by Rob Popplestone
Round six marks a third of the 18-round home and away fixture being played. It also indicates to clubs and players alike that opportunities on offer will quickly disappear if not taken when presented.
Morwell East v Thorpdale
A lot will be learnt about Morwell East this weekend.
The disappointing loss to Newborough will test the mental resilience of this young Hawks team.
Thorpdale has put together two wins in a row and, if they even sense an opportunity to make it three in succession, you can expect the Blues will be very hard to stop.
Morwell East coach Paul Henry said hosting the in-form Thorpdale was their sole focus.
"Our skills and decisions just weren't where they needed to be, to win the game," Henry said of last week's loss. "We are disappointed as a group, but we have to accept the loss in order to move forward."
The Blues have some momentum with a fortnight of success. Momentum can be hard to stop, even against a class act like Morwell East.
"Huge test against another top three team this week," Thorpdale coach Jason Winderlich said. "Another big week of recovery and training is required to give ourselves the best opportunity to compete."
If the Blues can overcome the Hawks and make it three wins in a row, a finals dream might well be awakened within a club that has struggled manfully for several years.
Hill End v MDU
The efforts of Hill End will no doubt be testing the patience of coach Mike Santo.
A loss at home to MDU is something the experienced leader would be reluctant to even consider. But, the fact is the visiting Demons are likely to start favourites, given they have shown enough.
Having been outworked and outplayed at Mirboo North last week, MDU coach Nathan Allen says, "this week we go to Hill End and we need to get our first win away from home".
For Hill End, there is a building desperation to just secure a win anywhere.
"Thorpdale wore us down and deserved the win last week, and we face another tough challenge this week," Santo said.
The Rovers are due for a change of luck, and it may well come this week. Although, that good luck will also need to be complemented by good old-fashioned hard work and a sprinkling of skills as well.
Boolarra v Yinnar
After a week's respite and time to reflect on some close clashes lost, Boolarra should be ready to go against one of the in-form teams of the MGFNL competition.
The Magpies have been starting to show some of their premiership winning form of 2022. Their efforts are even more impressive given a handful of first choice players are still to make their way into the starting line-up.
"Boolarra this week will be another big game," Yinnar coach Daniel Taylor said. "They'll be fresh off the bye and looking to get their season rolling."
The Demons can be a very tough prospect on their home deck and Boolarra will need to be at their best.
Boolarra coach Tony Giardina says "it's a massive game".
"In our last game before our bye, undisciplined free kicks cost us badly," Giardina said. "You can't give good sides a head start and, unfortunately, we haven't hit another four points."
Boolarra have unashamedly set their sights on a top six finish to back up their impressive performance last year. To do that, the Demons will need to win a game - or even two - such as this.
Foster v Mirboo North
A clash of two Tiger teams could not be more important than this week's encounter between Foster and Mirboo North.
Both teams have shown patches of very good form, instances of concentration lapses and periods I'm sure they would rather forget.
Most importantly, Mirboo North currently hold a four premiership point lead over Foster. Another win this week would have the visitors with some clean air as we approach the halfway mark of the season.
"Got outplayed in the terrible match conditions," reflected Foster coach Sam Davies. "Horror day actually, nothing went our way. Two gifted goals in a low-scoring game that couldn't be explained doesn't help either. Davies said Mirboo North at home "will be tough".
"We need to find some intensity, it's been a flat three weeks," he said.
As much as Foster is desperate to bounce back with a win, the side they meet this week are in exactly the same position.
"This week we head across to Foster, which could see another wet weekend of footy," Mirboo North coach Peter Mongta said. "So we will freshen up and be ready to go as a club."
Foster can be an inhospitable place for visiting teams, and that's just the way the home ground Tigers like it. With premiership points as valuable as gold, expect both sides to do everything to strike it rich.
Tarwin v Fish Creek
Tarwin could not have been more disappointing in a loss to Yinnar last week.
The Sharks had set themselves for an upset against the reigning premiers, but they never, ever got into the game.
If the home side delivers what they did last week, you can probably expect the same result this week. But good sides don't put together two bad ones in a row.
"We play Fish Creek at home who just beat Foster," Tarwin coach Troy Hemming said. "This comp is even, so we are going to have to step it up to where we should be, and it looks like it will be a good game."
This is really shaping up as a defining clash for both teams. The difference between a win or loss is as contrasting as night and day.
"Tarwin at Tarwin is always a hard matchup," Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said. "A team that I'm tipping will be there, or thereabouts, come the end of the year, so a must win for us."
A win gives the successful club an injection of self belief that will certainly be needed as the halfway mark approaches. However, for the losers, a giant mountain will appear just as winter starts to get comfortable.
Toora v Newborough
As tough as this season has been for Toora, the bar will be lifted even higher this weekend against a rampaging, unbeaten and in-form Newborough side.
The Bulldogs made light work of the previously unbeaten Morwell East last week and certainly don't look like being stopped this weekend.
"After five weeks, we've played all the top five sides and now head to Toora on the bus," Newborough coach Craig Skinner said. "Like every other week, we are never 100 per cent sure what to expect from a South Gippsland side playing at home."
You get a sense that this Bulldogs side is going to be mighty hard to stop at any ground in the MGFNL.
Toora coach Jack Weston says his team face "what appears to be the biggest challenge in the league".
"I look forward to the challenge of coaching against Craig and playing against last year's grand finalist," Weston said.
Toora will be hard pressed to overcome the top of the ladder Bulldogs. But, sometimes the greatest victories come from the most unlikely places.
Bye: Stony Creek.