Stanhope vs Murchison is a huge game in the context of these teams season.
For Stanhope it can consolidate its place in the top six with the win in the battle to finish third while Murchison needs to keep winning to keep the heat up on Violet Town.
The game between the teams last time was a good one for Murchison and not so for Stanhope.
In fact, it was their worst performance of the season.
Alec Young, Michael Coad, Jayden Exell, Seamus Herrick and Jason Leocata all had plenty of the ball in the win against Longwood, while Matt Forys proved the key target with 11 goals.
Brent Chapman has been outstanding in his first year at the Grasshoppers.
He has led from the front, but he would love nothing more than to lead the 2013 premier into the finals.
Stephen Burns, Rhys Newby, Jacob Chessells, Callum Toi and Corey Gilmore were all very good in the important win against Undera.
They will all need to fire along with the Ewart brothers and Luke Chapman.
Undera can mathematically play finals, but it has to do everything well from here and hope some results fall in their favour.
Today’s challenge will be huge for the Lions and coach David Gillespie will know his troops will have to be at their best to inflict a second straight defeat on the reigning premier.
Gillespie will be one the keys, having been a strong target down forward while Zac Brian, Adam Brassil, Kyle Halliwell, Brayden Bux, Brett Bathman and Elliott Bailey will need to keep up their good form.
Nagambie was far from disgraced in tasting defeat for the first time in 2015.
They managed to get in front of Merrigum with a rampaging third quarter, thanks largely to the goal-kicking efforts of Daniel Haysom.
David Price, Jack Williams, Jayden Gleeson, Michael Shiels and Anthony Haysom were others to lead the second half comeback.
Girgarre will take winning form into its match up with Ardmona.
The Cats are fresh from a fighting win against Rushworth a fortnight ago.
Despite the departure of some of its top-end talent, Ardmona showed wonderful character to come out and topple Rushworth.
The Kangaroos did likewise last week, with Paul Parsons, Brenton Bassett, Ryan Jones (six goals), Cameron Gahan, Mathew Hughes (four goals) and Dwayne Fitzpatrick the four quarter contributors in the big win.
For Ardmona, skipper, Matt Dipace is leading from the front while Sam Woodward was fantastic in the win against Rushworth with five goals.
Coach Justin Williams continues to lead by example while Blade Larkin has been another good player during the past month.
In the remaining two games, Violet Town will get an opportunity to score an important win when hosting Longwood while Rushworth will have the job in front it against Lancaster.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
1. Merrigum did what no other team had been able to do and that was defeat Nagambie
2. Avenel enhanced its premiership aspirations with a big win over neighbour Violet Town
3. Violet Town’s loss has made the race for the last spot in the top six wide open, with five rounds to play.
4. Matt Forys has opened up a little buffer on Heath Barnett and Brent Chapman in the race for the top goal-kicking award.
5. Jamie Jones celebrated his 100th senior game for Murchison. Congratulations to the speedy premiership wingman.
Last Modified on 31/07/2015 12:10