Leitchville-Gunbower and Lockington-Bamawm United are likely to be in a straight shoot-out for the last Heathcote District Football League finals spot this weekend.
We’ve reached the pointy end of the football-netball season with some leagues concluding their regular schedule while others begin finals this weekend.
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Echuca won’t feature in Goulburn Valley League as it played in the front half of a split round last weekend, with most locals turning their attention to the Murray, Heathcote, and Picola leagues.
The biggest clashes with local involvement in the Murray league will be Tongala hosting Mulwala.
In senior football, Tonny has won five on the bounce and a sixth in a row against the Lions would secure the Blues’ spot in the finals series.
Tongala has already notched its post-season spot in A-grade netball, instead eyeing off a move into second on the ladder should it beat Mulwala on the court.
At Cobram, Moama’s footballers are facing a must-win clash against the Tigers, currently eight points adrift of the top six with three matches to play.
The Magpies are sitting in a much stronger position in netball, currently fifth, and will be heavily favoured to defeat eighth-placed Cobram, which is out of the finals race.
Other Murray league outfit Echuca United is facing Finley.
The Eagles and Cats’ two sides have been eliminated from post-season contention, though Echuca United will want a sweep this time around, having lost senior football in round 13.
In the Heathcote District Football League, Lockington-Bamawm United and Leitchville-Gunbower have long been locked in a duel for fifth, the last finals spot.
That race will reach its crescendo this weekend in the final round of the regular season.
The Cats and Bombers are 7-8, though Leitchville currently occupies fifth with a marginal percentage difference.
The two sides each have a favourable home fixture, with the Cats taking on bottom-placed Elmore, while the Bombers face second-bottom White Hills.
Both are expected to win, as the fate of fifth will likely be decided on percentage.
In contrast, both clubs’ A-grade netball sides are out of the finals picture and will be up against it facing two post-season-bound teams in the Bloods and Demons.
Finally to the Picola District Football Netball League, where Picola United and Mathoura will conclude their regular seasons this weekend.
Only the Blues’ netball side is in the hunt for a finals spot, Picola currently eighth and holding a four-point buffer over ninth and 10th heading into its final game.
A win against 12th-placed Katunga would guarantee post-season netball, though the Blues could lose and remain eighth should results elsewhere work in their favour.
A win for Picola United in its final Picola District Netball League regular season match would secure eighth, the last post-season spot.
Meanwhile, Picola’s footballers will be out to defeat the Swans for the second time in 2026, having won the other clash between the sides in round two.
Both Mathoura sides will travel to take on Berrigan in their final game of 2026.
The Saints are heavy favourites against the bottom-placed Timbercutters in football, though the netball clash should be closely contested, with Mathoura only one spot below Berrigan on the ladder.
Women’s/Girls’
Moama will feature in two do-or-die semi-finals in the Goulburn Murray Women’s and Girls’ League this weekend.
The Magpies’ women face Mansfield, Moama the favourite as the higher seeded team and due to having swept the head-to-head against the Eagles in the regular season.
Meanwhile, Kate Christie’s youth girls will take on Cobram, the Tigers being underdogs having finished fourth in the five-team competition with three wins.
After finishing first in the regular season, Moama’s youth girls take on Cobram in a semi-final this weekend.
In the Central Victoria Football League, Echuca United’s youth girls are taking on White Hills in their second to last game of the regular season, the Eagles out of finals contention, but eyeing consecutive wins.
Soccer
Echuca-Moama Border Raiders men can move a step closer to securing first in the Football Victoria Greater Bendigo League 2 with a win over Castlemaine Green this weekend.
Adrian Richardson’s side is currently five points clear, but that lead could extend to seven should Echuca-Moama win and second-placed Swan Hill and third-placed Colts United draw, the two sides facing each other in action elsewhere.
The women’s side is second in its competition, having the perfect opportunity to close the gap to first by facing current leader Swan Hill this weekend.
A win for Echuca-Moama would put it only two points behind with a game in hand.
Hockey
In Goulburn Valley Hockey Association, Echuca-Moama’s women’s side should extend its unbeaten run to four matches, as it faces bottom-placed Shepparton Youth Club in round 12.
The River Rats’ men are back in action after a bye, taking on Goulburn Valley Grammar School, a beatable opponent that sits only one spot above them on the ladder.
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