by Rob Popplestone
With just four home and away rounds remaining it's not easy to get a handle on what the MGFNL "final six" might look like with three of the 13 teams having byes each week over the next three rounds.
In addition to the premiership points teams vying for the finals have the draw - especially the byes - to consider when assessing finals' chances.
Ladder positions can change quickly and, with winter playing conditions now set in, the picture is likely to change each week.
Thorpdale v MDU
This contest was all about premiership points with both teams on 32, sitting fifth and sixth on the table with a ticket to a finals almost certain for the winner.
For the loser there are some nervous weeks ahead.
Both sides brought some good form into what turned out to be a Saturday afternoon war.
MDU secured a courageous win 8-6-54 to Thorpdale's 5-9-39.
Nathan Allen, MDU coach, said it was a huge win for his team in regard to top six aspirations.
"Tough conditions and an absolute scrap," he said.
"Thorpdale cracked in hard all day and never gave up.
"They pushed us all the way and I was really proud how the players went about it with even contributions all over the ground and building of trust in each other and momentum at the right time of the year."
Thorpdale is now under real pressure to back up their finals appearance of 2023,
Jason Winderlich, Thorpdale's coach, said the weekend summed up its season.
"We were two players down by quarter time, one of them in hospital, and no rotations from the bench in the second half."
However, Winderlich said he felt his side we won the territory battle but at the end of the day the only battle that matters is the scoreboard.
The Blues' loss now has them in seventh position, a game behind sixth-placed MDU and a game in front of eighth-placed Tarwin.
The heat and pressure is building and something has to give in the next few weeks.
Newborough v Fish Creek
The Bulldogs had set themselves for this contest for some time.
The runners-up in for the past two years have been cruising ominously just below the surface this season readying themselves to strike at the right time.
Newborough achieved their most important win of the season in round fourteen, winning 8-10-58 to reigning premiers Fish Creek 7-4-46, and its coach Craig Skinner said it was great to reset after a bye.
"With the conditions and opposition we faced we prepared like outside house cats and played like it," Skinner said.
Jack Hudson in the middle took wet weather footy to the top level, Darnell Grech repelled everything that came his way with his new look backline and a hard working Jack Robbo set up a couple of goals and finished with four.
"It was a win we needed to help secure a spot in the six," Skinner added.
A bye has come at a good time for Fish Creek to enable it to refresh, rest a few sore bodies and gain some momentum ahead of finals.
It appears that the makeup of the top four, not just the top six, will go down to the last round making MGFNL 2024 perhaps the most exciting in years.
Toora v Yinnar
In the clash of the Magpies a big crowd rolled up for a well promoted game in which the home team Toora welcomed former AFL Blues star Dylan Buckley to its fold as part of the Carlton Draft promotion.
For Toora a big gate could be deemed a success, but for the visitors it was always about the win with success guaranteeing another week inside the top three.
Yinnar did the job in a low scoring contest 4-9-33 to Toora's 1-4-10.
Sam McCulloch, Yinnar coach, was disappointed for Toora that the weather was not favourable for the Carlton Draft clash but it was still a good turn out and Yinnar was happy to play a part in the day.
He said Yinnar started well and put the score on the board early in the trying conditions that made it difficult for either team to move the ball with fluency.
Yinnar was also happy to notch the win in senior captain Mark Stolks' 150th game.
A win is a win and Yinnar remains very much in the premiership conversations sitting in third position but just percentage from top spot.
Toora on the other hand may not be winning on the ground but off field is as good as any in the league.
Jack Weston, Toora coach, reflected on that saying the weekend was more about the club as a collective than any of the games.
But he said unfortunately his team's game mirrored the last three weeks where one bad quarter had been costly.
Toora has a bye next weekend before a run home in which it considers itself a chance to win all three games.
Mirboo North v Boolarra
Both sides have had their chances throughout the season; Boolarra possibly more so than Mirboo North and even with finals were off the table for both the intensity of the contest was not affected.
The home team Tigers, in front of a strong past players crowd, was keen to deliver something special and did, winning 3-7-25 to Boolarra's 2-9-21.
Damian Turner, Mirboo North coach, described it as a huge day with tough conditions, mud, wind and a relentless Boolarra side.
Morwell East v Foster
Morwell East approached the weekend just one game short of stamping its mark as a premiership contender.
The Hawks confirmed themselves as the real deal winning 7-5-47 to Foster's 3-9-27.
Morwell East coach Paul Henry said it was a massive win for his team.
There is a real traffic jam near the top of the MGFNL ladder as a consequence of the weekend's results.
Morwell East is on top of the ladder with the same number but better percentage than both Fish Creek and Yinnar.
Foster is a game further back after its defeat at the weekend.
Byes: Hill End, Stony Creek and Tarwin.