With the top six confirmed after last weekend’s results, the clash between Merrigum and Rushworth at Ironbark Stadium headlined round 17 as the only contest between two finals-bound sides, with the result having a huge bearing on the elimination final match-ups.
In a gritty affair, both sides traded blows throughout the encounter, but it was Merrigum that came away on top, the Bulldogs prevailing 37-33 in a victory that improves their September outlook significantly.
Having entered the clash in fifth, half a game ahead of the Tigers in sixth, the win puts Merrigum six premiership points in front of Rushworth on the ladder with one game to go, meaning the Tigers cannot finish higher than their current position no matter the results in round 18.
Tallygaroopna also entered round 17 half a game ahead of Rushworth, but having taken care of Undera with a comfortable 64-12 win on Sunday afternoon, the Redlegs have also moved six premiership points clear.
The result ensures that Merrigum and Tallygaroopna are only able to swap positions with each other after the final round of games, given the gap to third-placed Nagambie also sits at six premiership points, guaranteeing the two sides will face each other in the second elimination final regardless of the order in which they end up, avoiding a potential first round game against the Lakers.
Having dispatched Girgarre 77-30 on Saturday, Nagambie sits third at the completion of round 17 with a 12-3 record to remain a chance of finishing second, although it would need to end the formidable Shepparton East’s unbeaten run next week while simultaneously hoping for a winless Undera to beat Lancaster for that to happen.
With Lancaster proving too good for Avenel in a 63-36 win on Saturday, the Wombats have kept the one-game gap over the Lakers with one game remaining, meaning that barring disaster, Lancaster will finish second and enjoy a week of rest in the first round of finals before playing for a spot in the decider against Shepp East, while the Lakers look set for an elimination final against Rushworth.
There is no uncertainty whatsoever about where the Eagles will finish, though, with the reigning premier notching win number 33 on the bounce with a 69-13 victory over Stanhope on Saturday, officially crowning itself minor premier — a mere formality — ahead of a final round clash against Nagambie.
In the final match-up of the round, Violet Town on Sunday finally snapped a losing streak that hadn’t seen it celebrate victory since May at Violet Town Recreation Reserve.
Hosting Longwood, the Towners proved too classy in the 36-28 victory to post their first win since round seven, having endured a run of eight consecutive games without victory.
