With so much uncertainty around the Central Murray and Golden Rivers Football Netball League seasons at the moment, it’s hard to get a gauge on what the remainder of 2021 looks like.
With rounds likely to be abandoned, this road map towards September will likely change; as it currently stands however, this is the run home for each club still in finals contention.
1st – KERANG – (8 Wins, 1 Loss, 32 Points, 223.62%)
Round 9 – Woorinen (A)
Round 15 – NNW United (H)
Round 16 – Bye
Round 17 – Swan Hill (H)
Round 18 – Koondrook-Barham (A)
Round 12 – Tooleybuc-Manangatang (A)
The only certainty is that the Blues will have to play their toughest opponent in Woorinen, with all other rounds still up in the air.
Their match against the Tigers will likely decide top spot, although the improving Swan Hill will still provide a challenge.
If they are victorious all of their remaining games, they should finish on top of the ladder and earn that much sought-after bye in the first week of the finals.
Predicted Finish – 3rd
2nd – COHUNA KANGAS – (8 Wins, 1 Loss, 32 Points, 211.28%)
Round 9 – NNW United (H)
Round 15 – Mallee Eagles (A)
Round 16 – Tyntynder (H)
Round 17 – Tooleybuc-Manangatang (A)
Round 18 – Bye
Round 12 – Koondrook-Barham (H)
Although there is still much uncertainty surrounding which rounds will go ahead, Cohuna are well placed regardless. All games from here on in are winnable for the Kangas, with the match against the Mallee Eagles the only one against a current top five team.
Could easily make up the 12% required to leapfrog Kerang to the top of the ladder should they both finish on the same number of points.
Predicted Finish – 1st
3rd – WOORINEN – (8 Wins, 1 Loss, 32 Points, 179.11%)
Round 9 – Kerang (H)
Round 15 – Lake Boga (H)
Round 16 – ByeRound 17 – Balranald (H)
Round 18 – Swan Hill (A)
Round 12 – Tyntynder (A)
The two-time reigning premiers have a tough run home, starting with Kerang in the next round.
Difficult finish to the season with games against Swan Hill and Tyntynder in the final two rounds.
Need to win at least three of their remaining matches to guarantee themselves a spot in the Qualifying Final and the double chance, which they should manage easily.
Predicted Finish – 2nd
4th – MALLEE EAGLES – (6 Wins, 3 Losses, 24 Points, 121.81%)
Round 9 – Koondrook-Barham (H)
Round 15 – Cohuna Kangas (H)
Round 16 – Lake Boga (A)
Round 17 – NNW United (H)
Round 18 – Balranald (A)
Round 12 – Bye
One of the easier runs home of all the finals contenders, with four opponents currently outside of the top five.
Their toughest assignment will come against Cohuna, but if that game gets removed from the draw, then their fixture could well open up for the Eagles.
Could yet finish as high as third if one of the top three have a disastrous last month of the season.
Predicted Finish – 4th
5th – SWAN HILL – (5 Wins, 4 Losses, 20 Points, 106.73%)
Round 9 – Tyntynder (A)
Round 15 – Bye
Round 16 – Koondrook-Barham (H)
Round 17 – Kerang (A)
Round 18 – Woorinen (H)
Round 12 – Lake Boga (A)
Everything is basically riding on the Swans next game against Tyntynder, which is the only match that’s guaranteed to be played in the return from the state wide lockdown.
Their season will be dependent on what happens with the other scheduled rounds and will likely have an effect on their run home, with two winnable games against the Raiders and Boga, and two difficult assignments against Kerang and Woorinen.
Their chances of playing finals, could well rest on who they are scheduled to play once the fixture is re-drawn.
Predicted Finish – 5th
6th – TYNTYNDER – (5 Wins, 4 Losses, 20 Points, 105.50%)
Round 9 – Swan Hill (H)
Round 15 – Tooleybuc-Manangatang (H)
Round 16 – Cohuna Kangas (A)
Round 17 – ByeRound 18 – NNW United (A)
Round 12 – Woorinen (H)
Must beat Swan Hill if they want any hope of playing finals. More than likely will need to beat one of Cohuna or Woorinen in the run home as well, otherwise it could well come down to who has the better percentage for fifth spot.
May well need to beat two-time reigning premiers Woorinen in their final match to sneak into fifth; and if they can do that then they’ll deserve a finals berth.
Predicted Finish – 6th
7th – NYAH-NYAH WEST UNITED – (3 Wins, 6 Losses, 12 Points, 91.27%)
Round 9 – Cohuna Kangas (A)
Round 15 – Kerang (A)
Round 16 – Bye
Round 17 – Mallee Eagles (A)
Round 18 – Tyntynder (H)
Round 12 – Balranald (H)
Mathematically they’re still alive; in reality however, their season is done.
The Demons play three of the top four in the run home and would need to beat at least two of the Mallee Eagles, Cohuna or Kerang to be any chance of sneaking into the finals; and even then, they will need other results to go their way.
Depending on the number of games that get removed from the fixture, their season could already be over.
Predicted Finish – 8th
8th – BALRANALD – (3 Wins, 6 Losses, 12 Points, 78.51%)
Round 9 – Tooleybuc-Manangatang (A)
Round 15 – Koondrook-Barham (A)
Round 16 – Bye
Round 17 – Woorinen (A)
Round 18 – Mallee Eagles (H)
Round 12 – NNW United (A)
Like United, mathematically still a chance, although they will need absolutely everything to go right to get there.
Their poor percentage means they need to win all five remaining games, including against reigning premiers Woorinen and the in-form Mallee Eagles.
The only guaranteed match-up will be against the Saints, which could well help boost their percentage.
Predicted Finish – 7th
THE ROAD TO FINALS
GOLDEN RIVERS FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE
1st – NULLAWIL – (10 Wins, 0 Losses, 40 Points, 330.07%)
Round 13 – Moulamein (A)
Round 8 – Quambatook (A)
Round 9 – Ultima (H)
Round 14 – Hay (H)
Undefeated through the first ten rounds, Nully need just one more win to guarantee themselves top spot.
Games against potential finalists Moulamein, Quambatook and Hay will be the perfect preparation for an assault on their third straight flag.
Predicted Finish – 1st
2nd – WANDELLA – (7 Wins, 3 Losses, 28 Points, 109.36%)
Round 13 – Ultima (A)
Round 8 – Moulamein (A)
Round 9 – Hay (H)
Round 14 – Murrabit (H)
The battle for second spot and that prized double chance will largely come down to the Bombers Round 8 game against the Swans.
Could still finish second even if they lose to Moulamein, curtesy of a superior percentage, providing they win their remaining three games.
Predicted Finish – 2nd
3rd – MOULAMEIN – (7 Wins, 3 Losses, 28 Points, 86.88%)
Round 13 – Nullawil (H)
Round 8 – Wandella (H)
Round 9 – Murrabit (A)
Round 14 – Macorna (A)
The next two weeks could well decide their finals fate. Have the worst percentage of all of the finals contenders, which leaves them vulnerable to those Quamby and Hay below them.
Must beat Wandella if they want to have any chance of finishing top two; and could still miss the finals altogether with a loss in either of their last two games.
Predicted Finish – 4th
4th – QUAMBATOOK – (6 Wins, 4 Losses, 24 Points, 123.40%)
Round 13 – Hay (A)
Round 8 – Nullawil (H)
Round 9 – Macorna (A)
Round 14 – Ultima (H)
Could finish as high as second, yet could also miss the finals. A loss to Hay this weekend leaves them at risk of missing out, but a win would likely see them finish third; although if results go their way, could well finish second.
Predicted Finish – 3rd
5th – HAY – (5 Wins, 5 Losses, 20 Points, 99.24%)
Round 13 – Quambatook (H)
Round 8 – Macorna (H)
Round 9 – Wandella (A)
Round 14 – Nullawil (A)
Toughest run home of any of the final’s contenders.
Must beat Quambatook if they want any chance of sneaking into fourth; and realistically need to beat one of Wandella or Nullawil as well.
Could still sneak in with only two wins, but would need Moulamein to self-destruct for that to occur.
Predicted Finish – 5th
