TWO of tomorrow’s Central Murray Football Netball League A grade games serve as qualifying finals, with key top five positions still up for grabs a week out from the real stuff.
While the final five teams are settled, their exact positions in the finals are not.
The Round 18 matches between Woorinen and Swan Hill, and Tooleybuc Manangatang and Tyntynder will determine the minor premier, the qualifying finalists and Kerang’s elimination final opponent all in one afternoon.
The Tigers sit in top spot with 15 wins from 15 games, while the Swans’ 14 wins have them a mere 0.45 per cent behind Woorinen.
The team that does take out the minor premiership will get a week off before competing for a spot in the grand final in the September 6 second semi-final.
The second-placed side will take on the winner of Tooleybuc Manangatang and Tyntynder.
While the Saints are well ahead on percentage, the two teams are separated by only two points, meaning the winner is guaranteed of a qualifying final spot regardless of the score.
The divide between the top four and the rest of the competition makes Kerang a rank outsider coming into finals.
While the Blues should be able to account for local rivals Cohuna, an elimination final against either the Saints or the Bulldogs is more daunting.
Similarly, the four game gap between the top two and third and fourth suggests a clear favourite for the qualifying final already exists.
While five weeks of results must unfold before a premier is crowned, the Tigers and the Swans are clear favourites to battle it out for the title.
