KOONDROOK-BARHAM v SWAN HILL
WHILE the result should see Koondrook-Barham return to the winners list, it will be the final margin that will have both supporters and neutral observers enthralled when Koondrook-Barham host Swan Hill on Saturday.
The Swans’ season from hell will come to an end this weekend, but not before they have the chance to shape this year’s finals series.
With three consecutive losses, Koondrook-Barham only have themselves to blame if they fail to break their six-year finals drought this season, with the Raiders needing to defeat the Swans by a margin in the vicinity of 140 points while also hoping Tooleybuc-Manangatang fall short against Woorinen.
Koondrook-Barham will give themselves every opportunity to win by the required margin, with Lee Dale, Roy George, Daniel O’Connell and Joel Davidson all expected to return, along with Cameron Moore.
While the Raiders will have a much stronger line-up to the one which succumbed to the Saints by six-points last weekend, so too will Swan Hill, with Kallen Heslop, Matt Pearse, Lachlan Vrolijks, Bodhi Kelly all resuming.
The biggest inclusions will be Xavier Moloney, with the dual Jack Betts medallist to once again pull on the maroon and white after playing for the Swans in their King’s Birthday weekend win over Tyntynder, along with young guns Sonny Beasy and Wilhem Bennett, pending Bendigo Pioneers duties.
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by 54 points.
COHUNA v LAKE BOGA
COHUNA’S finals campaign has taken yet another hit, with Kangas coach Jack Geary ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken ankle this week.
Geary returned to play against Kerang last Saturday, but has since been ruled of Saturday’s match against Lake Boga and will join star onballer-forward and reigning joint Jack Betts medallist Joel Helman on the sidelines.
Cohuna are also expected to err on the side of caution with onballer Jackson Williams, who pulled up with hamstring awareness against the Blues last weekend.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the Kangas on the eve of the finals series, although the omission of Geary and Williams shouldn’t affect Saturday’s result, with Lake Boga also set to be without key players Zac Warne (hamstring), Braden Padmore (shoulder) and Rex Hickman (concussion).
All three have been key players for the Magpies structure this season and will be sorely missed, especially with Tom Toma in career best form off the back of a 10-goal haul against the Blues.
Tip – Cohuna to win by 60 points.
TYNTYNDER v MALLEE EAGLES
THE Mallee Eagles will be without star onballer Darcy McGregor for Saturday’s final round encounter with Tyntynder.
While the Bulldogs’ 2025 campaign will draw to a close at home on Saturday, the Eagles will be aiming to build the confidence ahead of next Saturday’s qualifying final at Woorinen.
Although the Eagles will be without McGregor, who is one of the leading contenders to take home this year’s Jack Betts Medal, they will regain the services of Troy Anderson, Billy O’Meara and Clem Miller.
Tyntynder will also have a significant omission for Saturday’s match, with co-coach Darcy Bibby to miss his team’s final game after suffering a calf injury against NNW United last weekend.
Mallee had a comfortable win back in round 7 when the two clubs last met, with the Eagles securing a 111-point win over the Bulldogs at Lalbert.
Darcy Hourigan kicked eight goals that day and will be a key player once again, along with Brent Macleod and Toby Sheahan, who were also named in the Eagles’ better players.
For Tyntynder, a good performance in the final game of the season is imperative for them to take some momentum into the off-season and what looms as being a big 2026 season.
Tip – Mallee Eagles to win by 72 points.
BALRANALD v KERANG
BOTH Balranald and Kerang will be hoping to end their 2025 seasons on a high when the two clubs clash at Greenham Park on Saturday.
It has been a heavy fall from grace for the two proud clubs, who battled it out in the grand final just two seasons ago.
This time last year they were both in the midst of finals preparations, but with just seven wins between them this season, there will be no such plans this time around.
Instead, Saturday presents as an opportunity to head into the off-season with a positive and show their supporter bases that better times aren’t far away.
Tanner Coulthard, Roarke Smith and Will Lowry will return for Balranald on Saturday after missing the Roos’ 154-point loss to the Eagles last Saturday, with their inclusions potentially proving to be the difference between the two teams.
Tip – Balranald to win by three points.
