Results from tomorrow’s lot of matches in East Gippsland football could have severe repercussions when the final ladder is sorted.
With four weeks to go, things are heating up for a number of teams desperate to either qualify for finals or sew-up a double-chance.
Stratford and Boisdale-Briagolong belong to the latter.
While neither team will drop out of the top four when Round 13 is completed tomorrow, the stakes are high as the Swans and Bombers are locked in a two-way battle for second on the ladder.
Second place means the double-chance, which generally proves pivotal in the tournament-play system of finals.
Boisdale-Briagolong holds second by a game following Stratford’s surprisingly easy defeat at the hands of Orbost Snowy Rovers last week.
For the Swans, they are facing a multitude of challenges.
The reigning premier is not only a game off their Avon rival, but is also only a game off tomorrow’s opponent in Lucknow.
STRATFORD finds itself in match of the round.
The third-placed Swans have fourth-placed Lucknow to deal with.
Taking home-ground billing might tip the scale in the Swans’ favour, but after what happened last week, Stratford certainly won’t be getting ahead of themselves.
The Magpies need to win to stay on track to play finals.
Lucknow currently holds fourth, but only by percentage from OSR, and only by six or so per cent at that.
Given the Blues are likely to beat lowly Paynesville tomorrow, they could switch places with Lucknow should the Magpies lose.
The equation therefore would appear relatively clear for Lucknow.
After a few ‘easy’ games, in which Stratford won by 69 points, 123 and 113 against the bottom-three sides, the Swans’ defeat to OSR last round was perhaps not all that surprising.
What may have been surprising however was the margin – 39 points, and the first quarter blitz from the Blues where they kicked eight goals to one.
Stratford would have undoubtedly been shaken by the result, but turning that into a positive, it could provide the spark needed to avoid such any repeat performance.
Lincoln Toner played well in a losing cause last weekend, and looms as a key player again.
BOISDALE-BRIAGOLONG makes the journey to Lakes Entrance.
While a match between second and last won’t create too much excitement, the Bombers will still need to attack this game with the right attitude.
The game presents an opportunity for the visitor’s to fine tune a few things, and also trial players in different positions.
Should the opportunity arise in a final, Bombers coach Sam Bedggood could go back to this game when looking at potential curveball moves.
If the game goes as expected, the magnets could get strategically spun to give Bedggood reassurance he has players capable of playing in multiple positions.
Come a final, if Boisdale-Briagolong plays Wy Yung for instance, and needs pace in the back-half, crafty Bombers forward Jim Reeves might be a candidate to go back.
As much as the game against the Seagulls presents these opportunities, the Bombers still need to show no mercy, as percentage will be key when the top-two is decided.
Given Wy Yung is two games clear on top, it is looking as though the highest Boisdale-Briagolong can finish is second.
However, the Bombers are nearly 40 per cent off Stratford, meaning even a 250-point win tomorrow won’t be enough to eclipse the difference.
A 150-point win however gets their percentage up to 160, and with a game against seventh-placed Lindenow to follow, Boisdale-Briagolong could find themselves around the Swans’ mark in a fortnight.
IN other games, one-side affairs are on the cards.
Wy Yung should destroy Lindenow, while OSR will start favourite against Paynesville.
