by Rob Popplestone
Thorpdale will be favourites and Hill End get another chance for a breakthrough win when round 14 of Mid Gippsland football is played on Saturday.
Thorpdale v Boolarra
As good as Thorpdale's win was over Foster just seven days ago, it will take every bit as much skill and effort to achieve the same result over Boolarra.
The Demons were beaten by the top of the table Newborough, but the result should have been closer. It may have even gone the Demons way with an ounce of luck.
"The boys turned up and took it right up to Newborough," Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said. "Unfortunately, our skills let us down all day and the best side in the competition made us pay. But, I was happy with the way we fought it out."
A similar effort might well bring a different result against Thorpdale.
However, it would mean the Blues give one up at home and send their finals chances spiralling. That is hard to imagine given how solid the Blues have been for most of the year.
"I keep saying it every week, but another eight point game awaits us this week against Boolarra, Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich said.
"Tony will have the boys fired up to take some scalps as he closes out his coaching tenure," Winderlich said. "This was evident on the weekend with their effort against Newborough. If you take out the second quarter where Newborough had 11 scoring shots, Boolarra had more scoring opportunities."
He added, "they had our measure early in the year, so we will need to go to another level to challenge them".
The Blues are favoured to win but, as Winderlich indicated, the Demon's will be hoping to send off their coach with some memorable moments along the way.
An unlikely victory this weekend would certainly be one to remember.
Hill End v Morwell East
Hill End get another chance at home this weekend, when they host a Hawks side that are seemingly starting to surge into finals contention.
It hasn't been the Hillsmen's season and last week's bye has probably done them the world of good.
In fact, coach Mike Santo jokingly said "we struggled against the bye and just weren't able to execute and weren't good enough".
It is that sort of relaxed humour that can keep a coach and his players sane in a year in which you could be forgiven for going crazy.
That said, the visiting Hawks won't be in the mood for any jokes as they can almost reach out and touch a coveted top six spot.
"Last weekend, the boys stepped up and kicked some big goals late, and we hung on in another tight one," Morwell East coach Paul Henry said. "We have one more big game this week against Hill End before we hit the bye."
The Hawks have a 50 year reunion on Saturday, August 5. A potential win over the Rovers this weekend before the bye may well have the Morwell East team inside the six at just the right time for the celebration. From there, the opportunity to be a part of finals football will be in their hands to either grab or let slip.
MDU v Tarwin
As much as this weekend might be seen as "just another round of football" by the naïve, it is so much more important than that.
Although most could see the inevitable fight for positioning, the reality of exactly that is starting to sink in.
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming said his Sharks go to Meeniyan for yet another blockbuster.
"Our league is pretty much the only interesting one at the moment as it's so close," Hemming said. "It's great development for our group, and it's like playing a final each week."
That feeling from Hemming is echoed by many coaches in the league, all of whom are excited by the responsibility of ensuring their respective sides can lift to the occasion on a weekly basis.
MDU coach Nathan Allen said this was another game to shape the top six.
"If we can bring last week's efforts again, we will be very hard to play against," Allen warned.
That is what every coach craves, a side that is very hard to play against. On their home deck, the Demons are destined to be a tough team to crack on the back of confidence gained from last week's win over Foster.
Mirboo North v Toora
On the surface, this clash appears to be destined to go the way of the Tigers.
The Tigers have shown glimpses of what they can do, even in their losses. But, they would be advised not to turn up on the weekend expecting a win that will be achieved simply by doing that.
"This weekend we host Toora at home," Mirboo North coach Peter Mongta said. "So we will freshen up and be ready for a side who isn't going that well but will look to upset any side in the back end."
That expectation should ensure the Tigers get a well deserved victory. But, the Magpies won't be a walk in the park.
Toora coach Jack Weston said Mirboo North play their ground well.
"They accounted for us easily early in the year," Weston said. "But, with at least 10 changes from that round one side, it'll be a game we hope to win."
The odds may be against the Toora team. However, if contributions are spread evenly across the entire team, a rare win is certainly possible and, in some ways, justified.
The coach and his men have certainly not dropped their bundle despite the single success they have achieved in 2023.
Newborough v Yinnar
Not much is said these days at the Bulldogs about Yinnar's grand final success last season. But, make no mistake, it still stings those at the top, and there is no higher than coach Craig Skinner.
"Yinnar are another good team where only our best will be good enough to get the win," Skinner said.
Looking from the outside in, it seems nothing will satisfy Skinner but premiership success. Another step towards that is putting the Magpies away this weekend.
"Newborough at the kennel is always a challenge, especially when it's round 14 and they're still undefeated," Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said. "In saying that though, it's a challenge we're really looking forward to as there's four points on offer that no one else has been able to get from the Dogs."
Newborough's top position is all but guaranteed. Their 11 wins and a draw from 12 games has the Bulldogs better than two games clear of second place Fish Creek and third placed Yinnar.
However, Newborough would be well aware that beating the Magpies would also mean they place their opposition under enormous pressure to keep their top six spot, such is the evenness of the competition.
That thought alone would be enough to put a smile on the face of the Newborough coach.
Bye: Fish Creek, Foster and Stony Creek.
Three clubs will have a bye over the next four rounds.