by Rob Popplestone
With 18 rounds of the home and away season before finals, this weekend marks more than a quarter of the way through the MGFNL fixture. This also means teams must start to push their way into a position for greater opportunities in August and September.
MDU v Hill End
MDU will be looking to put another "w" alongside their name this week, but it is going to take an almighty effort at home against a Hill End side that is slowly but surely improving in everything they do.
The Demons have already shown they can match with the best, and with last week's single kick loss to Mirboo North still burning in their stomachs, you can rightfully expect the first 30 minutes to indicate where the game may end.
"It's hard playing catch up footy on days like last week, but to the boys credit they cracked in and almost snatched it," MDU coach Peter Harris said. "To give Hill End a shake this week, we need to make sure we apply the pressure we know we are capable of for the entire four quarters."
The Demons can't make the same mistake again and expect to have any chance of running down a highly talented Rovers side.
Hill End coach Mike Santo said, "we were very good around the stoppages and had our way in the ruck. We are starting to play a sharper brand of footy every week."
That is an ominous warning for MDU this week and for the league. The 2021 minor premiers are still burning to get a crack at a "real" premiership after two years of COVID derailing them while fielding a side that was ready, willing and able to be prominent when it counts. That window can't stay open forever.
Tarwin v Thorpdale
Tarwin remain as one of the few unbeaten sides, and many pundits will have them as likely to make it four from four this week.
But that could actually be the Sharks biggest downfall, turning up to their home ground just thinking that will be enough to secure the points.
Thorpdale have improved and continue to do so, even in their losses. The Blues will see this clash as very winnable, with the key to put themselves in the game early as they did last week against Boolarra.
Thorpdale coach Ray Picking was very proud of his side's effort.
"Our boys executed our game plan extremely well," Pickering said. "In a great wet weather, tough contest, our boys stood up to a strong Boolarra outfit, outscoring them for the final three quarters but unfortunately just falling short."
It's that "exact" response you want from the Blues coach this week.
Tarwin coach Troy Hemming has his side humming with some strategic improvements starting from within the club and finishing with what you see on the park.
Some of those improvements are probably starting to show dividends a lot quicker than what was expected and, with a week off while the Blues were forced to work hard in wet and windy conditions, the Sharks might just be able to keep their spot on the top of the table for another week.
Foster v Yinnar
Foster bounced back in the manner of a good side last week when they took control in difficult conditions and didn't give Newborough a look in at any stage.
The Tigers did as good sides do, and that's lift to another level when the pressure is on.
This week they face a Yinnar side wanting to do just that, bounce back from disappointment of defeat and recapture the sort of desire and intensity from their early matches.
Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said it was disappointing his side just couldn't adapt to the conditions last week.
"We were undisciplined, lacked intensity, lost the midfield battle and had too many passengers on the day," Taylor said.
It is that sort of transparent and honest analysis by the Magpies leader that can quickly lead to turnaround within a week - and that can spell danger for Foster.
The Tigers were justifiably pleased with their performance just a week ago, a classic team effort with little, if any, passengers is what any coach wants to see. Coach Sam Davies would have slept a little easier last week with his team's first win on the board.
All that said, the challenge starts again. At least it starts at home in front of a local crowd that will accept no less than what was given to them last week.
Mirboo North v Fish Creek
Just when you were tricked into believing Mirboo North's season might be dead and buried, the Tigers perform a trick better than Houdini and secure a win, four premiership points and, most importantly, the confidence required to believe it is capable of even bigger and better things.
Before we get a head of ourselves, there is the little problem of Fish Creek this week.
The Kangaroos are very much a finals proposition and are more than capable of taking it right up to the Tigers on their home turf.
Despite their depth being stretched, Fish Creek coach John Danckert said his simple aim was to keep on improving.
The Tigers will look to pounce early, grabbing a side away from home and coming off a loss, and putting the game away early. Mirboo can be dangerous with momentum, and momentum is what they will have with another win on the board.
Mirboo North coach Josh Taylor knows this will be a tough game against Fish Creek coming off a couple of losses.
"We just have to worry about ourselves and believe in our game that this will prevail again," Taylor said.
For the victor, there will be a small window to dance around the ring with the arms in the air, but for the loser, it will be a tough task to get up off the canvas.
Newborough v Boolarra
Two of the big improvers of the league, when there may only be room for one later in the season, come together for one of their most important clashes in quite a few years.
Boolarra are unbeaten, Newborough are two from four but with everything to fight for this week.
Newborough coach Craig Skinner says "I've never been involved in a competition so even. Whoever blinks first will lose when we meet Boolarra at the kennel Saturday."
It could not have been described any better. Whoever "blinks" first loses, and make no mistake there will be plenty of reasons to blink.
The Bulldogs will feel fierce after successive losses and a home ground wanting to see more of what they saw in the opening rounds, rather than what they have seen in the last fortnight.
Boolarra managed a draw against the Rovers at Hill End just a few weeks back, so the thought of playing Newborough on the Bulldogs' ground shouldn't really hold any fears. It shouldn't but it can, and the home side will be hoping it will with a fierce attack on ball and body.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina said it had been an interesting start to the season "as it looks like anyone can win on their day".
This will be a test for Newborough. But it will also be a test for the visitors as to whether or not they are the real deal right now, or whether there is still a little more work to be done.
Stony Creek v Morwell East
A clash between two sides in form, both having won their matches in recent weeks, but both precariously placed around the middle of the MGFNL ladder.
A win will send the victor climbing up and the loser tumbling down. It's yet another contest with potential of far greater ramifications than just this weekend. It has the potential to make or break a finals position, yes, even so early in the year.
Morwell East coach Devon Soutar was "very happy" to bank the points in what is shaping as an extremely tight season. He will be even happier if he can do it again this week against a team also pretty happy with their efforts last week against Yinnar.
Stony Creek coach Jai Acardo said his team had a good win in a game that was in the balance until the final siren.
"We now have another big challenge against Morwell East who are another well organised side," Acardo said.
Stony Creek are only this win away from raising many eyebrows in the league. The Lions have shown they have the potential to mix with the better sides in the competition, but the question now remains as to whether they are able to do it on a consistent basis. This week will tell us all.
Bye - Toora