.
Yarragon just couldn't capitalise on opportunities early last week and will look to sharpen ball movement and skills ahead of another match against a 2023 finalist.
POOWONG host Nyora in a local rivalry between the two South Gippsland shire teams.
The Magpies will look to take the same form that pushed Trafalgar in the final quarter into the contest as they look to open their season 2024 account.
BULN BULN have the bye.