by Rob Popplestone
It is now - round 12 - that teams in contention need to make a move.
Slowly but surely, there are gaps starting to appear within the Mid Gippsland football ladder and a demanding season honing in on the real contenders.
Hill End v Boolarra
Hill End have not, and it appears will not, give up on securing at least one win before the home and away season draws to a close.
The Rovers pushed contender MDU last week and that performance might be evidence enough that a win against a good Boolarra side is possible this weekend.
After that game, Hill End coach Ambu Uliando said, "if we bring the intensity we showed today into next week, we will give Boolara a run for their money".
Believing you can is half the battle in any contest. The fact that the Rovers can keep on believing so deep into the season is a credit to them. But, the visiting Demons will be just as hard a contest as any they have had this year.
"Obviously Hill End play well up at their ground, so we can't take it easy," Boolarra coach Brendan Mason said. "They will be hard to beat and their effort against MDU last week sort of proves that."
"We just have to be on our game and do what we have to get the points," Mason added.
Boolarra, like a couple of others in the MGFNL competition, will reflect back on this season with some regret, given too many winnable games have slip through their fingers. Due to the closeness of the competition, it only takes one or two results that could have gone the other way to change a season.
Toora v Newborough
A week break will have Toora feeling about as good as they possibly could. As much as they have shown improvement this season, the scalp of a very good side still eludes them.
The Magpies will get their chance this week against a visiting and very good Newborough team, who are still a little short of the standard seen in recent seasons.
"Last week we encountered wet and heavy conditions that have not been our strengths," Newborough coach Craig Skinner said. "But, with four points banked, we travel to Toora for four more before our bye."
While the Bulldogs might well be looking forward to a mid-season breather, their opponents have already had a fortnight off to prepare.
"The bye last week will hopefully have given us some chance to be freshened up," Toora coach Jack Weston said. "Now we look to take some scalps of finals contenders in the back end."
It will no doubt be a tough task to push the Bulldogs, let alone beat them. But, the Magpies are on their home deck. This season has already proven that expecting the unexpected is prudent.
Mirboo North v Tarwin
Only a week ago, the Tigers jumped out of the blocks and gave Thorpdale an early match scare, only to be overrun comfortably as the game unfolded.
Tarwin will pose much the same problem for Mirboo North this weekend, with the Sharks still an outside chance of stealing a spot inside the league's top six.
"We have taken a lot of positives from the loss last week and will continue to look for ways to improve," Tarwin coach Jason Kennedy said. "We head to Mirboo North this weekend and we look forward to another four-quarter effort and to convert our chances."
Converting chances is the name of the game and, more often than not, the solution to most club's problems. The Sharks have work to do, but the Tigers are in a similar position.
"Tarwin will make the trip up to us this week," Mirboo North coach Damian Turner said. "We are starting to build some good chemistry as a group and our energy at the contest is becoming a consistent part of our game."
"Look forward to another challenge from a team who'll be looking to bounce back hard," Turner added.
The Tigers are after reward for effort and, although slowly getting closer, those around the club are aware of the amount of work that still needs to be done. At this stage, they might be a little short of where they need to be to get themselves over the top of a visiting Tarwin side that still has a faint chance of finals.
Stony Creek v Fish Creek
In losing last week, Stony Creek learnt they are slowly edging closer to the standard they need to be. They are making some real progressive steps towards some much deserved success.
Fish Creek will make their way to the home of the Lions this weekend and further test the Lions; a test that should make, rather than break them.
"I was happy with how we moved the footy in the conditions" Stony Creek coach Chris Verboon said. "We just need to do it for four quarters. We have a good challenge next week against Fish Creek."
That "good challenge" is about as tough as it gets. They are not only the reigning premiers but are also hot premiership favourites for season 2024 after winning nine of their previous 10 matches.
The Kangaroos' extremely good form mixed with an understanding of not getting too far ahead of themselves.
"Stony Creek will be another tough game," Fish Creek coach Jarrod Walker said. "A side that matches up well against us and have been very competitive all year. Once again, we will have to be prepared for a tough game."
There will not be too many prepared to tip against Fish Creek. Without an upset result, the Lions might need to look further ahead to season 2025 with an expectation that their many close losses might start to fall in their favour.
Morwell East v MDU
As good as Morwell East have been, there is no reason to believe they cannot get even better. This assertion that will be fully tested against a comparable opponent this weekend.
It's the third placed Hawks hosting the sixth placed Demons. A win for the home side starts to lock in a top three spot; a win for the visitors means a top six spot is theirs to lose.
"We still have a lot to work on, from our end, in converting our opportunities," MDU coach Nathan Allen said. "We make a trip to Morwell this Saturday in the hope to take a scalp and build some momentum in the back half of the year."
History shows that the Demons are more than capable of rattling the cage of the very best sides in the competition. But, if MDU are to be seen as the real deal, they will need to make a statement in games like this. This task is far from a walk in the park given the Hawks' good form.
"Last week it was nice to be accurate on goal," Morwell East coach Paul Henry said. "We had the same scoring shots after half-time, we just managed to kick straighter. But, back at home this week against a very good team in MDU."
The Hawks at home have been one of the great challenges for opposition sides this season. An upset result will require one of the great efforts from the Demons.
Foster v Yinnar
Foster went about as close to winning as you possibly could without getting the points against the league's measuring stick last week, going down to Fish Creek by a single kick.
This weekend, it does not get any easier for the Tigers as they host a Yinnar side with a winning run of eight victories in a row.
"Yinnar next week, it doesn't get any easier," Foster coach Sam Davies said. "They've had a full list all year from all reports and will be looking to cement their top of the table position."
With still a fair chunk of the home and away season to be played out, it seems that these two teams - Foster and Yinnar - together with other good performers - Fish Creek and Morwell East - are starting to make the slightest break from the rest of the competition.
"We are playing good team footy and really looking forward to taking in decent form to play Foster this week," Yinnar coach Sam McCulloch said.
From afar, it appears - not only just on the ladder but from coaches' responses - that Fish Creek is still leading the way. But, a chasing pack includes these two teams, both of whom are eager to secure the very best positioning at the end of the home and away season for a finals surge.
This weekend will go some way in determining that.
Bye: Thorpdale