LADDER leaders Hay and Ultima should continue on their merry ways on Saturday and leave Murrabit, Wandella and Moulamein in a dogfight for the other two finals places.
Murrabit are best placed of the rest with an even 5-5 record but the Blues host table toppers Hay and look likely to slide back into the red.
They were no match for Ultima before the interleague hiatus and were soundly beaten by 68 points at the western-most team’s ground.
The Blues trailed at every break, highlighting the gulf between the top two and the rest.
Adam Thomson kicked half of the side’s eight goals and vice skipper Bryden Morison, Bailey Pengelly, Brody Palmer, Ben Derbas and Jack Shannahan fought the good fight, but they were just no match for the Roos.
Meanwhile Hay, who have only dropped one game this campaign, march on to a different beat.
Prior bye, the Lions had a leisurely day out booting 33 goals against bottom side Macorna in a 184-point romp at Hay Recreation Reserve.
Jack Headon and Declan Watson kicked seven majors apiece while Dean Aylett and Justin Allen snared handfuls and Jacob Watson chimed in with four.
They all, unsurprisingly, featured among the team’s best along with Jack and Fergus Cattanach and Harry Loughnan and should enjoy another feast this weekend.
Ultima, snapping at Hay’s heels just a game behind, travel to Moulamein well rested and coming off the back of a rout of Murrabit.
Thomas Bull, Cameron Johnson, Dustin Burns, with four goals, Mitchell Seton-Stewart, Darcy Farrell and Billy Delmenico led that romp and are expected to play big hands against the Swans.
Moulamein jumped on Wandella early in their most recent match and cruised home by 16 points.
Brett Kennedy, who snagged five of the Swans’ 12 goals, Trae Atkinson, Morgan Turvey, William Gibson, Ely Miller and Adam Saunders were named among the victors’ best, but they now face a step up in class.
The big winner this weekend may be Wandella, who could narrow the gap on third-placed Murrabit with a win over winless Macorna.
The Blues are four points back in the standings but could make that up and gain valuable percentage points as well as the finals near.
They lost to Moulamein before the interleague break but got useful performances from Justin Robinson, John Cooper, Adam Ward, Logan Tuohey, Jack Radcliffe and Tim Robinson.
They should be way too much to handle for a side which was unable to find any “bests” in their round 10 thumping from Hay.
