WITH just weeks remaining in football’s home-and-away season, the Riverine Herald takes a look at the local teams’ race to the finish line.
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Echuca
Remaining fixtures: Tatura (A), Kyabram (H), Benalla (A), Shepparton Swans (H), Shepparton United (A)
Key game: Kyabram (H) — In the words of Matchbox Twenty ‘‘let’s see how far we’ve come.’’
These two sides are very clearly the best in the Goulburn Valley League — but the gap when they met in round four was 10 goals.
We all know how good Kyabram is, they’ve been the side Echuca (and everyone else in the Valley for that matter) has been trying to be like for the past four years.
The test for Echuca isn’t necessarily to beat Ky — you could make an argument beating them in July is detrimental to the cause — but getting close enough to know you could do it.
What the coach thinks: Simon Maddox — ‘‘We’d love to win every game on the way home, but for us the goal will simply be to win as many games as possible in order to build momentum for finals. It’s the old cliché of looking at things one week at a time, looking to improve every week as we get a bit closer to our finals series. We know we are going to be there, so it’s simply a question of playing as well as we can in the lead up.’’
Our thoughts: This is going to be a very interesting finals.
The reality is if the Murray Bombers win any game from here, they cannot miss the top two.
That means at least one meeting with Ky in the finals — possibly two depending on how the chips fall.
We cannot stress how big the gap between one and two to the rest of the pack is this season, so the back half of the year seems to just be about Echuca preparing themselves for a tilt at Ky come finals.
A few big games, a few easier ones, but we hope to see the very best of Echuca as finals approach.
Echuca United
Remaining fixtures: Nathalia (A), Finley (H), Katandra (H), Tongala (A), Numurkah (H)
Key game: Nathalia (A) — Win this and the Eagles will be in prime position to claim the minor premiership.
Just how this game plays out is anyone’s guess as both sides are head and shoulders above other Murray League sides.
Based on their current form the game should be a thriller.
What the coach thinks: Guy Campbell — ‘‘It is a massive cliche but we are going to take it one game at a time. We don’t want to be looking too far ahead because it could have a negative effect. There are exciting times for the club but we simply must keep winning.’’
Our thoughts: If you watch United on a regular basis, you would have noticed the steady improvement they’ve made throughout 2019.
If they continue to fine tune the smaller details of their game plan, they will be difficult to stop.
The dream of a premiership is well and truly alive, the question is whether they can continue to handle the pressure as the heat continues to rise.
Moama
Remaining fixtures: Numurkah (A), Nathalia (H), Rumbalara (A), Barooga (H), Katandra (A)
Key game: Katandra (A) — If Moama play their best football for a full game, a few of these are winnable.
But Katandra will possibly be the most important of them all.
If the Magpies can snatch another victory before this contest, then the Katandra game will be on that can lift the Magpies off the bottom of the ladder.
What the coach thinks: Luke Eldridge — ‘‘The last three weeks of the season are going to be a mini-finals series for us. We’ve identified these as games we believe we can win, so hopefully we can get those results and end up with a few victories from the season.’’
Our thoughts: We’ve said it before in this paper — Moama are a lot better than their scoreline this season makes them out to be.
And they are going to get better next year as they continue to develop as a group.
A few late season wins in a weird way is like window dressing — Moama don’t need the extra wins to know they are going in the right direction.
But, much like window dressing, a win or two does look good to the outside.
Tongala
Remaining fixtures: Congupna (A), Barooga (H), Finley (A), Echuca United (H), Nathalia (A)
Key game: Echuca United (H) — Tongala will face off with both of the top two sides before the year is out, but we think their clash with United is the biggest.
Home ground advantage, a local rival in the Campaspe Cup, and a chance for the Blues to get a big win against another top side.
If the Blues do finish the season in the top four, this would be huge to have such a big win to their name.
What the coach thinks: Jordan Souter — ‘‘We’re looking at the next three weeks with a goal of not dropping any of our matches. They’re going to be tough contests, Congupna are a top eight side while Barooga and Finley are both pushing for finals, so they will be huge tests for us. We’re still a young group, so as long as we keep pushing ourselves we should have a good end to the season.’’
Our thoughts: Tonny’s season already is a serious victory.
Top four at this stage of the season is something I don’t think anyone would have expected, so this has to be considered a great win for the Blues.
With some of their later season games more than winnable, we have to ask why can’t the Blues stay in the top four from here on?
LBU
Remaining fixtures: Mount Pleasant (H), North Bendigo (A), Elmore (H), bye
Key game: North Bendigo (A) — If LBU want to earn a week off in the first week of the Heathcote District Football League finals, they must win this game.
But victory would also mean a mental boost for the Cats after North defeated them earlier this season.
On the road makes it a much more difficult task on paper, but they should be up for the challenge.
What the coach thinks: Kahl Oliver — ‘‘We’ve still got plenty to play for in terms of where we finish on the ladder. Playing against some of the better sides in the competition is exciting because it will give us an indication of where we are at.’’
Our thoughts: Two massive fixtures await the Cats and if they pick up wins against Mount Pleasant and North a double chance will be secured.
From there, anything could be possible as they aim to reach the promised land.
We believe they’ll earn a top three finish and have the rest of the Heathcote District competition on notice ahead of finals action.
Leitchville-Gunbower
Remaining fixtures: Heathcote (H), Colbinabbin (A), Huntly (H), bye, White Hills (A)
Key game: Colbinabbin (A) — Leitchy-Gunny needs a few more wins to secure a spot higher up in the Heathcote District Football League top five.
Colbinabbin is likely going to be a top three side when this match rolls around, so it will be a statement victory if the Bombers can get up.
It will possibly put them in striking distance of a double chance, which would be massive after the start of the season.
What the coach thinks: Danny Teskera — “Looking at our fixture, things don’t get easier as we get into the back half of the year, so we need to show ourselves we are able to beat top sides in the next few weeks. We’ve started to get the belief in our side of late.’’
Our thoughts: Beware of the Bombers.
They may not be as talented in terms of their personnel as they were in the past, but they have the skill to still compete with the best.
Also, they have the drive to do it.
If they get on a roll, they could be very hard to stop.
Mathoura
Remaining fixtures: Katamatite (A), Picola United (H), Jerilderie (H), Katunga (A)
Key game: Jerilderie (H) — A game against a fellow Picola and District Football League finals aspirant is simply a must win.
Mathoura have shown their best is good enough to take it up to the best teams — just look at their previous result against Strathmerton.
They should be winning this game.
What the coach thinks: Darcy Robinson — ‘‘We’ve put ourselves back in the pack but we believe we can still play finals. The playing group is going to keep pushing until the very end and hopefully we can get to the most exciting part of the season.
Our thoughts: Three games against teams close to them on the ladder means Mathoura can play a big role in their 2019 destiny — but they must play consistent football.
Closing the gap between their best and worst has been the Timbercutters biggest challenge this season and the next month could make or break this group going forward.
While the road ahead is exciting, it is also a nerve racking one.
We believe they’ll ultimately end up falling short.