HITTING the three-quarter mark of this year’s Golden Rivers football season, all six clubs still have much to play for – whether it be finals aspiration or pride.
While it appears likely Hay will be the league’s minor premiers, Ultima remain hot on their heels in second and continue to gain confidence each weekend.
Ultima will be hoping the Lions slip up at least once before their final home-and-away match-up in two weeks’ time.
The Roos have been an impressive second-placed side, their only slip-ups coming against the undefeated Lions in rounds 4 and 9 – most recently by just 10 points.
Ultima would be unsure of how much weight their two losses carry, having travelled into NSW both times, and one being played in near-monsoon conditions.
This weekend, Ultima face a Wandella team left reeling by their narrow defeat last weekend against Macorna after leading throughout.
The Bombers’ strong start was highlighted by an imposing performance from recent addition Michael Rowe.
Coming into the side over the past month in the absence of coach and full forward Justin Robinson, Rowe has hit the ground running with 15 goals in four matches.
That included hauls of five goals against Murrabit and Macorna, two goals against Moulamein and three against Hay.
The third-placed Bombers will be looking to prove they can be a contender in this year’s finals, and knocking off the Roos would be a big statement.
Murrabit will need everything to go right to finish top four, as well as needing the wheels to fall off at either Wandella or Macorna.
But the Blues have the chance to start their late push when they travel to the Tigers’ den to take on fourth-placed Macorna – a team they defeated in round 2.
The previous 22-point win was when Murrabit were pushing full strength, before injuries took out the likes of Dean Harrop and Jordan Lampi.
In recent weeks the Blues have seen the return of a number of these key absences, as Harrop and Lampi returned in round 10 and were straight into the bests.
Skipper Nathan O’Toole and Tobie Cameron have also benefited from the returns, the pair freed up to have more of an impact through the middle.
Macorna will be up and about this weekend after their come-from-behind win against their closest rivals Wandella, after a back-and-forth month for the side with two wins and two losses.
Malcolm Neiwand has hit a strong patch of form in recent weeks, while Johnny Dawes and Jordan Simpson have impressed in the Tigers forward line.
Macorna will be without Travis Mercadante and Christian McCarthy due to injury, but midfielder Oscar Don will return.
Last-placed Moulamein travel to Hay this weekend, when they take on the ladder’s other bookend – the undefeated reigning premiers.
The Swans started brightly against Ultima last week, trailing by less than three goals for much of the game before the Roos kicked away late to blow the margin out to 39.
While Ultima had the edge when it came to moving the ball forward, Moulamein were able to convert their shots all game, finishing 9.1.
But Moulamein will need to have more than accuracy on their side when they face the rampaging Lions, who have won their past five games by an average margin of 85 points.
The Lions will need to find another avenue to put up a big score this weekend, with key forward Declan Watson to miss the match after his nine-goal haul in round 11.
Jacob Watson and Tom Spence will also be unavailable for the clash, but the Lions will welcome experienced pair Brad Pocock and Joel Crocker back to the fold.
